Simple Indigestion

Simple Indigestion may be defined as simple digestive disturbance which is clinically manifested by inappetence, anorexia, complete or subclinical atony of rumen, infrequent defecation and constipation.

There may be gradual reduction of ruminal motility resulting to retardation of evacuation of food material.

Etiology of Simple Indigestion

• Most common causes includes indigestible coarse type of feed offered to the animal
• Spoiled or moldy silage, mixing of soil, sand or bedding material in the feed
• Sudden change in feed due to recent purchase of the animal
• Prolonged oral antibiotic therapy diminishes the micro flora resulting in indigestion
• Inadequate supply of water (usually rumen contents should be semisolid, if it is a solid due to lack of water, mixing of feed will not occur)

Pathogenesis of Simple Indigestion

In simple indigestion, there is loss of motor function of reticulo rumen musculature. This is either due to inhibition of normal stimulus of contraction or depression of the power of contraction of rumino-reticular musculature. The rumen motility goes down both in frequency and amplitude. This may be due to altered pH of rumen.

Heavy carbohydrate diet may lower the pH leading to an acidic environment and in this pH there is abnormal fermentation and over production of lactic acid which causes further stasis of rumen.

On the other hand excessive intake of protein and NPN (Non protein nitrogen), there is excessive increase in the rumen ammonia nitrogen and decrease of total volatile fatty acids and pH of ruminal fluid becomes alkaline (around 7.5). Due to this alkaline pH there is atony of rumen.

Ingestion of putrid toxic substances may lead to toxaemia. Rumen contractions are absent in toxaemia. It may cause severe dehydration and hemo-concentration..

Clinical signs of Simple Indigestion

Depending on the stage of indigestion, the following signs are shown:

• Anorexia may be partial or complete
• General attitude of animal is depressed
• Decreased milk yield in lactating animal and decreased work efficiency in bullocks
• Decreased ruminal contractions

There is no systemic reaction, and other clinical parameters like pulse rate, heart rate, temperature, etc. are usually in the normal range. In some cases, there may be the passage of abnormal faeces, which include soft faeces containing undigested feed particles.

Diagnosis of Simple Indigestion

Diagnosis is made based on the following:

• History: Recent purchase of animal, change in type of feed or environment.
• Clinical signs: partial or complete anorexia, decreased ruminal contraction but all other parameters are normal.
• Physical and chemical examination of ruminal fluid in large animals: there will be decreased rumen contractions and rumen may be doughy.
• pH: There may be mild variation in pH (Normal 6.8 to 7.2)
• Reduced concentration of microflora but not nil (++ to + change)
• Activity of protozoa : Protozoa are large, medium, and small. All three types should have normal activity or motility; non-motile and any one type of protozoa are suggestive of a change in the rumen pH.

Differential diagnosis

Simple indigestion should be differentiated from all ruminal disorders:

Acid indigestion or lactic acidosis

Drastic pH decrease is less than 5.5 with the absence of protozoa and a history of access to a high-carbohydrate diet. Animals will be totally dull. Splashing sound on ruminal palpation; subacute type of microflora will be +, but activity is nil.

Alkaline indigestion

History of access to a high-protein or urea diet. In the acute stage, it may be life-threatening, but the animal is recumbent. Some animals show CNS signs.

TRP (Traumatic Reticulo Peritonitis)

Ruminal contractions are dependent on reticular contractions, resulting in decreased appetite. Presence of grunt upon pressing near the xiphoid region and recurrent tympani.

Displacement of abdomen

Signs are typical bellowing just in front of paralumbar fossa in mid abdominal region. This is common immediately after parturition due to involvement of uterus:

• Passing of scanty faeces
• Signs of abdominal pain
• If fluid is collected, have pH 2, colour is amber and no microflora

Vagus indigestion

Chronic tympany or recurrent tympany could be seen in case of vagus indigestion.

Treatment of Simple Indigestion

To improve ruminal contractions fallowing therapeutic regimen is adapted:

• Calcium supplementation: Sub therapeutic dose of calcium borogluconate @ 100-150ml, preferably given SC so that the ruminal musle tone is maintained by slow release.
• MgSO₄ Supplementation: low dose carminative, high dose act as ruminotoric (100-150gm) and at very high dose act as laxative.
• Antimony potassium tartarate supplementation: Antimony ions which are released, induce abomasal irritation and stimulate ruminal contraction. Example is boviram bolus (contains FeSO₄ & Cobalt).
• External supplementation of yeast.
• Vitamin B complex & liver extract preparations: one of the causes for anorexia is sub-optimal liver efficiency in lactic acidosis. Example for this is Belamyl injection (10 ml for large animal, 2-3 ml for small animals)
• Cud transplantation: transplanting cud from healthy animal to affected animal (Dose: 5 to 10 ml/kg body weight)