FARM ANIMAL PRACTICE Clinical signs of traumatic

reticuloperitonitis are
non-specific and often
vague

In Practice: first published as 10.1136/inpract.30.10.544 on 1 November 2008. Downloaded from http://inpractice.bmj.com/ on 21 January 2019 by guest. Protected by copyright.
Clinical management of traumatic
reticuloperitonitis in cattle
PETER ORPIN AND DAVID HARWOOD

TRAUMATIC reticuloperitonitis, colloquially referred to as ‘hardware’ or, more recently, ‘tyre wire’
disease, has become increasingly common and is particularly challenging to manage because the
clinical presentation is often vague. This article discusses the diagnosis and treatment of the condition,
and considers the changing clinicopathological pattern of the disease, including penetration of the
rumen wall by migrating metallic fragments. It also suggests some preventive measures that may
be easily implemented on-farm.

Peter Orpin
graduated from 7·0
Bristol in 1983.
AETIOLOGY AND INCIDENCE
He is a partner in 6·0
a 23-vet practice
in Leicestershire
Traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) is caused by frag- 5·0
ments of metal inadvertently eaten by cattle, which
Percentage

where he is primarily
involved in dairy work then progress into the reticulum and may penetrate the 4·0
and management.
He is also a veterinary rumenoreticular wall and migrate through the surround- 3·0
business consultant ing areas of the abdomen and thorax, thus producing
for Anval, a tutor 2·0
for the British clinical signs of local peritonitis/pericarditis. In recent
Cattle Veterinary years, radial steel wire from disintegrating tyres on 1·0
Association’s (BCVA’s)
herd health planning
silage clamps has been incriminated most frequently, but 0
courses, director other metallic fragments such as nails, bits of fencing or 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008*
of a herd health Percentage of diagnoses of traumatic reticuloperitonitis
other wire and metal shards have all been implicated. in adult cattle carcases submitted to the VLA. *January
planning website and
a special lecturer in Data from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) to May inclusive
cattle medicine at suggest that the incidence of tyre wire disease has been
Nottingham. He is a
past-president of the increasing steadily since the early 1990s. VLA surveil- Starcross and Penrith) reported considerably fewer cases,
BCVA. lance data for England and Wales for 2004 to 2008 show the reason for which remains unclear. A total of 86 per
that each of the VLA’s regional laboratories reported cent of all recorded cases occurred in dairy cows and
at least one confirmed case of TRP during this period. 6 per cent in suckler cows (the remaining cases involved
There was, however, marked geographical variation, with either fattening cattle or the class was not recorded).
a particularly high incidence in the Langford and Thirsk Herd outbreaks of significant mortality and mor-
catchment areas. Conversely, other cattle-dense areas (eg, bidity are not uncommon. Monies (2004) described a
Cornish incident in which, over
DIAGNOSES OF TRAUMATIC RETICULOPERITONITIS FROM 2004 TO 2008 a six-month period, approxi-
David Harwood Total adult (>2 years Total TRP Percentage of adult carcase mately 30 per cent of a herd of
graduated from Year old) carcase submissions diagnoses made submissions with diagnosis of TRP 170 cows were affected. Eleven
London in 1974 and
worked in mixed, 2004 458 19 4·1% cows were subjected to postmor-
mainly farm animal,
2005 505 28 5·5%
tem examination, all of which
practice. He works
showed lesions consistent with
at the Winchester 2006 695 40 5·8%
Regional Laboratory tyre wire perforation and peri-
of the Veterinary 2007 674 41 6·1% tonitis. By extrapolating these
Laboratories Agency
(VLA). He is a 2008* 377 13 3·4% figures, it was suggested that the
member of the VLA problem was likely to be wide-
Total 2709 141 5·2%
Cattle Group and
a past-president spread in the affected herd.
From VIDA data. *January to May inclusive. TRP Traumatic reticuloperitonitis
of the BCVA. TRP may be under- or misdi-

In Practice (2008) 544 In Practice ● NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 20 0 8

30, 544-551
agnosed by the farmer and veterinary surgeon. The clin-
ical signs of the disease vary depending on the nature of
the metallic fragments (principally tyre wire) ingested.
Additionally, the use of antibiotic therapy by farmers in

In Practice: first published as 10.1136/inpract.30.10.544 on 1 November 2008. Downloaded from http://inpractice.bmj.com/ on 21 January 2019 by guest. Protected by copyright.
the initial stages may potentially mask its early develop-
ment, making clinical recognition more difficult.

ANATOMY Left lateral view of the

Most heavy metal fragments that are swallowed gravi-
tate to the reticulum, which is situated in the cranial
abdomen of the cow between the seventh and 10th ribs
in the ventral part of the abdomen, in direct apposition
to the abdominal surface of the diaphragm. The mucosal
surface of the reticulum is honeycombed in appearance,
and metallic fragments can become trapped in this struc-
ture as a result of rumen motility, with penetration of the
reticular wall a possible sequela. This can potentially
generate local reticular abscesses, and further migration
can lead to abscesses in adjacent organs such as the liver
and in more distant organs such as the spleen. Continuing
cranial migration of metallic debris can cause penetration
of the diaphragm and pericardial sac, leading to more
severe infection (traumatic pericarditis). Rupture of the
coronary artery can result in rapid and fatal haemorrhage
and cardiac tamponade.
In addition to perforation of the reticular wall, the
VLA has also found perforation sites in the rumen wall
on postmortem examination, with local migration away
from the conventional reticular migration site. In one
unusual case encountered by one of the authors (DH), a
fragment of tyre wire had penetrated the ventral rumen
wall as well as the ventral abdominal wall, resulting in
an abscess on the ventral abdominal surface beneath the
skin. The abscess was lanced and a fragment of wire was
clearly visible within the abscess cavity.
CLINICAL SIGNS
interior of the rumen
and reticulum. The arrow
indicates the close proximity
of the reticulum to the
pericardial sac and heart.
Reproduced, with permission,
from Elsevier and Prof S. Done
■ Reduced or absent rumination;
■ Firmer faeces than normal;
■ Moderate abdominal fill and mild ruminal tympany;
■ Grunting;
■ Difficulty in rising and lying down;
■ Peculiar lying positions (eg, lateral recumbency).
In an uncomplicated, untreated case presented with-
in 48 hours of penetration, such signs would classically
direct the veterinary surgeon towards a diagnosis of
traumatic reticulitis, pericarditis, pleuritis or other pain-
ful abdominal condition.
In the authors’ experience, spontaneous ‘grunting’ is
rarely a feature of current tyre wire cases presented for
veterinary examination (unlike documented descriptions
of TRP). However, a farmer unaccustomed to the disease
may confuse the signs of milk drop with other systemic
diseases (eg, metritis or early toxic mastitis) and may
initiate treatment before seeking veterinary attention.
Clinical signs can rapidly disappear (or may resolve
spontaneously) with antimicrobial and non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory treatment, so a veterinary surgeon
may then be presented, perhaps at a routine fertility visit,
with an animal showing much milder signs three to 10
days after the onset of the disease. This greatly compli-
cates diagnosis.

Clinical signs depend on the organ penetrated by the for- CHRONIC LOCAL PERITONITIS
eign body and the resulting sequelae, but are often very If the acute condition progresses or recrudesces after a
vague and easily overlooked. In the early stages, many period of initial resolution, chronic peritonitis develops
cases present with ill-defined pyrexia of unknown origin. with localised adhesions. Signs of chronic local perito-
When a carcase is submitted to the VLA, the clini- nitis include:
cal signs described by the veterinary surgeon (or owner) ■ Disappointing milk yield;
are recorded. An analysis of these signs in the 141 cases ■ Loss of body condition;
referred to in the table and graph on page 544 is given in ■ Arched back, tense abdomen, smaller rumen, reduced
the table on the right and confirms the wide variation in rumen motility;
presenting signs that a practitioner may be faced with in
confirmed cases of TRP.
PRESENTING CLINICAL SIGNS IN 141 CASES SUBMITTED TO THE VLA
There are initially four potential outcomes of
perforation: Main clinical sign described Number of animals Percentage of total
before death/euthanasia showing the clinical sign showing the clinical sign
■ Acute peritonitis;
■ Chronic local peritonitis; Found dead 38 26·95%

■ Diffuse peritonitis; Malaise 27 19·15%

■ Sudden death. Illthrift/weight loss 22 15·60%

Respiratory signs 10 7·09%

ACUTE PERITONITIS Diarrhoea 9 6·38%
Clinical signs of acute peritonitis include:
Recumbency 7 4·96%
■ Sudden and complete anorexia;
Milk drop 5 3·55%
■ Milk drop of greater than 50 per cent in 24 hours;
Combination of two or more 10 7·09%
■ Pyrexia (39·5 to 40°C); of the signs described above
■ Subacute abdominal pain, manifesting as a ‘tucked-up’
Unknown 13 9·22%
appearance with an arched back in 50 per cent of cases;

In Practice ● NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 20 0 8 545

 Outcomes of perforation of the reticulum by a foreign body

Rupture of

In Practice: first published as 10.1136/inpract.30.10.544 on 1 November 2008. Downloaded from http://inpractice.bmj.com/ on 21 January 2019 by guest. Protected by copyright.
Perforation
gastroepiploic artery

Acute local Acute diffuse

Death
Effective peritonitis peritonitis
treatment

Chronic local Congestive

Recovery Acute pericarditis
peritonitis heart failure

Chronic
pericarditis Cardiac
Vagus
tamponade
indigestion

Culling due to
poor health

Approximate frequency of outcomes:

Least frequent Next frequent Next frequent Most frequent

peritonitis (or both) but apparently ‘recovered’. The main

signs of diffuse peritonitis are:
■ Abdominal enlargement despite anorexia;
■ Absent or limited rumen movement;
■ Toxaemia and shock (skin tent time of the upper
eyelid is more than three seconds);
■ Dehydration (manifesting as sunken eyes);
■ Heart rate >120 beats per minute;
■ Scant faeces;
■ Pain on deep rectal palpation, with ‘clamping’ of the
arm on examination.
Wire (arrow) protruding
through the reticular
wall in an early case of
peritonitis. Picture, VLA

■ Variable temperature, which may be subnormal to

mildly elevated (38 to 39·5°C);
■ Reduced faecal quantity with an increase in undigested
particles;
■ Mildly elevated heart rate (80 beats per minute).
Grunting is not normally a feature at this stage and
ancillary tests such as bar or fist pressure applied to the
xiphisternal area (see later) are not reliable diagnostic
indicators. Definitive diagnosis based on clinical signs
alone may be challenging, and affected cases, especially
those with an absence of pyrexia, may be confused with (above) Wire (arrow) protruding through the reticular wall
chronic indigestion, ketosis or pneumonia. in a case of advanced chronic peritonitis. (below) Local
abscess associated with reticular penetration of a tyre
A significant proportion of affected cows may show wire (arrow). Pictures, VLA
vague signs of ill health, poor production and infertility,
and may be culled without a diagnosis being made. A
suspicion of a herd outbreak may be identified retrospec-
tively during a health and culling audit during which it
becomes clear that culling due to ill health and forced
cull rates are above the target for a particular herd.

DIFFUSE PERITONITIS
In rare cases, a generalised severe peritonitis may develop.
This typically occurs in recently calved animals (possibly
due to the physical expulsive efforts of calving breaking
down localised peritoneal adhesions), which may have
presented previously with signs of either acute or chronic

546 In Practice ● NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 20 0 8

SUDDEN DEATH
Sudden death in apparently healthy cattle can result
from migration of wire directly through the pericardial
sac and perforation of either a coronary vessel or the
heart itself, which can lead to massive haemorrhage into
the pericardial sac and cardiac tamponade. Death may
also occur due to sudden cardiac failure caused by over-
whelming pathology such as pericarditis or myocarditis.
An increase in unexplained deaths such as this should
always be investigated.
DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH
Examination of the bovine abdomen, based on cow-
side and laboratory tests, is described by Cockcroft and
Jackson (2004).
COW-SIDE TESTS
Examination of adult cows in modern farm practice can
often be difficult. Typically, cows may be presented as
part of a herd examination and the facilities and ambient
noise (eg, vacuum pumps) can make diagnosis difficult.
The animal is seldom in an isolated examination box
and is often kept back for examination within a group of
cows. A systematic examination should always be car-
ried out, preferably with a well-restrained cow in a quiet
environment.
By employing a systematic approach to examination,
a veterinary surgeon presented with an animal early
in the acute phase within 24 to 48 hours of the initial
signs occurring and before treatment should be able to
Sudden death and cardiac tamponade in an animal, caused
by a 10 cm length of tyre wire (arrow) that was extracted
following postmortem examination
Wire (arrow) penetrating both the pericardial sac (causing
pericarditis) and the myocardium. Picture, VLA
In Practice ● NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 20 0 8
reliably suspect acute traumatic reticulitis as a possible
diagnosis.
The presentation of a cow with low-grade chronic
local peritonitis three to 10 days after a farmer’s initial
In Practice: first published as 10.1136/inpract.30.10.544 on 1 November 2008. Downloaded from http://inpractice.bmj.com/ on 21 January 2019 by guest. Protected by copyright.
diagnosis and treatment is extremely challenging. The
most consistent findings are:
■ History of abrupt and sudden milk drop over a
24-hour period with no other identifiable cause;
■ Reduced ruminal movements, rumen size and appe-
tite, typically with changes in faecal consistency (firmer,
porridge-like faeces or more undigested particles);
■ Reluctance to repeatedly allow the back to be hyper-
extended as part of the withers pinch test. The abdomen
may be guarded and repeated pinching of the withers
may produce a pain response, which manifests as exces-
sive salivation;
■ Elicitation of a grunt following the bar test. This
involves placing a bar under the xiphisternum with two
operators on either side of the animal who first lift the
bar slowly and then lower it rapidly. This should be per-
formed at least four times;
■ Muffled heart sounds on cardiac examination, which
are suggestive of traumatic pericarditis. In one study,
muffled heart sounds were recorded in 20 of 28 con-
firmed cases of traumatic pericarditis (Braun and others
2007) and it was suggested that a heart rate of over 80
bpm could be considered significant in the diagnosis of
pericarditis;
■ Distension of the jugular veins. In a standing cow,
with its head held in the normal position, the pulse should
be visible in the lower third of the neck only with no dis-
tension cranially. In cases of chronic pericarditis with
‘Bread and butter’ heart due to
severe organising fibrinopurulent
pericarditis. Picture, VLA
Wire (arrow) embedded in the myocardium, which caused
local necrosis and abscess formation. Picture, VLA
547

Placing a stethoscope on the trachea to identify
pain in the anterior abdomen caused by the upward
movement of the fist or the withers pinch or bar
tests may increase the sensitivity of these tests. A
spontaneous grunt may be identified on rare occa-
sions to coincide with the reticulorumen contrac-
tions, an observation referred to as the Williams
test (Williams 1975).
constriction of the pericardium, pronounced distension of
both jugular veins may be visible. This was a consistent
finding in the study by Braun and others (2007), in which
24 of the 28 animals showed the feature;
■ Mild pyrexia. A normal or even mildly subnormal
temperature, however, does not exclude the possibility of
chronic peritonitis or pericarditis (Braun and others 2007).
Further diagnostic methods employed by some
authors include:
■ RADIOGRAPHY. Note, however, the presence of a
metallic object within the rumen is not diagnostic as this
is a common finding;
■ ULTRASONOGRAPHY. This is a useful modality to
check for evidence of local abscesses;
■ EXPLORATORY LAPAROTOMY. This is a simple and
(above) Tyres are often discarded around silage feed faces.
(below) The internal beading of tyres eventually corrodes
and, consequently, the wires are deposited on the silage
sheet and hence enter the feed
548
definitive diagnostic procedure that can be used to
establish the presence of reticulitis or local peritonitis. It
involves making a simple left flank incision in the para-
lumbar fossa under local anaesthesia and carrying out a
In Practice: first published as 10.1136/inpract.30.10.544 on 1 November 2008. Downloaded from http://inpractice.bmj.com/ on 21 January 2019 by guest. Protected by copyright.
manual exploration of the outer surface of the reticulum
and abdomen. If there is evidence of perforation, the sur-
geon can simply proceed to rumenotomy to explore the
contents of the reticulum;
■ ABDOMINAL PARACENTESIS. Analysis of the fluid
obtained may reveal evidence of peritonitis.
LABORATORY TESTS
In cases that require confirmation of a diagnosis, further
laboratory tests may be useful, although haematological
results may not be as convincing in cases of tyre wire
disease compared with more traditional cases of TRP.
These tests are all non-specific and include measure-
ment of the:
■ Total white blood cell count, which will indicate
leucocytosis in cases of TRP;
■ Differential white blood cell count, which will reveal
neutrophilia and left shift in animals with TRP;
■ Acute phase proteins, such as fibrinogen or
haptoglobin, the levels of which will be raised in the
presence of TRP.
SOURCES OF FOREIGN BODIES
TYRE WIRE
The most common cause of traumatic reticulitis is frag-
ments of tyre wire. Tyres are commonly used to weigh
down silage sheets and are generally removed after they
show signs of disintegration. This retrospective removal
combined with the risk of tyres entering feeder wagons
(not an uncommon occurrence and a serious problem if
the feeder is fitted with knives) contributes to the con-
tamination of the feed.
Cramers and others (2005) examined the reticulum of
1491 slaughter cows in Denmark and found metallic for-
eign objects in 16 per cent of the animals. Although only
11 per cent of the metallic objects were tyre wire, 81 per
cent of these generated lesions in the reticulum. The over-
all incidence of foreign body lesions within the reticulum
(which included anything from internal reticular scars
to massive adhesions) was 10 per cent, five times higher
Handling waste tyres
A sequence of hot summers during the 1990s caused
tyres on silage clamps to disintegrate. However, the
Environmental Protection Act 1990 introduced a
duty of care for the handling and disposal of waste
tyres, which has helped to remove old, used tyres.
This Act requires that waste tyres are not handled
illegally and that they are transferred to an author-
ised person for disposal. All authorised waste car-
riers must be registered with the Environment
Agency (or the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency in Scotland) and have a certificate of regis-
tration (Used Tyre Working Group Data 1995). This
effectively prevents a farm vehicle from collecting
waste tyres from the local tyre depot as they used
to previously.
In Practice ● NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 20 0 8
 In Practice: first published as 10.1136/inpract.30.10.544 on 1 November 2008. Downloaded from http://inpractice.bmj.com/ on 21 January 2019 by guest. Protected by copyright.
Large, sloping silage feed
Typical amount of wire in a single tyre. Each tyre has faces weighed down with
up to 80 strands of wire tyres represent a much
greater risk of metallic
contamination

than that found in previous slaughterhouse studies. The

acidic environment within the rumen may dissolve a tyre tration and 92 per cent of
wire within six weeks, so postmortem studies reflect the non-penetrating and 32 per
prevalence of wires rather than the incidence, which may cent of penetrating foreign
be significantly higher. bodies were attached to the
magnets.
OTHER METALLIC FRAGMENTS
A wide variety of metallic fragments, including fencing SURGICAL
wire, nails, staples and high tensile wire from palettes, TREATMENT
have reportedly been found on rumenotomy as a cause of Surgery is the ‘gold stand-
reticulitis. These fragments are more durable and resistant ard’ treatment for traumatic
than tyre wire within the reticulum, although the ability to reticulitis. Immediate sur-
penetrate the reticulum may be lessened due to their shape gery will offer the best
and size. Hateley (2007) described an incident in which 5 results as there is less risk Debris attached to an
intraruminal magnet
to 7 cm lengths of 1 mm copper wire were incorporated in of penetration in the car- removed following
silage and caused TRP. The source was discovered to be diac area. Delayed surgery postmortem examination
remnants of wire following repairs of nearby RAF masts.
McNamara and Baker (2007) suggested that certain pur-
chased feeds may be an unrecognised source of metallic Herd outbreaks
fragments. In this case, an outbreak of TRP was believed
Exposure of the whole herd to an excessive amount of metallic material can
to be due to palm kernel, which had been purchased as
potentially trigger multiple cases of TRP. Risk factors for herd outbreaks
on-farm straights and was thought to be the likely source
include:
of a large amount of metallic debris found on magnets in
■ Total mixed ration feeding;
the mixer wagon. An 18 gauge hypodermic needle was
■ Presence of disintegrating tyres on silage clamps, especially if the process of
found to be the cause of reticular penetration in one cow
sheet removal involves cutting (rather than rolling), and other metallic debris
treated by one of the authors (PO).
on the feed face;
Disintegrating blades on the mixer wagon can also
■ Large, sloping silage clamps;
act as source of metallic fragments and can potentially
■ Untidy farms with tyres and debris near the feed face or fencing wire that
cause TRP (Daniel and Smith 2008).
may enter the feed;
■ Cows having access to bonfire ash where wood and metallic objects have
been burned, resulting in metallic waste entering the reticulum, which effec-
TREATMENT
tively fills the cage magnets and makes them less effective (P. Orpin, personal
observation);
CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT
■ Use of loaders to carry metallic waste, ash and feed, which allows cross-
Therapy involves four components:
contamination of feed;
■ CONFINEMENT. Restricting movement is essential to
■ Feeder wagons with knives or blades that may corrode or cut up a tyre if it
prevent migration of the wire cranially. This will also
enters the feeder;
allow the ruminal magnet, if used, to work;
■ Any silage grab or ‘block cutter’, which may allow a tyre to be dropped into
■ PAIN RELIEF. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflam-
the feeder unseen by the operator.
matory drugs (NSAIDs) for analgesia will greatly speed
recovery. This must be combined with confinement for
optimal results;
■ ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT. At least five days of broad-
spectrum antimicrobial treatment is generally recom-
mended. The preferred treatment is trimethoprim/
sulfonamide, although other broad-spectrum products
are likely to have similar results; Bonfire in the corner of a
■ MAGNET BOLUS. Administration of a magnet bolus dry cow paddock where
cows with pica consumed
on the first day will often aid recovery. Braun and oth- metallic debris and ash,
ers (2003) found that, in a radiographic study of 90 cows which resulted in reticulitis
with reticuloperitonitis, 85 per cent of the magnets were in 10 per cent of the herd
(P. Orpin, unpublished data)
found in the reticulum one to four days after adminis-

In Practice ● NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 20 0 8 549

should be carried out two days after the onset of conserva- ■ Meticulously search each honeycomb area to ensure
tive treatment in all non-responsive cases. Removal of that a foreign body is not missed.
a foreign body by surgery provides clear evidence of the ■ Suture the rumen with a double layer of inverting
diagnosis and indicates what type of material is present sutures, flush it with sterile saline and repair the surgi-

In Practice: first published as 10.1136/inpract.30.10.544 on 1 November 2008. Downloaded from http://inpractice.bmj.com/ on 21 January 2019 by guest. Protected by copyright.
within the reticulum. cal wound in a standard manner.
The surgical procedure is simple and involves a left ■ Administer pre- and postoperative antimicrobial
flank incision in the cranial aspect of the paralumbar treatment and NSAIDs for a minimum of five days.
fossa close behind the last rib. The challenge in large
cows is having sufficient reach to fully explore the retic-
ulum. This must be considered before embarking on the PREVENTIVE APPROACHES
procedure.
HIGH-RISK FARMS
Technique Veterinary surgeons dealing with untidy farms using
■ Make an incision in the cranial, mid/upper third part total mixed rations (especially feeders with knives) and/
of the paralumbar fossa. The objective of the incision or those with disintegrating tyres on the clamps, or any
is to ensure that the operator has maximum reach and farm with a history of suspected traumatic reticulitis,
that the risk of abdominal contamination is kept to a should:
minimum. ■ Administer a ruminal magnet to all cows and heifers
■ Manually inspect the exterior of the reticulum, which on the farm and all heifers entering the herd thereafter.
should reveal the likely site of penetration and whether This costs less than £2/magnet and will greatly help to
there is any peritonitis. In the absence of any signs reduce the incidence of the disease;
References and
of penetration, close the wound, as further surgical ■ Proactively remove all suspect tyres and ensure that further reading
exploration is not required. these are stored or disposed of correctly to prevent them ASHDOWN, R. R. & DONE,
S. (1996) Colour Atlas of
■ Before performing a rumenotomy, protect the lower being used again or inadvertently burned resulting in a Veterinary Anatomy. Vol 1:
part of the surgical wound with a sterile drape and, with large amount of lethal tyre wire in the ash; Ruminants. Edinburgh, Elsevier
BRAUN, U., GANSOHR, B.
the help of a surgical assistant, exteriorise and incise the ■ Discuss with farmers how best to manage the silage & FLUCKIGER, M. (2003)
rumen. The assistant should be tasked to keep the rumen face, stressing the importance of avoiding tyre wires Radiographic findings before
and after oral administration
exteriorised at all times. entering the clamp. This is particularly important where of a magnet in cows with
■ Suture the rumen wall to the skin or use a special- ‘shear grabs’ are being used because tractor operators traumatic reticuloperitonitis.
ist rumenotomy set (Weingart Rumenotomy Set; Kruuse are unable to see if a tyre is caught in the grab; American Journal of Veterinary
Research 64, 115-120
UK) to fix the rumen wall while a rumenotomy is ■ Review the feed types and straights fed to cows to BRAUN, U., ISELIN, U.,
performed. minimise the introduction of metallic objects; LISCHER, C. & FLURI, E. (1998)
Ultrasonographic findings
■ The procedure can usually be safely performed with- ■ Ensure that feeders and rotating tyre feed devices that in five cows before and
out resorting to extra surgical aids. Hold the cranial part push feed up are regularly inspected for decay; after treatment for reticular
abscesses. Veterinary Record
of the rumen with the left hand and introduce the right ■ Prevent cows from accessing any potentially contam- 142, 184-189
hand to explore the left side of the reticulum. An assistant inated bonfire ash. BRAUN, U., LEJEUNE, B.,
should be asked to hold the caudal aspect of the rumen. SCHWEIZER, G., PUORGER,
M. & EHRENSPERGER, F. (2007)
The positions are reversed to explore the right side of the LOWER RISK FARMS Clinical findings in 28 cattle
reticulum. In this way, abdominal contamination from In the case of extended grazing farms and tidy farms with traumatic pericarditis.
Veterinary Record 161, 558-563
rumen contents is avoided without prolonging the opera- with limited exposure to tyres, veterinary surgeons COCKCROFT, P. & JACKSON,
tion unduly. should: P. (2004) Clinical examination
of the abdomen in adult cattle.
■ Ensure farmers are aware of the risk factors; In Practice 26, 304-317
■ Focus on general farm husbandry to control disease. CRAMERS, T., MIKKELSEN,
K. B., ANDERSEN, P.,
ENEVOLDSEN, C. & JENSEN,
H. E. (2005) New types of
SUMMARY foreign bodies and the effect
of magnets in traumatic
reticulitis in cows. Veterinary
TRP caused by tyre wire may be underdiagnosed on Record 157, 287-289
DANIEL, R. & SMITH, G.
many farms. The risk of this disease has increased over (2008) Suspected bovine
the years, which, combined with less opportunity for reticuloperitonitis associated
with the metal components
veterinary surgeons to make diagnoses early in the dis- of a mixer wagon. Veterinary
ease process, can result in significant losses. A proactive Record 162, 563-564
HARWOOD, D. G. (2004)
approach, based on a sound risk assessment, detailed
Alimentary tract perforation
culling reviews, and clinical and postmortem examin- in cattle caused by tyre wire.
ations, will often reveal the underlying problem within Veterinary Record 154, 574-575
HATELEY, G. (2007) Traumatic
a herd. reticuloperitonitis in cows.
Veterinary Record 160, 882
Acknowledgements McNAMARA, S. & BAKER,
The authors would like to thank Iain Piggot, Tracy Bainbridge, I. (2007) Traumatic
Jon Huxley, Eamon Watson and colleagues at the VLA for their reticuloperitonitis in cows.
assistance in preparing this article. VLA input was undertaken Veterinary Record 160,
as part of the scanning surveillance work funded by DEFRA’s 882-883
Food and Farming Group. MONIES, B. (2004) Alimentary
tract perforation in cattle
caused by tyre wire. Veterinary
A Weingart Rumenotomy Set (Kruuse UK) can be used Further information Record 154, 735
to exteriorise and fix the rumen when performing a ■ Used Tyre Working Group data. www.tyredisposal.co.uk/cms/ WILLIAMS, E. I. (1975) The
rumenotomy in order to avoid contamination of the index.php ‘reticular grunt’ test for
peritoneal cavity by spillage of the rumen contents. ■ My Healthy Herd website. www.myhealthyherd.com traumatic reticulo-peritonitis.
Reproduced from Cockcroft and Jackson (2004) ■ Veterinary Laboratories Agency. www.defra.gov.uk/vla Bovine Practitioner 12, 40-47

In Practice ● NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 20 0 8 551