Karl Nuss

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Verified

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• Prof. Dr. med. vet., Dipl. ECVS
• Professor emeritus, Senior Researcher at University of Zurich

The manner in which the claws contacted the ground at the walk was evaluated in 18 healthy heifers. The animals were filmed before and after claw trimming while walking on a treadmill using high-speed cinematography (500 frames/s). For each limb, 4 consecutive steps were recorded from a side and a frontal plane. The objectives of the study were to...

The aim of this study was to compare measurements of the medial and lateral claws of the hind feet in cattle, and to establish reference values to aid in functional claw trimming. Variables of the medial and lateral claws of 40 hind feet obtained from 40 slaughtered German Simmental cows were measured. To standardise the observations the soles of b...

The modern dairy industry is plagued by a high prevalence of claw horn lesions in cows, which cause lameness, affect well-being, limit milk production, and are responsible for premature removal of cows from the herd. The lateral hind claws are primarily affected, and this has been linked to a relatively higher load being exerted on the lateral claw...

The high prevalence of claw lesions in dairy cows necessitates the investigation and hopefully elimination of factors involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of these disorders. Indirect genetic selection for specific conformation traits in feet and legs has been evaluated as a means of improving claw health but to date has not been successful. C...

Footbaths: the solution to digital dermatitis? Multifactorial contagious claw diseases, particularly digital dermatitis complex (Bargai, 1998), have become a universal problem in dairy operations. They have a substantial effect on the well being of the animals, which consequently results in decreased production. It is quite likely that diseases s...

Surgical procedures involving the tarsal joint are common in cattle. Indications for tarsal surgery include joint lavage, arthrotomy, the treatment of injuries, and hygromas. The goal of the present study was to lay the foundation for a reliable method of nerve block desensitisation of the bovine tarsus. Two nerve block techniques were simulated in...

Ileus attributable to compression of the small intestine describes extensive constriction of the intestine by nearby space-occupying lesions or other abdominal organs. This retrospective study describes the findings in 35 cows with ileus caused by CSI (compression of the small intestine) by adhesions, abscesses, and the gravid uterus. Colic occurre...

Background Small intestinal obstruction (SIO) is a blockage of the intestinal lumen by blunt foreign bodies, neoplasms originating from the intestinal wall or thick chyme. This study analysed the medical records (only data) of 110 cattle with SIO and described the clinical findings, treatment and outcome. These findings were compared between surviv...

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings, treatment, and outcome of cattle with small intestinal incarceration (SII) through internal and external hernias. METHODS The medical records of 85 cattle with SII admitted between January 1, 1987, and December 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. The long-term outco...

Poor limb conformation in cattle is believed to be closely associated with claw and limb disorders. In this descriptive study, the limb conformation in calves was evaluated objectively using joint angle measurements. A total of 100, 30- to 90-day-old, heifer calves of the Brown Swiss (n=50) and Holstein (n=50) breeds were photographed from both sid...

Background Torsion of the spiral colon (TSC) describes twisting of the spiral colon around its mesentery. The present study reviewed the medical records of 58 cows and heifers with TSC and described the findings, treatment and outcome. Results All cases had an abnormal general condition, and the main vital sign abnormalities were tachycardia (72.4...

Zusammenfassung Gegenstand und Ziel Die hier vorgelegte Arbeit soll eine aktuelle Bestandsaufnahme der Kühe der Hinterwälder Rasse in Baden-Württemberg und in der Schweiz vorlegen. Weiterhin sollen die Leistungsdaten und die registrierten Abgangsursachen der Hinterwälder Kühe mit denen der Vorderwälder-, Holstein- und Fleckviehkühe in Baden-Württem...

Background Intestinal strangulation is constriction of the intestine by a band of tissue, ligament or blood vessel causing partial or complete intestinal obstruction. This retrospective study describes the clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings, treatment and outcome of 60 cows with intestinal strangulation. Results The general conditi...

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic findings; treatment; and outcome of cattle with mesenteric torsion (MT). ANIMALS 61 cattle with MT between November 1, 1986, and December 31, 2019. METHODS Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Results were compared for cattle that survived versus did not survive to hos...

Background: Intussusception is a form of ileus of the intestines in which an oral intestinal segment slides into the adjacent aboral intestinal segment, causing obstruction of the bowel. Methods: We analysed the medical records of 126 cattle with intussusception of the small intestine. Results: Demeanour and appetite were abnormal in 123 cattl...

The goal of this study was to investigate the hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in healthy and ill cows and their newborn calves. A total of 40 cows and their 42 newborn calves were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of 19 clinically healthy cows and their 20 newborn calves, and group 2 comprised 21 cows that had had a chronic illness in th...

Background Although left and right displacement of the abomasum and abomasal volvulus are well-known disorders of cattle, a comparative evaluation of the clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings of these types of abomasal displacements has not been undertaken. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare these conditions in a lar...

A 14‐year‐old alpaca and a 3‐year‐old llama presented independently with vague symptoms of abdominal discomfort. Bloodwork was unremarkable in the alpaca, but showed signs of sepsis in the llama, and abdominal ultrasonography was normal in both animals. Abdominal radiography revealed a metallic gastrointestinal foreign body in both cases. Ventral m...

Introduction: The study aimed to describe clinical indications for eye enucleation and exenteration, the occurrence of complications and long-term outcome in cattle, and examine owners' attitude towards enucleation and exenteration and their satisfaction with the surgical outcome. Medical records from the two veterinary teaching hospitals in Switz...

Mandibular fractures in cattle – a review of 108 cases Mandibular fractures are among the most common fractures in cattle. The medical records of 108 cattle with a mandibular fracture, that were referred to the University of Zurich Veterinary Hospital from 2005 to 2019, were analysed to document the types of treatment, complications and long-term o...

Introduction: Mandibular fractures are among the most common fractures in cattle. The medical records of 108 cattle with a mandibular fracture, that were referred to the University of Zurich Veterinary Hospital from 2005 to 2019, were analysed to document the types of treatment, complications and long-term outcomes. Cattle, still alive at the time...

Zusammenfassung Gegenstand und Ziel Kühe mit Labmagenulkus und Reticuloperitonitis traumatica (RPT) weisen zum Teil ähnliche Laborbefunde auf. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war es, die Häufigkeit der individuellen Laborparameter bei Kühen mit Reticuloperitonitis traumatica, Labmagenulkus Typ 1 (U1), Typ 2 (U2), Typ 3 (U3), Typ 4 (U4) und T...

Clinical case presentations detail unique and clinically relevant anatomical features about the ruminant shoulder, antebrachium, distal limb, and claws.

Clinical case presentations detail unique and clinically relevant anatomical features about the ruminant shoulder, antebrachium, distal limb, and claws.

Background Type-4 abomasal ulcers (U4) are perforated ulcers causing diffuse peritonitis. This retrospective study describes the clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic findings in 38 calves with U4. The medical records of 38 calves aged three days to 20 weeks with U4 were scrutinised. Results The most common clinical findings were poor general...

p>INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of osteochondral changes in the metatarsal growth plates of fattening bulls was investigated. Plantarodorsal radiographic views of the metatarsal region of 204 hind legs from 102 slaughtered fattening bulls were taken. Radiographic lesions in metatarsal growth plates were confirmed in selected cases using computed tom...

The prevalence of osteochondral changes in the metatarsal growth plates of fattening bulls was investigated. Plantarodorsal radiographic views of the metatarsal region of 204 hind legs from 102 slaughtered fattening bulls were taken. Radiographic lesions in metatarsal growth plates were confirmed in selected cases using computed tomography (n=14) a...

Eating and rumination variables were recorded using a pressure sensor integrated into the noseband of a halter in 60 cows with left displaced abomasum (LDA) before and after postoperative administration of flunixin meglumine (FM). Group 1 comprised 9 healthy control cows that were used to establish reference intervals. Group 2 included 60 cows with...

Case description: 3 neonatal female calves (ages, < 1 to 4 days) were examined because of mandibular trauma. Clinical findings: Physical examination indicated that each calf had an open fracture of the mandibular pars incisiva (rostral mandibular fracture) with ventral displacement of the incisors at the affected region. Oral radiographs were ob...

In standing dairy cows, the medial claws carry most of the load of the forelimb. The goal of our experimental study was to investigate how even load distribution can be achieved between the paired forelimb claws through foot trimming. We measured vertical ground reaction forces, mean and maximum pressures, and contact areas under the sound forelimb...

claw and limb health, case report

Background: A number of laboratory abnormalities occur in cows with traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) as well as in those with abomasal ulcers (AU). This prompted us to compare the frequencies of laboratory abnormalities of healthy cows and cows with TRP and cows with abomasal ulcers and to calculate diagnostic sensitivities and specificities, pr...

Objective: Claw health and carpal and tarsal lesions were assessed in a dairy herd during the transition from a tie-stall to a free-stall barn. The stress associated with the change in housing was also evaluated. Materials and methods: The initial size of the herd was 57 dairy cows, which were evaluated 4 times, 4-5 months apart, in a hoof-trimming...

Background: Clinical signs of traumatic reticuloperitonitis and abomasal ulcer are often similar making the disorders difficult to differentiate. The goal of our study was to compare the frequency of individual clinical signs of cows with traumatic reticuloperitonitis and cows with abomasal ulcers and determine their diagnostic significance. The f...

Peripheral arterial aneurysm is a rarely documented condition in animals. In the present report, the authors describe a four-month-old male goat with a persisting firm mass in the scapular region with no signs and history of previous trauma. A multimodal imaging approach was used to visualise characteristic features attributed to peripheral aneurys...

Introduction: This study included 94 cows aged 2.1 to 12.0 years (5.2 ± 2.05 years) that were examined at a referral clinic because of type-1 abomasal ulcer. The most common clinical findings were poor general health status (94%), partial or complete anorexia (93%), congested scleral vessels (89%), decreased skin surface temperature (76%), decreas...

Traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) in cattle is caused by ingested nails, pieces of wire, and other nonmetallic materials that injure the reticular wall. Clinical signs of acute TRP may include anorexia, fever, drop in milk production, rumen atony and tympany, abdominal pain, an arched back, a tucked up and “guarded” abdomen and spontaneous grunti...

Objective: To describe the clinical signs, conservative treatment, and short- and long-term outcomes of lateral radioulnar subluxation in cattle. Animals: Three cattle with lateral radioulnar subluxation. Study design: Case series. Methods: One 3-year-old Red Holstein cow, one 2-year-old Red Holstein cow, and one 9-month-old Holstein heifer...

This study involved 145 cows with type-2 abomasal ulcer. The most common clinical signs were, in decreasing order of frequency, depressed demeanour (100%), partial or complete anorexia (93%), rumen atony (91%), tachycardia (90%), dark or black manure (80%), prolonged capillary refill time (71%), pale mucous membranes (69%)and tachypnoea (62%). The...

Background This study evaluated the clinical, laboratory, ultrasonographic and pathological findings in 87 cows aged 2 to 10 years (4.5 ± 1.5 years) with type-4 abomasal ulcer. Results The most common clinical findings were in decreasing order compromised health status accompanied by partial or complete anorexia (100%), abdominal guarding (81%), c...

Background: The treatment of traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) in cattle has a long and impressive history that goes back more than 100 years. This study describes treatment for TRP in 503 cattle. Initial treatment was based on radiographic findings; cattle with a foreign body attached to a magnet were treated conservatively using antibiotics, a...

Background: Obstructive urolithiasis is a common disease associated with a guarded prognosis in small ruminants. Hypothesis/objective: The results of physical examination, laboratory analyses, and clinical management of male small ruminants presented to 2 referral clinics were investigated to identify variables significantly associated with dise...

This study involved 503 cattle with traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP), 494 of which underwent ultrasonographic and 484 radiographic examination of the reticulum. Ultrasonography revealed changes in the reticulum and/or peritoneum suggestive of peritonitis in 403 (83%) cattle, a decrease in the amplitude of reticular contractions in 244 (54%) and...

Background: The study evaluated the results of clinical examination and haematological and serum biochemical analyses in 503 cattle with traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP). Results: The most common clinical findings were abnormal demeanour and general condition (87%), decreased rumen motility (72%), poorly digested faeces (57%), decreased rumen...

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lameness scoring and clinical findings. The lameness scoring and a gait assessment took place during drying off, the first week after calving and two months after calving in 29 lame and 27 free of lameness cows. In between the farmer scored the lamness. Most of the lameness occurred...

The aim of the study was to clarify how lameness and its severity in dairy cows at the time of drying off will affect the milk performance and fertility in the following lactation when treated appropriately at the time of drying off. The lameness scoring and a gait assessment took place during drying off, in the 1st week after calving, as well as 2...

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lameness scoring and clinical findings. The lameness scoring and a gait assessment took place during drying off, the first week after calving and two months after calving in 29 lame and 27 free of lameness cows. In between the farmer scored the lamness. Most of the lam...

Introduction: The aim of the study was to clarify how lameness and its severity in dairy cows at the time of drying off will affect the milk performance and fertility in the following lactation when treated appropriately at the time of drying off. The lameness scoring and a gait assessment took place during drying off, in the 1st week after calvin...

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective study was to document secondary wound healing and outcome in 20 cattle that had undergone digit amputation at the level of the distal metaphysis of the first phalanx between April 2009 and June 2015. The surgical technique for amputation was simple and fast, and granulation tissue covered the stump of th...

Zusammenfassung Lokalanästhetika ermöglichen es, chirurgische Eingriffe am Wiederkäuerpatienten in der Praxis schmerzfrei, effizient und kostengünstig vorzunehmen. Eine Kombination aus Sedation, Fixation und Lokalanästhesie kann bei vielen Indikationen (z. B. Kastration, Klauenamputation) die Allgemeinanästhesie ersetzen. Für eine Vielzahl von Eing...

The use of local anaesthesia in ruminants allows many surgical procedures to be conducted free of pain, efficiently and inexpensively in the field. Local anaesthesia combined with sedation and immobilisation of the animal can replace general anaesthesia for many procedures (e. g. castration, claw amputation). The level of difficulty differs among v...

Background Published reports of rib fractures in adult cattle are limited to the occurrence of chronic rib swellings caused by calluses, which are unremarkable from a clinical standpoint, whereas studies identifying clinical signs of rib fractures were not found in a literature search. This report describes the clinical and postmortem findings in f...

Introduction: Eating and rumination behaviour in 22 cows with traumatic reticuloperitonitis was recorded after the start of treatment. Based on the results of clinical, ultrasonographic and radiographic examinations, the cows were divided into two groups: Group A consisted of 12 cows without an intramural or perforating foreign body and group B ha...

Objective: To describe the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of fetlock breakdown due to interosseus medius muscle rupture in cattle. Study design: Retrospective clinical study. Animals: Dairy heifers with unilateral or bilateral interosseus medius muscle rupture (n = 11). Methods: Breakdown injury due to rupture of the interosseus medius...

The aim of this retrospective study was to document secondary wound healing and outcome in 20 cattle that had undergone digit amputation at the level of the distal metaphysis of the first phalanx between April 2009 and June 2015. The surgical technique for amputation was simple and fast, and granulation tissue covered the stump of the first phalanx...

Diseases of the bovine digit remain the major cause of painful lameness in cattle and commonly constitute a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Prompt surgical wound revision is critical in acute injuries. Deep infections may be treated with debridement, resection of tendons, synovioscopy, joint lavage, arthrotomy and facilitated j...

The digital skeleton of the hindlimbs was evaluated radiographically in 27 standing Brown Swiss heifers. The lateral digital skeleton was significantly longer than its medial counterpart on both a hard (wooden block) and a softer (wooden block covered with a thin rubber mat) surface. There were no significant differences between lengths measured on...

Zusammenfassung Bei einem 250 kg schweren weiblichen Jungrind mit Koliksymptomen wurde als Ursache eine Harnsteinerkrankung der rechten Niere dia - gnostiziert. Nach Fehlschlagen der medikamentösen Therapie fiel die Entscheidung zu einer Nephrektomie. Die Operation wurde nach Resektion der letzten Rippe am stehenden Tier begonnen, musste jedoch unt...

This retrospective study investigated possible risk factors for intermittent upward fixation of the patella and the outcome of medial patellar desmotomy in 12 cows. All but one young cow had distinctive clinical signs, which usually started in the periparturient period. Medial patellar desmotomy led to normalisation of the stride in 10 cows but did...

Two calves were referred because of ptyalism and difficulty opening the mouth (Calf 1) and for elective umbilical hernia surgery under inhalation anaesthesia (Calf 2). Additional clinical signs were increased breath sounds and swelling in the region of the mandibular angle in Calf 1. Ultrasonography and endoscopy revealed oral inflammation and absc...

This review describes causes, clinical signs, metabolic changes in serum and peritoneal fluid, diagnosis and treatment of uroperitoneum. Rupture of the bladder or urachus is the most common cause of uroperitoneum. The main clinical sign is a pear-shaped enlargement of the abdomen accompanied by gradual deterioration in demeanour and appetite. Ultra...

Summary The larger aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between weightbearing and claw health in cattle. For this purpose, we measured the ground reaction forces and the pressure distributions in all four claws of cattle standing on a level surface, a surface with a 3% incline toward the front legs and on two different rubber mats...

In this study, the disparity between the lengths of the lateral and medial digit in cows with a Rusterholz sole ulcer compared to non-affected cows was investigated. In total, 100 hind feet were collected from slaughtered cows. Twenty-five feet had a pre-ulcerative lesion at the typical site, 26 had an ulcer < 1 cm² and 24 had an ulcer > 1.5 cm². T...

Objective: Kinetic data of stride characteristics and ground reaction forces of cattle become increasingly important as automated lameness detection may be installed in dairy cow housing systems in the future. Therefore, sound heifers and cows were measured on an instrumented treadmill to collect such basic data. Material und methods: Nine heife...

This case report describes the clinical, ultrasonographic and pathological findings in a 4.5-year-old Grisons striped goat with abscessation of the mesenteric lymph nodes. The goat had a poor appetite, tense abdomen and reduced ruminal motility. There was neutrophilic leukocytosis, and a serological test for Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was p...

Objective: In this study, the disparity between the lengths of the lateral and medial digit in cows with a Rusterholz sole ulcer compared to non-affected cows was investigated. Material and methods: In total, 100 hind feet were collected from slaughtered cows. Twenty-five feet had a pre-ulcerative lesion at the typical site, 26 had an ulcer < 1 cm²...

A two-year-old Braunvieh heifer was presented with a traumatic luxation of the second phalanx of the medial digit and concurrent subluxation of the second phalanx of the lateral digit of the right hindlimb. Closed reduction of both luxations was possible. Surgical arthrodesis was achieved using one narrow 4.5 mm three-hole equine locking compressio...

Ultrasonography of a six-year-old Simmental cow revealed an abscess like structure, approximately 15 cm in diameter, in place of the right kidney. The cow had a history of colic for 4 days and was referred to our clinic with a tentative diagnosis of caecal dilatation. The cow voided dark opaque urine with white floccules. Laboratory examination yie...

The role of biomechanical factors in the development of sole ulcer in dairy cattle

Evidence-based criteria that promise the best treatment outcome for bovine fracture patients have not been established. Internal fixation with plates and screws allows successful management of many long bone fractures in calves as well as in heavier cattle. Intramedullary pins may be better or equally suited for repair of humerus or femoral fractur...

Border disease (BD) virus belongs to the genus Pestivirus together with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) genotypes 1 and 2 and classical swine fever virus (Pletnev and others 2011). The pathogenicity of BD virus for bovine fetuses has been recognised early (Gibbons and others 1974), but only since 1994 has renewed attention been drawn to the mut...

To evaluate clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of cattle with sinonasal cysts. Case series. Cattle (n = 15). Medical records (2004-2011) of cattle with a fluid-filled mass in the nasal cavity, conchae, and/or paranasal sinuses were evaluated. Data retrieved and analyzed were reason of presentation, clinical signs, diagnostic technique...

Tha book is available at Landwirtschaftliche Lehrmittelzentrale Länggasse 79, CH-3052 Zollikofen or you can borrow th book from our vet library: barbaraschneider @vetbiblio.uzh.ch or servicesGvetbiblio.uzh.ch. Best regards Hans Geyer

Abstract CASE HISTORY: A 5 month old valuable Red Holstein bull presented with a cutaneous mass on the fetlock of the right, hind limb. The mass was removed and histologically diagnosed as a benign angiomatosis. Four months later, the mass reoccurred on the same leg. The first excision biopsy consisted of numerous blood vessels of different diamete...

To describe surgical treatment of herniation of the gravid uterus through the mesoduodenum, displacement of the descending duodenum around the gravid uterus, and concurrent herniation of the small and large intestines into the omental bursa in a cow. Clinical report. Three-year-old, five-month-pregnant Swiss Braunvieh cow. Repositioning of the disp...

A 10-month-old Brown Swiss heifer was referred to our clinic be- cause of pollakiuria, stranguria and tenesmus. Ultrasonography and endoscopy revealed a cyst-like lesion at the apex of the urinary bladder. The apex of the bladder was surgically removed with the patient in dorsal recumbency under general anaesthesia. Histological examination reveale...

Hock lesions are the most common husbandry-related disease of the locomotor system in dairy cattle. These conditions are referred to as technopathies. The prevalence of tarsal lesions ranges from 40 to 70% and thus, from a welfare standpoint, clearly exceeds an acceptable level. These lesions usually indicate inadequate stall or cubicle design in d...

Pharyngeal trauma in cattle can occur during the administration of oral medication using a balling gun. The number of cases of severe complications due to bolus application that have been referred to our hospital has increased from nil between 1996 and 2008 to three or four per year. In our experience, reports by bovine veterinarians of patients wi...

Internal intestinal hernia was diagnosed during laparotomy in 18 cattle with a tentative diagnosis of ileus; the diagnosis was made during a second laparotomy in two cases. In 14 cattle, the hernial orifice was in the visceral layer of the greater omentum and the intestines had herniated into the caudal recess of the omental bursa. In two animals b...

Ein 10 Monate altes, weibliches Braunviehrind zeigte Pollakisurie, Strangurie und Tenesmus. Ultrasonographisch und endoskopisch ließ sich ein zystisches Gebilde am Harnblasenpol darstellen. Das Rind wurde unter Vollnarkose in Rückenlage operiert und die Zubildung zusammen mit dem Harnblasenpol reseziert. Die histologische Untersuchung ergab den Bef...