Abstract
A 2-month-old Simmental heifer presented for acute onset of neurological behavior. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and hypokalemia that improved with intravenous fluid therapy. Despite an initial cessation of neurological signs, symptoms re-emerged, and the heifer was euthanized due to poor prognosis. A pituitary abscess (Trueperella pyogenes) was observed on gross necropsy, suggesting that the effects of panhypopituitarism (inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and/or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretion) may have resulted in the clinical findings. Pituitary abscess syndrome carries a poor prognosis due to the inability to penetrate the area with systemic antibiotic therapy. These findings highlight the unusual clinical presentations that may occur following pituitary abscess syndrome in cattle that practitioners need to consider when determining prognosis.
Highlights
Hydration status was adequate as determined by normal skin tenting and capillary refill time of
A Stat profile consisting of a blood gas and chemistry (Critical Care Xpress, Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA, USA) was performed on heparinized whole blood, and revealed a respiratory alkalosis
Physical examination revealed that she was of normal hydration, ruling out diarrhea as a cause of hyponatremia
Summary
A 2-month-old Simmental heifer presented to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching. Hospital for a 2-week history of lethargy and an acute onset of star-gazing behavior that the owner noticed that morning. The owner reported that the heifer had a bout of diarrhea approximately. 1 month ago that resolved quickly with treatment. On arrival to the hospital, the heifer was ambulatory, extremely agitated, running into objects, and displaying neurological behaviors such as star-gazing and head-pressing. The heifer was tachycardic (108 beats/min, reference range: 40–100 beats/min [1]) and exhibited a normal respiratory rate (36 breaths/min, reference range: 25–40 breaths/min [1]). Hydration status was adequate as determined by normal skin tenting and capillary refill time of
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
