Discospondilitis in a Red Angus breed calf

Abstract

The neonatal period is considered critical for the development of a calf, both due to the immaturity of the immune system and the unhealthy environmental conditions in the rearing phase that make the animal susceptible to infections. Although the neonatal period and the rearing phase have a higher incidence of diarrhea, bronchopneumonia and omphalopathies, diseases such as osteomyelitis and discoespondylitis may occasionally occur secondary to infectious foci. The objective of the article is to present a case of discoespondylitis in a three-month-old calf, with a history of pneumonia in the first week of life and, in the second week of life, it began to develop motor coordination disorders, tetraparesis, difficulty raising the head and the neck, in addition to the inability to stand up and stand still, painful sensitivity, especially during flexion and extension of the front and back limbs of the right limb. Complementary exams were performed, the blood count revealed leukocytosis due to neutrophilia, the biochemical profile showed hypoproteinemia. Cervical radiography showed circular radiolucent areas compatible with bone lysis, associated with proliferation and marginal areas of sclerosis, concluding the diagnosis of discospondylitis. The treatment instituted was sulfadoxine with trimethoprim, SID. In this sense, physiotherapeutic treatment with support with the aid of Talha, supervised walks and massage with Dimethylsulfoxide, BID. After complete remission of clinical signs and a new blood count with results within normal limits, the animal returned to the original property.