Internal abscesses in cattle and their management under field conditions

Internal abscesses in cattle present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, particularly under field conditions. This study describes the diagnosis and management of internal abscesses in six cattle presenting with various clinical ailments. Diagnosis was based on physical examination and exploratory laparotomy. Recurrent bloat was noted in five of the six animals, and all exhibited leukocytosis. Abscesses were identified at multiple abdominal locations. Management strategies were tailored to individual cases: excision of abscess pockets through left flank laparotomy in two cattle; rumenotomy with foreign body removal followed by abscess aspiration in two cases; rumenotomy combined with a ventral abdominal incision for abscess lancing in one case; and lancing of the abscess via left flank laparotomy with placement of a Foley catheter in one animal. Three cattle recovered uneventfully. One case developed a postoperative ventral abdominal wall hernia, and one animal with an abscess between the dorsal abdominal wall and urinary bladder died 15 days post-surgery; necropsy revealed extensive abscessation. One animal was sold by the owner after surgery. Overall, the findings emphasize that successful diagnosis and management of internal abscesses in cattle require thorough physical examination and individualized, case-specific surgical approaches.