Ruminal Tympany or Bloat

Ruminal Tympany or Bloat results either due excessive gas production or physical obstruction of the process of eructation of gas. It is solely a disease of Ruminants.

Ruminal tympany, or bloat, is the distention of the rumen, so this is also known as ruminal distension.

Classification of Ruminal Tympany or Bloat

Ruminal Tympany is classified into:

1. Primary / Frothy / Leguminous / Dietary / Pasture Bloat
2. Secondary bloat or Free gas bloat

1. Primary Bloat

Primary Bloat is more life threatening. This bloat is caused due to gas trapping off in the form of stable froth.

2. Secondary Bloat

There is obstruction in eructation in the secondary bloat. Any obstruction in the two pathways (the oesophagus or GI tract) leads to the accumulation of free gas.

Etiology

The most common cause is grazing on lush green, succulent pasture, which is usually immature and in the pre-blooming stage. Leguminous pastures are most commonly associated with frothy bloat.

Fallowing precipitating factors are associated with the frothy bloat:

• Animal factors
• Plant factors
• Microbial factors

Animal factors

Incidence is common in some animals, which are called bloaters, and it is also common in senile animals. The main cause is the low production of saliva, which is rich in mucinous anti-frothing factors, which reduce surface tension.

In draft animals, salivation is associated with feed intake, so less salivation leads to bloat.

In senile animals, more wear and tear on the teeth (table surface) leads to less chewing, causing less salivation and resulting in bloat.

Plant factors

Leguminous plants are more contributing factors; these contain:

• Cytoplasmic Proteins: When these are released, they change into some structures and coat the top layer of the rumen by trapping gas.
• Large amounts of the protein enzyme esterase in leguminous plants act on peptic acid and N-acetyl glucouronide, which convert ruminal contents into more viscous fluid.
• Increased chloroplast particles adhere to the outer surface of gas bubbles, preventing coalescing, and hence gas gets trapped in the form of small bubbles.
• Tannin have anti-frothy action is low in leguminous plants and succulent fodder.

Microbial factors

• Slime-producing bacteria cause a change in the surface tension trapping gas.
• Mucinolytic bacteria cause the lysis or degeneration of mucin present in saliva (Saliva is a frothy agent)
• Rupture of Protozoa (Ophryoscolex spp.) leads to the release of slime-like material, which contributes to the formation of stable froth.

Effects of bloat

• Distension of the abdomen is called capped paralumbar fossa, but later these change to bilateral distension, which results in reduced lung capacity as indicated by laboured respiration.
• If not treated it leads to death due to hypoxia.

Clinical Signs

Per acute bloat can cause death in animals. In acute form, signs are seen within 6–8 hours. Animal stops feeding, there is a steady enlargement of the left The paralumbar fossa, also called the capped appearance of the paralumbar fossa, As the condition worsens, there is restlessness, severe dyspnea, tachycardia, hurried respiration, and sometimes open-mouth breathing with frothy salivation, frequent defecation, and micturation. In some animals, signs of abdominal pain like kicking at the belly and frequent sit-ups are noticed, followed by death.

Diagnosis

• History of access to leguminous fodder.
• By seeing the symptoms: gaseous distension of the abdomen, capped paralumbar fossa, hurried breathing, and open mouth breathing
• Confirmatory differentiation of bloat: Paracentesis of Rumen is the best method. When the paralumbar fossa is punctured, frothy and free gas keeps coming, and the animal feels comfortable.

Treatment

Treatment for ruminal tympany or bloat can be divided into these three:

• First aid for bloat
• Actual treatment for bloat
• Supportive treatment for bloat

First aid for bloat

• Trocarization to release gas
• Placing a stick in the mouth and tying it behind the ear, this helps in eructation of gas. By this animal moves its tongue thus salivation increases and help in reducing formation of froth.
• Animals should be placed in a well-ventilated place.
• Application of coal tar to the tongue also increases the production of saliva, which is rich in mucin.

Actual treatment for bloat

In the actual treatment of bloat, non-ionic surfactants are used to treat tympany of animals:

• Silica in dimethicone: Bloatosil available in both bottles of 100 ml and 250 ml
  • Dose: Adults- 75-100 ml PO q8-12hrs.
  • It helps to coalesce air bubbles and free gas is released easily out, also reduces surface tension.
• Herbal preparations: like Afanil Dabun ayurvet
  • Equally competent with bloatosil and is also less costly
  • Dose is 50 ml for adult by PO or intra-ruminal
• Synthetic polymers are also used like Poloxalene Pleuronic get 64) and Ethyl cellulose gel (Terric Get)
  • Dose: Adults 25-50 gm PO
• Other herbal preparations like Bloatospel
  • Dose: 50-60gm after mixed in water
• Carminatives mixtures

Supportive treatment for bloat

Supportive treatment for bloat consists of anti-histamines (CPM), gastric stimulants, and respiratory stimulants in life-threatening cases.