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 with severe and often fatal pharyngeal trauma, which were not referred to the clinic, have become more common in recent years as well. The incidence of this complication is likely to be higher than this number of referrals suggests. Diagnosis without the help of imaging techniques, such as radiography and endoscopy, may be difficult, especially in cases where exploration of the pharynx cannot be carried out, or is unable to confirm the absence or presence of a lesion. Prognosis is often poor in cases where perforation has been confirmed. Boluses are increasingly administered by the owners or farm personnel without the supervision of a veterinarian. In order to prevent losses due to balling gun-induced injuries, the veterinarian plays a crucial role in giving advice to his clients. Five cases of cattle suffering from varying degrees of balling gun-induced trauma are presented, and consideration is given to incorrect application techniques. suffering from balling gun induced traumata are illustrated. All animals had been 24 administered boluses by laymen. Some of the animals had reportedly shown defensive 25 movements during the procedure. All affected cattle showed reduced appetite promptly after 26 the procedure. At presentation, dyspnea and swelling of the throat were evident in three 27 patients. Increased salivation was observed in two animals. Diagnosis was aided in all cases 28 by endoscopic examination. Three animals had to be euthanized due to the severity of the 29 lesions or the lack of improvement despite surgical and medical treatment. One cow was 30 discharged from the hospital two weeks after successful removal of a broken bolus from the 31 animal´s esophagus. This report illustrates that it is of marked importance that veterinarians 32give adequate advice on the correct use of balling guns prior to their use by the producer, 33 and that they are able to recognize complications and the respective clinical symptoms of 34 oropharyngeal or esophageal traumata. Additionally, they should be able to inform the owner 35 about the treatment options and prognosis when suspecting a perforating lesion after bolus 36 administration. 37 38 Background

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Background: Floppy kid syndrome (FKS) affects goat kids in the first month of life and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The condition is characterized by neurological signs that can be ascribed to increased plasma D-lactate concentrations. The source of D-lactate has not been identified conclusively, but D-lactate-producing bacteria in the large intestine are thought to be involved.Objectives: To determine the number of colony-forming unit (CFUs) of certain groups of bacteria in the feces of kids with and without FKS.Animals: Nineteen goat kids with clinical signs of FKS, acidemia (pH ≤ 7.2), and plasma D-lactate concentration >7 mM and 15 healthy goat kids without acidemia (pH >7.2) and D-lactate concentration <1 mM.Methods: In this case-control study, the goat kids were examined clinically and blood was collected to measure D-lactate concentration, blood gases, and acid-base parameters. Fecal samples were collected and the total aerobic bacterial count and CFU counts of coliforms, enterococci, staphylococci, streptococci, lactobacilli, and clostridia were determined using the surface plating method.Results: Goat kids with FKS had a mean plasma D-lactate concentration of 10.9 AE 3.7 mM compared with 0.3 AE 0.9 mM in healthy kids, and significantly greater CFU counts for enterococci, streptococci, staphylococci, and lactobacilli than healthy kids.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The groups of bacteria present in greater numbers in the feces of goat kids with FKS include several D-lactate-producing species, which makes dysbacteriosis a likely cause of the increased plasma D-lactate concentration in FKS.