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. 2025 Jun 11;67(1):32.
doi: 10.1186/s13028-025-00817-6.

Paralytic ileus in 57 cows - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Ueli Braun  1 , Christian Gerspach  2 , Rahel Scheiwiller  2 , Monika Hilbe  3 , Karl Nuss  2
Affiliations

Paralytic ileus in 57 cows - symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Ueli Braun et al. Acta Vet Scand. .

Abstract

Background: Paralytic ileus (PI) also known as functional ileus or adynamic ileus occurs when intestinal motor activity is impaired. Cessation of ingesta passage leads to the accumulation of fluid and gas causing intestinal dilatation. With this type of ileus, intestinal transit is functionally impaired in the absence of a physical obstruction. The present retrospective study describes the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of 57 cows with PI.

Results: Colic occurred in 43.9% of the cows, and intestinal and rumen motility was reduced or absent in 92.9% (52/56) and 82.5% (47/57) of the cows, respectively. Ballottement and/or percussion and simultaneous auscultation on the right were also positive in 82.5% of the cows. Faecal output was minimal or absent in 94.7% (54/57) of the cows, and dilated small intestines and occasionally large intestines were palpated transrectally in 57.1% (32/56). The principal laboratory abnormalities were hypokalaemia (89.4%, 51/57), hypocalcaemia (87.5%, 35/40), hypermagnesaemia (77.5%, 31/40), positive base excess (57.4%, 27/47), acidosis (55.3%, 26/47) and hypercapnia (53.2%, 25/47). Ultrasonography in 50 cows revealed dilated small intestines with reduced or absent motility. Eleven cows had received medical treatment alone, 45 had undergone right flank laparotomy and one was euthanized immediately after clinical examination. Fifty-four (94.7%) cows were discharged and three (5.3%) were euthanized.

Conclusions: Paralytic and mechanical ileus are difficult to differentiate using non-invasive methods, which impacts treatment decisions. The prognosis of cattle with PI is good with adequate treatment.

Keywords: Cattle; Intestines; Paralytic ileus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was not submitted to our institutional ethics committee because it was a retrospective study using medical records of cows that had been referred to our clinic for examination and treatment. No experimental animals were used. Under these circumstances, ethical approval is not required in Switzerland. Consent for publication: All owners signed a consent form allowing us to use the animals and all the associated medical data for scientific analysis and publication. Competing interests: The authors declare they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The most common digestive tract abnormalities found on clinical examination in 57 cows with paralytic ileus. BSA = Ballottement and simultaneous auscultation, PSA = Percussion and simultaneous auscultation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The most common abnormal blood variables in 57 cows with paralytic ileus. Acidosis was defined as a pH below 7.41
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Treatment flowchart for 57 cattle with paralytic ileus
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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