Splenectomy for treatment of suppurative splenitis caused by a reticular foreign body in a heifer.
OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical findings and treatment of a heifer with suppurative splenitis.


METHODS
Clinical report.


METHODS
A 30-month-old heifer.


METHODS
Splenectomy in the standing calf after local anesthesia and 13th rib resection.


RESULTS
The heifer had an uneventful recovery but was culled because of septic tarsitis 3 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
Splenectomy is a useful treatment for cattle with traumatic splenitis if diagnosed early. Partial splenectomy may have prevented the late complication of septic tarsitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Suppurative splenitis is usually a complication of hardware disease and has a grave prognosis unless splenectomy is carried out.
Nuss
Karl
K
Department of Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. karl.nuss@lmu.de
Forster
Eva
E
Reichert
Christof
C
Muggli
Evelyne
E
Braun
Ueli
U
D000818:Animals; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000150:complications; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D012159:Reticulum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*