Archive Case #136: Bovine Frothy Bloat

Clinical Clues

1. A cow on lush legume pasture develops sudden left-sided abdominal distension and respiratory distress.
2. The owner reports the problem appeared shortly after turnout onto a rich paddock.
3. The left paralumbar fossa is markedly distended.
4. Passing a stomach tube does not release a large volume of free gas.
5. The syndrome is caused by stable foam trapping fermentation gases in the rumen.
6. Frothy bloat is a classic pasture-associated emergency in cattle grazing legumes.

Diagnosis

Bovine Frothy Bloat

This case is most consistent with Bovine Frothy Bloat because the cow has acute pasture-associated left-sided distension with poor response to tubing. The most important clues are the legume grazing history and frothy gas trapping pattern, which make free-gas bloat from obstruction less likely.

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.