Treatment of acute rumen dilation with oral administration of activated charcoal

Abstract

Three Holstein steers averaging 250 kg with rumen fistulae were given 8 kg of crushed barley; 12 h later, activated charcoal was orally administered to a steer. Two others remained untreated for control. Changes in blood chemistry, rumen juice and clinical signs were monitored for 24 h. The treated steer recovered without showing critical signs. There was no increase in osmotic pressure and no accumulation of lactic acid in the rumen juice. In 2 control steers rumen pH fell to less than 4.5 at the lowest and osmotic pressure in rumen juice suggested lactic acid acidosis. The control steers died. Oral administration of activated charcoal was applied to 20 cattle suffering from acute rumen dilation by overfeeding of concentrates. Of these, 19 cattle were cured. The recovery was prominent in severely affected cases which had not been able to stand 24 h after overfeeding.