Respiratory distress due to a laryngeal mass in a Holstein cow

Abstract

A five year old Holstein cow was presented to the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital with respiratory noise of several months and anorexia of approximately two weeks duration. She had been treated with flunixin meglumine and penicillin with no signs of improvement. The respiratory noise had gradually increased and the cow's condition worsened over a two week period. She developed a fever, began losing weight and milk production dropped from 125# to 85# or less. The cow had been born and raised on the farm and was 74 days fresh. The calving was normal and no oral or jugular IV medication had been administered since freshening. The only change in environment was the addition of two calves purchased at auction in Fon du Lac, Wisconsin two weeks prior to the onset of signs.