Survival of dairy cattle presumptively suffering from idiopathic pericardial hemorrhage using parenteral dexamethasone or isofluprednone acetate

Abstract

A total of 81 female dairy cows were treated with corticosteroids for presumed hemorrhagic idiopathic pericardial effusion over a 34-month period on a 2,200 cow dairy in southern Wisconsin. Individual cattle were treated with either dexamethasone or isofluprednone acetate based upon pregnancy status. The median age and days-in-milk at the time of diagnosis was 49 months and 181 days for those receiving dexamethasone (n=51), and 47 months and 316 days for those receiving isofluprednone acetate (n=30), respectively. Mean survival time from time of diagnosis for the non-pregnant group was 131 days +/- 101 days, which did not differ significantly from the slightly shorter mean survival time of 114 days +/- 111 days in the pregnant cow group. Mean mature equivalent milk production for the lactation at the time of diagnosis also did not differ between groups (27,792ñ6,096 lb (12,633ñ2,771 kg) in the group receiving dexamethasone, compared to 30,970ñ4,325 lb (14,077ñ1,966 kg) in the group receiving isofluprednone). Previous accounts of this condition have documented extended survival times following hospital-based treatment that has typically included pericardial drainage. However, our findings underscore the possibility that commercial cattle can be treated on-farm with corticosteroids without the need for drainage, and that extended survival times, reproductive, and lactational performance can still be achieved.