Prevention and treatment of complications of bovine gastrointestinal surgery

Abdominal surgery is the most common major surgical procedure performed by bovine practitioners. Most cattle, particularly dairy cattle, are sufficiently placid that major abdominal procedures are routinely completed with the animal standing, using local anesthesia and minimal physical and chemical restraint. An experienced bovine surgeon who exercises good judgment will infrequently encounter complications associated with this surgery. The purpose of this article is to describe the potential complications related to bovine abdominal surgery, how to avoid them, and how to treat them when they arise.