Every now and then, a veterinarian arrives on farm expecting to carry out a routine job, only to discover something entirely unexpected.
This is the story of one of the classic veterinary findings we like to call: "Something Up the Nose!"
Many of these cases are discovered while we're on farm performing routine work such as:
Sometimes, from somewhere down the race, we hear it.
A faint grunting or snorting sound that gradually becomes louder as a cow approaches. The breathing is laboured, noisy and distinctive, almost resembling a small train engine. Then, as the cow walks away, the sound fades once again.
For experienced vets, that noise often raises immediate suspicion.
This particular case began during a routine fit-for-transport assessment.
As I worked through the mob, assessing animals for issues such as lameness, mastitis and overall health, one cow quickly stood out.
She was exceptionally noisy, breathing with flared nostrils and obvious respiratory effort. In fact, I was almost tempted to make a wager with the farmer. Not on whether we would find a stick lodged in her nose, but on how many.
Once she was safely restrained in the head bail, another clue became immediately apparent: a strong foul odour coming from her nasal passages, suggesting infection and inflammation.
With the cow safely restrained using a halter, I examined her nasal passages.
Sure enough, I could feel the end of the culprit.
Before removing it, I invited the farmer and his two farm staff to have a feel for themselves.
Their suspicions were confirmed.
Two sticks, each approximately 10 cm long and likely originating from a broom plant, were lodged within the cow's nasal passages.
Although there was a small amount of bleeding during removal, the cow was noticeably more comfortable almost immediately afterwards.
She was treated with:
Because of the inflammation and recovery required, she missed her scheduled shipment and travelled with the next consignment instead.
The condition behind cases like this is known as allergic rhinitis.
As the name suggests, allergic rhinitis involves inflammation of the nasal passages, often associated with local irritation or allergic reactions.
In cases involving foreign material such as sticks, it can be difficult to know which came first:
Either way, once irritation and inflammation develop, cows often continue rubbing and aggravating the problem.
Farmers may notice:
Treatment typically involves:
Occasionally, long forceps may be required to investigate deeper into the nasal passages and remove material that cannot be easily seen.
A follow-up examination can also be worthwhile, as additional sticks or plant material may gradually work their way forward and become easier to remove.
If you notice a cow with persistent noisy breathing, snorting, nasal discharge or unusual respiratory sounds, it's worth having them assessed.
While conditions such as allergic rhinitis are often treatable, similar signs can also indicate infection, injury or other respiratory conditions that may require veterinary care.
Sometimes the cause is exactly what you'd expect.
And sometimes it's something sticky.
