Muscle Crush Syndrome of Cattle

Muscle damage commonly accompanies bovine secondary recumbency (see Bovine Secondary Recumbency). Tearing of adductor or semitendinosus/membranosus muscles may arise as animals weakened by hypocalcemia attempt to rise. Additionally, the weight of a recumbent animal on dependent muscle groups creates significant increases in intramuscular pressure resulting in decreased perfusion and ischemia of muscle and nerve. Muscle trauma leads to edema and inflammation, both of which may exacerbate local tissue degenerative changes. Mild elevations in serum CK can be expected in cows that are recumbent, but elevations >5000 U/L usually indicate traumatic muscle damage. Treatment requires correcting the underlying cause of recumbency, fluid therapy if renal damage is evident, NSAID, good nursing care, adequate footing and bedding, and lifting or rolling the animal several times a day. Aquatherapy using float tanks for cattle also appears to be beneficial in relieving the pressure on muscle groups.

Last full review/revision March 2012 by Stephanie J. Valberg, DVM, PhD, DACVIM