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Traumatic reticuloperitonitis
The cow does not sort what she swallows well: she grabs large mouthfuls and swallows without chewing for long. A metal object mixed with the fodder – a piece of wire, nail, staple, piece of mesh – therefore goes down with the ration. Heavy...
What is it?
The cow does not sort what she swallows well: she grabs large mouthfuls and swallows without chewing for long. A metal object mixed with the fodder – a piece of wire, nail, staple, piece of mesh – therefore goes down with the ration.
Heavy objects fall into the network, a compartment just behind the diaphragm, the wall of which resembles a honeycomb. Contractions of this organ eventually push the sharp object through the wall.
An infection then sets in around the perforation: this is reticuloperitonitis. If the foreign body continues to advance, it passes through the diaphragm and reaches the sac surrounding the heart: the disease then becomes much more serious.
Key point
The appearance of edema under the chest in a cow that has stopped eating suggests heart damage: it is a serious situation which must be seen without delay.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Often sudden onset in a cow that was doing well the day before.
Stoppage or sharp drop in appetite, rapid drop in milk production, cessation of rumination.
Moderate fever at first.
Marked abdominal pain: the cow moves cautiously, her back arched, refuses to go down a slope or turn short, moans when lying down and grinds her teeth.
She gets up and lies down carefully, keeps her elbows apart, breathes shallowly so as not to mobilize the diaphragm.
The dung becomes rarer and becomes firm.
When the heart is affected, edema appears under the chest, under the jaw and sometimes along the belly, the veins in the neck swell, the cow breathes poorly and becomes tired at the slightest effort.
In the long run, weight loss, dull hair and general condition deteriorates despite treatment.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
Ingestion of a sharp metal object mixed with fodder or ration.
The sources are almost always identifiable on the farm: wire fences, remains of bales tied with metal wire, staples, pieces of weighted tarpaulins, debris left behind by work, fodder collected along the road or construction site.
Passing a forage harvester or a baler through a plot where debris is lying around disperses the metal throughout the forage.
Normal contractions of the network and the pressure exerted by advanced gestation or calving push the object through the wall.
Adult cattle, particularly dairy cows: calves and heifers are less exposed.
End of gestation and calving period, where efforts push the foreign body forward.
Fodder harvested from plots bordered by old fences or close to storage areas.
Mixed ration manufactured without a magnet on the feed chain.
Construction sites, building or fencing works near fodder storage locations.
Absence of magnet administered to animals on farms where the risk is known.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
The veterinarian looks for pain in the upper abdomen using specific maneuvers: pressure under the sternum, pinching of the tourniquet, going down a slope. A cow that moans or refuses these gestures strongly influences the diagnosis.
He takes the temperature, listens to the heart and lungs, assesses the functioning of the body.
A blood test highlights the inflammation and allows you to monitor its progress.
An ultrasound can show the effusion around the network or heart, very useful in assessing the severity.
A metal detector, when available, helps confirm the presence of a metal object.
The veterinarian rules out other causes of abdominal pain and drop in production: ulcer, peritonitis of other origin, displacement of the abomasum, liver disease, pneumonia.
Treatment
Two routes exist and the choice is discussed with the veterinarian depending on the value of the animal, the age of the signs and the damage to the heart.
Medical treatment combines antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, resting the animal and administering a magnet intended to retain the object at the bottom of the network. The animal is placed on an inclined plane, with the front of the body higher than the back, to keep the foreign body away from the diaphragm.
The surgery involves opening the flank and removing the foreign body from the network. It gives the best results when it is decided early.
When the heart sac is already infected, the chances of recovery become low and the question of culling arises honestly, with the veterinarian.
All medications used are subject to prescription and waiting periods for milk and meat.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
This is the sheet where prevention is the simplest and most effective: it involves preventing metal from entering the ration.
Systematically collect metal debris from the plots before mowing: fence wires, remains of stakes, abandoned scrap metal.
Never use wire to tie bales or close a bag of feed; remove and count the strings and nets with each open bale.
Avoid ballasting silo covers with metal objects or tires with exposed metal casings.
Keep construction sites and work away from ration storage and preparation areas.
Install magnets on the ration preparation or distribution chain: they retain a large part of the debris.
In farms where the risk is known, administering a magnet to each animal, generally before the first breeding, makes it possible to trap metal objects at the bottom of the network and prevent them from perforating. This action is done with the support of the veterinarian.
Keep the surroundings of buildings clean: a curious cow picks up everything that is lying around.
Possible complications
Extensive peritonitis, with lasting adhesions which interfere with the functioning of the rumen.
Damage to the sac surrounding the heart: this is the most feared complication, with chest edema, heart failure and a very poor prognosis.
Abscess of the liver, spleen or abdominal wall.
Generalized infection by passage of bacteria into the blood.
Damage to the lungs or diaphragm if the object continues to progress.
Chronic weight loss and lasting drop in production, often leading to culling.
Abortion in a pregnant cow, due to infection and pain.
When to see a veterinarian
A cow suddenly stops eating and its production drops overnight.
She moves with a hunched back, moans when lying down, grinds her teeth or refuses to go down a slope.
She has a fever and her belly no longer makes any noise.
A soft swelling appears under the chest or under the jaw: consult without delay, the heart may be affected.
She breathes quickly and gets tired at the slightest movement.
She is losing weight and does not respond to treatments initiated for another cause.
Prognosis
Treated early, before the infection spreads, the cow recovers in a good number of cases and resumes correct production, sometimes lower than expected.
Early surgery offers the best chance when feasible.
Forms seen late, with extensive adhesions, often leave a cow eating poorly and producing little.
As soon as the heart sac is affected, the prognosis is very poor and the recovery exceptional.
A magnet already in place at the time of the accident clearly improves the chances, because it limits the progress of the object.
Frequently asked questions
How can a magnet protect the cow?
Administered orally, the magnet is lodged at the bottom of the network and remains there for the entire life of the animal. Swallowed metal objects stick to it instead of passing through the wall. This is not an absolute guarantee, but it is the most effective protection known. Its implementation is done with the veterinarian.
Only one cow is affected: should I worry about the herd?
Yes, you have to look for the source. If the metal came from fodder, other animals ate the same batch. Inspect the bales, harvest plots and feed chain, and talk to your veterinarian.
Why does the cow grind its teeth?
Teeth grinding is a sign of abdominal pain in ruminants. Associated with the arched back and the cessation of appetite, it strongly points towards painful damage to the stomach, which includes foreign body disease.
Should we operate systematically?
No. The choice between medical treatment and surgery depends on the age of the signs, the severity, the value of the animal and its gestation. The veterinarian will explain to you the chances of each option, including that of culling when the heart is affected.
References
FAO — Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 09 August 2026
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