Which clinical signs are most suggestive of hardware disease with pericarditis?

• A. Fever, tachycardia, arched back, reluctance to move, short stride or lameness, possibly muffled heart sounds and pleural effusion
• B. Hair loss and pruritus
• C. Diarrhea and dehydration
• D. Coughing and nasal discharge

Answer: (A)

Hardware disease with pericarditis often presents as acute chest pain and inflammation around the heart. The cow may show fever and a fast heart rate as the body responds to inflammation and pain. To relieve chest discomfort, she often adopts an arched back and is reluctant to move, and she may take short, careful steps rather than a normal stride. If the pericardium is involved, the heart sounds can sound muffled because fluid or inflammation dampens the normal heartbeat, and sometimes pleural effusion accompanies the process, which can affect breathing. These signs collectively point to a cardiac and pleural process rather than a skin, digestive, or respiratory issue. The other options describe conditions that don’t involve the heart and pericardium, such as skin problems, diarrhea/dehydration, or coughing with nasal discharge.