Background – Displacement of the abomasum (DA) is common in lactating adult dairy cattle. Little is known about the prevalence, etiology, treatment, and outcome of DA in young dairy calves. Current peer-reviewed literature is limited to a few case reports. In our hospital, we encounter cases of DA in pre-weaned calves. Objectives – To describe the incidence, clinical presentation, diagnosis, ultrasonographic findings, treatment, and outcome of DA in pre-weaned dairy calves in a referral hospital population. Animals - 27 hospitalized calves. Methods – Retrospective case series. Medical records from January 2018 to December 2023 were reviewed to identify pre-weaned, dairy cattle under 4 months old, diagnosed with confirmed DA. Results – 27 pre-weaned calves with DA were identified, all with left displaced abomasum (LDA). Median age was 60.5 days (range, 29-112 days). Physical examination findings consistent with LDA - positive percussion and/or succussion were present in 19/27 (70%) of cases. In all calves LDA was confirmed via ultrasonography. Hypochloremic, metabolic alkalosis was detected in 42.3% (11/26). Bronchopneumonia was the most common comorbidity. Overall survival to discharge was 59%. Of 21/27 treated medically, 11 survived. Surgical management was pursued in 6/27 of which 5/6 survived. Conclusions and Clinical importance – Clinicians should be aware that LDA can occur in pre-weaned milk-fed calves. Concurrent systemic disease may predispose dairy calves to development of LDA. Medical management is sufficient in many cases, though surgical correction may be required. With early identification, prognosis is fair.
