On October 25th, 2016, a Holstein dairy cow was presented to Cornell with the complaints of persistent fever, variable appetite, decreased milk production, and her right flank incision feeling warm. She had calved on October 6th and underwent surgery to correct a left displaced abomasum on October 7th Following her surgery, she became febrile, but no treatment corrected her elevated temperature.

On presentation, the cow was febrile, an exam per rectum revealed a large structure in her right abdomen, and an ultrasound diagnosed a large abscess. The cow was taken to surgery and her abscess was drained, debrided of fibrin, and Iavaged. The cow remained febrile after surgery. An ultrasound revealed the presence of a smaller abscess. When this abscess was opened, a communication with the abdominal cavity occurred, causing a severe peritonitis. This report will discuss surgical site infections, retroperitoneal abscesses, and peritonitis in dairy cattle.