\"Is This Urgent?\" Assessment Tool: Design Specification

Tool Overview

Purpose

Primary Goal

Tool Structure

• Format: Branching decision tree / guided questionnaire
• Time to Complete: 1-3 minutes
• Output: Urgency rating + recommended action
• Mobile Optimized: Essential, as this may be used in the field or barn

Entry Point Categories

User selects primary concern:

• Breathing/Respiratory Problem
• Not Eating/Drinking
• Down and Can't Get Up
• Lameness
• Eye Problem
• Diarrhea/Scours
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Behavioral Change
• Calving Problem
• Found Dead Animal
• Something Else

Decision Trees by Category

1. Breathing/Respiratory Problem

``` START: Breathing Problem │ ├─ Q1: Is the animal breathing with mouth open? │ ├─ YES → Q2: Are gums/tongue blue or purple? │ │ ├─ YES → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Call vet NOW. Severe oxygen deprivation. │ │ └─ NO → 🔴 URGENT: Same-day vet call. Severe respiratory distress. │ │ │ └─ NO → Q3: Is the animal extending its head and neck forward to breathe? │ ├─ YES → 🔴 URGENT: Same-day vet call. Significant respiratory distress. │ └─ NO → Q4: Is there visible nasal discharge? │ ├─ YES → Q5: What color is the discharge? │ │ ├─ Clear → 🟡 MONITOR: Watch closely 24-48 hours. │ │ └─ Yellow/Green/Bloody → 🟠 HIGH: Vet call today recommended. │ │ │ └─ NO → Q6: Is there coughing? │ ├─ YES → Q7: How many animals affected? │ │ ├─ Single animal → 🟡 MONITOR: Watch closely, check temp. │ │ └─ Multiple animals → 🟠 HIGH: Possible outbreak, call vet today. │ │ │ └─ NO → Q8: Does the animal have a fever? (>103°F) │ ├─ YES → 🟠 HIGH: Vet consultation recommended today. │ ├─ NO → 🟢 LOW: Continue monitoring. │ └─ Haven't checked → Check temperature and reassess. ```

2. Not Eating/Drinking

``` START: Not Eating/Drinking │ ├─ Q1: How long has the animal been off feed? │ ├─ <12 hours → 🟡 MONITOR: Watch closely, reassess in 12 hours. │ ├─ 12-24 hours → Q2: Any other symptoms? │ │ ├─ YES → Branch to appropriate symptom tree │ │ └─ NO → 🟡 MONITOR: Check temp, observe closely. │ │ │ └─ >24 hours → Q3: Is the animal: │ ├─ Bloated (distended left side) → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Possible bloat. │ ├─ Straining/uncomfortable → 🔴 URGENT: Possible obstruction. │ ├─ Fever present → 🟠 HIGH: Vet call today. │ └─ Otherwise normal → 🟡 MODERATE: Vet call if no improvement in 24hr. │ ├─ Q4: Is this a young calf? │ ├─ YES → Q5: Is calf nursing/drinking at all? │ │ ├─ NO for >6 hours → 🔴 URGENT: Young calves dehydrate quickly. │ │ └─ Decreased but some → 🟠 HIGH: Monitor closely, vet if worsens. │ │ │ └─ NO → Continue with adult questions above. ```

3. Down and Can't Get Up

``` START: Animal Down │ ├─ Q1: Has the animal been down for how long? │ ├─ <2 hours → Q2 below │ └─ >2 hours → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Prolonged recumbency causes damage. Call vet NOW. │ ├─ Q2: Is this related to calving? │ ├─ YES → Q3: How recent was calving? │ │ ├─ <48 hours → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Likely milk fever. Call vet NOW. │ │ └─ >48 hours → 🔴 URGENT: Possible post-calving complication. │ │ │ └─ NO → Q4: Is there any obvious injury (broken leg, etc.)? │ ├─ YES → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Call vet for assessment. │ └─ NO → Q5: Is the animal: │ ├─ Alert but unable to rise → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Multiple causes, vet needed. │ ├─ Depressed/unresponsive → 🔴 CRITICAL: Vet NOW. │ └─ Showing neurological signs → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Possible serious disease. ```

4. Lameness

``` START: Lameness │ ├─ Q1: How severe is the lameness? │ ├─ Non-weight bearing (holds leg up) → Q2 below │ └─ Bearing weight but limping → Q6 below │ ├─ Q2: Is there any obvious injury? │ ├─ Open fracture (bone visible) → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Call vet NOW. │ ├─ Severe wound/bleeding → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Call vet NOW. │ └─ No obvious external injury → Q3 below │ ├─ Q3: Is there joint swelling? │ ├─ YES → 🔴 URGENT: Possible joint infection. Vet today. │ └─ NO → Q4: Is there swelling/redness between toes? │ ├─ YES → 🟠 HIGH: Likely foot rot. Treat or call vet today. │ └─ NO → 🟠 HIGH: Unknown cause, vet evaluation recommended. │ ├─ Q6 (weight-bearing lameness): │ ├─ Q7: Is there swelling between toes with odor? │ │ ├─ YES → 🟡 MODERATE: Likely foot rot. Can treat per protocol. │ │ └─ NO → Q8: Is the joint swollen and warm? │ │ ├─ YES → 🟠 HIGH: Vet today for joint issues. │ │ └─ NO → 🟡 MODERATE: Monitor, treat if cause identified. ```

5. Eye Problem

``` START: Eye Problem │ ├─ Q1: Is there an obvious injury (puncture, foreign body, trauma)? │ ├─ YES → 🔴 URGENT: Eye injuries need same-day vet attention. │ └─ NO → Q2 below │ ├─ Q2: Is the eye completely closed/swollen shut? │ ├─ YES → 🟠 HIGH: Advanced condition, vet today. │ └─ NO → Q3: What do you see? │ ├─ White spot on eye + tearing + squinting │ │ → 🟡 MODERATE: Likely early pinkeye. Can start treatment, monitor. │ ├─ Cloudiness across whole eye │ │ → 🟠 HIGH: Advanced pinkeye or other. Vet recommended. │ ├─ Raised growth on eye/lid │ │ → 🟡 MODERATE: Schedule vet evaluation for cancer eye check. │ └─ Both eyes affected + fever │ → 🟠 HIGH: Systemic disease possible. Vet today. ```

6. Diarrhea/Scours

``` START: Diarrhea │ ├─ Q1: Is this a calf or adult? │ ├─ CALF → Calf branch below │ └─ ADULT → Adult branch below │ ├─ CALF Branch: │ ├─ Q2: How old is the calf? │ │ └─ Any age → Q3: Is there blood in the stool? │ │ ├─ YES → 🔴 URGENT: Vet today. │ │ └─ NO → Q4: Is the calf dehydrated? (sunken eyes, skin tenting) │ │ ├─ YES (moderate-severe) → 🔴 URGENT: Needs fluids now. │ │ ├─ YES (mild) → 🟠 HIGH: Start electrolytes, monitor closely. │ │ └─ NO → 🟡 MODERATE: Start electrolytes, monitor. │ ├─ ADULT Branch: │ ├─ Q5: How many animals affected? │ │ ├─ Multiple → 🟠 HIGH: Possible outbreak. Vet consultation today. │ │ └─ Single → Q6: Is there blood? │ │ ├─ YES → 🟠 HIGH: Vet today. │ │ └─ NO → Q7: Is the animal eating/drinking? │ │ ├─ YES → 🟡 MODERATE: Monitor, isolate. │ │ └─ NO → 🟠 HIGH: Vet if no improvement 24hr. ```

7. Bleeding

``` START: Bleeding │ ├─ Q1: Where is the bleeding from? │ ├─ Major blood vessel (spurting, heavy flow) │ │ → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Apply pressure, call vet NOW. │ ├─ Deep wound → 🔴 URGENT: Vet same day. │ ├─ Nose → Q2: Trauma or spontaneous? │ │ ├─ Trauma → 🟠 HIGH: Monitor, vet if doesn't stop. │ │ └─ Spontaneous → 🟠 HIGH: Could indicate disease. Vet today. │ ├─ From vulva (not calving) → 🟠 HIGH: Vet evaluation. │ ├─ In stool → See Diarrhea tree. │ └─ Minor wound → 🟢 LOW: Clean and monitor. │ ├─ Q3: Can you stop the bleeding with pressure? │ ├─ YES → 🟡 MODERATE: Maintain pressure 15 min, then reassess. │ └─ NO → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Call vet NOW. ```

8. Swelling

``` START: Swelling │ ├─ Q1: Where is the swelling? │ ├─ Head/face (sudden, severe) │ │ → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Possible allergic reaction/snakebite. Vet NOW. │ ├─ Throat (affecting breathing) │ │ → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Airway compromise. Vet NOW. │ ├─ Under jaw (bottle jaw) │ │ → 🟡 MODERATE: Often parasites. Non-urgent but needs addressing. │ ├─ Joint → See Lameness tree. │ ├─ Brisket → 🟡 MODERATE: Various causes. Schedule vet evaluation. │ ├─ Udder quarter → 🟠 HIGH: Likely mastitis. Treat today. │ └─ Injection site │ → 🟢 LOW if small, no fever. 🟡 if large/spreading. ```

9. Calving Problem

``` START: Calving Problem │ ├─ Q1: What is the situation? │ ├─ Water bag visible but no calf parts │ │ → Q2: How long since water bag appeared? │ │ ├─ <1 hour → 🟡 MONITOR: Normal, allow time. │ │ └─ >1 hour → 🟠 HIGH: Check progress, may need assist. │ │ │ ├─ Feet/head visible with active pushing │ │ → Q3: How long pushing with no progress? │ │ ├─ <30 minutes → 🟡 MONITOR: Normal. │ │ ├─ 30-60 minutes → 🟠 HIGH: Assess for problems. │ │ └─ >1 hour → 🔴 URGENT: Intervention likely needed. │ │ │ ├─ Only tail visible (breech) │ │ → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Abnormal presentation. Vet NOW. │ │ │ ├─ Cow in labor but nothing showing for hours │ │ → 🔴 URGENT: Examine or call vet. │ │ │ ├─ Tissue protruding (prolapse) │ │ → Q4: Is it uterus or vagina? │ │ ├─ Large red mass (uterus) → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Call vet NOW. │ │ └─ Pink tissue (vaginal) → 🔴 URGENT: Vet same day. │ │ │ └─ Calf born but cow/calf having issues │ → Branch to specific calf/cow issues ```

10. Behavioral Change

``` START: Behavioral Change │ ├─ Q1: What type of change? │ ├─ Sudden aggression (charging, attacking) │ │ → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Possible rabies. Isolate immediately. Call vet/authorities. │ ├─ Circling, head pressing, disorientation │ │ → 🔴 EMERGENCY: Neurological disease. Vet NOW. │ ├─ Depressed, standing alone │ │ → 🟡 MODERATE: Sign of illness. Check for other symptoms. │ ├─ Excessive bellowing │ │ → 🟡 MODERATE: Pain? Separated from calf? Assess. │ └─ Eating dirt/unusual substances │ → 🟡 MODERATE: Possible mineral deficiency. Non-urgent but address. ```

11. Found Dead Animal

``` START: Found Dead │ ├─ 🔴 ACTION REQUIRED: │ ├─ Do NOT move the body yet │ ├─ Note position and location │ ├─ Look for external signs │ ├─ Check other animals │ ├─ Call veterinarian today │ │ │ └─ QUESTIONS FOR VET: │ ├─ Should we do necropsy? │ ├─ Any reportable disease concern? │ ├─ Disposal method? │ └─ Are other animals at risk? ```

Output Format

Urgency Levels

Result Screen Content

Each result includes:

• Urgency Rating (color-coded)
• Recommended Action (specific steps)
• While Waiting (what to do now)
• Information for Vet (what to have ready)
• Related Resources (link to articles)

Technical Implementation

Mobile-First Design

• Large buttons for in-barn use
• Offline capability (decision tree logic can run locally)
• Quick restart option
• Share results option (text to vet)

Data Collection

• Anonymous usage analytics
• Track common pathways
• Identify knowledge gaps
• Improve tool based on usage patterns

Disclaimer

"Is This Urgent?" Assessment Tool Specification | AnimalSafeRanch.com Interactive decision support tool designed for field use Version 1.0 | January 2026