What is a Frick speculum used for in large animal medicine?
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A Frick speculum is a blunt ended metal tube about 1.5 feet long and about 2 inches in diameter.
You insert it into a cow’s mouth about 8-12 inches, and then you can safely run a plastic orogastric tube inside it and down to the rumen.
Even though the cow may chew on the speculum, it protects the plastic tube from being bitten in half.
A common reason to pass a tube in a cow is to pump in fluids or medicine or relieve free gas bloat.
If you cannot relieve bloat by tubing the cow, you may need to help the vet and the farmer to place a trocar (a tube to let off gas, also called a cannula) into the rumen.
