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When raising cattle, it is worth paying special attention to young animals, since it is he who is most often susceptible to various kinds of diseases. In addition, the level of productivity of the herd depends on the health of the calves. Lung disease in cows can cause massive deaths in animals. This is why farmers need to know the signs of disease in order to identify and eliminate them early.
Varieties of lung diseases in cattle
Today, there are the following types of lung diseases in cows and calves:
- tuberculosis;
- bronchopneumonia;
- pasteurellosis;
- dictyocaulosis.
If you know the causes and symptoms, then you can overcome the disease at an early stage, as a result of which the animal will not die.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis in cattle is a fairly common infectious disease worldwide, caused by Koch's bacillus. As a rule, this disease affects the lungs, there are cases when tuberculosis develops in other internal organs. Initially, a small nodule appears on the lungs, which over time can lead to tissue necrosis and death.
Causes and symptoms
There are many reasons why an animal has lung disease:
- the disease was transmitted by airborne droplets;
- the cow was kept in a stall after a sick animal;
- the bacterium was brought from the pasture;
- the causative agent of tuberculosis is in the general watering place;
- the carrier is a pet.
In addition, lung disease can occur if cows are kept in cramped stalls and the farm is unsanitary.
Symptoms of tuberculosis include:
- rapid breathing;
- dyspnea;
- decreased appetite;
- sudden weight loss;
- the skin is dry, inelastic;
- high temperature;
- mucus is secreted during coughing;
- wheezing.
When these symptoms appear, it is recommended to take samples and conduct a study to identify the causative agent of the disease.
Treatment methods
One of the most common lung diseases in cows is tuberculosis. Unfortunately, today there are no drugs for this disease, so it is almost impossible to cure a sick animal.
Since this disease cannot be treated, it is recommended to carry out health improvement work in the herd:
- it is necessary to periodically take samples and conduct laboratory tests to identify infected cows (sick animals are sent for slaughter);
- if lung disease is found in all animals, a complete herd replacement will be required.
If a new herd is purchased, then appropriate samples should also be taken from the animals.
Bronchopneumonia
Bronchopneumonia in cattle is a non-contagious form of the disease, that is, lung disease is the result of improper maintenance of the animal. This can include hypothermia of the body, as a result of which inflammatory processes began to occur, which, in turn, began to affect the bronchi. After this, the process of spreading to other respiratory organs begins.
Causes and symptoms
There are many reasons why a cow has lung disease, namely bronchopneumonia:
- the animal stays in a small room;
- there is no ventilation system and the air is saturated with hydrogen sulfide;
- low temperature, high humidity, no litter;
- a lot of stress;
- poor quality feed.
Symptoms include the following:
- lethargy;
- loss of appetite;
- temperature increase;
- dyspnea;
- dry cough;
- swelling in the nasal mucosa;
- discharge of pus from the nose;
- weight loss.
If these symptoms are found, it is recommended that the disease be diagnosed immediately.
Treatment methods
Despite the fact that bronchopneumonia has been studied quite well (lung disease in cows and calves), there is still no single method of treating this disease. Depending on the form of the course and its severity, you can resort to the following methods of therapy:
- traditional - an infected calf or cow is separated from the main herd, given a dry and clean place, increased diet and includes much more vitamins and minerals based supplements;
- etiotropic - the essence of this method of treatment is that they create a high level of concentration of drugs in the body, which directly affects inflammatory processes;
- intratracheal - this method of therapy assumes that a cow with lung disease will be injected with drugs using a probe into the trachea;
- aerosol - in the room where the sick calves are, the active ingredients are sprayed.
Experienced veterinarians recommend using several treatments at once.
Pasteurellosis
Pasteurellosis is one of the most dangerous types of disease in cattle, leading to death in just a couple of days. It is important to take into account that this disease spreads rather quickly and can affect not only pets and birds, but also the person himself. That is why it is so important to recognize this ailment in the early stages and take measures to eliminate it.
Causes and symptoms
The causative agent of this disease can be in water or soil for many years and enter the animal's body through food, water, care items, bedding, in contact with other animals. The factors in the development of the disease include:
- poor quality sanitary conditions;
- irregular feeding process;
- small barn.
Symptoms include:
- increased body temperature;
- prostration;
- lack of milk;
- rapid breathing;
- rapid pulse;
- loss of appetite;
- diarrhea;
- labored breathing;
- discharge of pus from the nose;
- thirst;
- swelling.
To distinguish this type of disease from others, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive analysis.
Treatment methods
The infected animal must be immediately isolated, placed in a warm and dry room equipped with a ventilation system. The feed should be balanced, contain a large amount of vitamins.
In addition, it is necessary to give:
- pain reliever;
- antipyretic;
- diuretics;
- drugs that restore the digestive tract.
Periodically, it is worth taking samples and checking the development of the infection.
Dictyocaulosis
Dictyocaulosis is a type of lung disease that affects most herbivores. The infection affects the bronchi and trachea. It is similar to bronchitis, which gradually begins to develop into pneumonia. As a rule, this infection affects young animals. In the Northern regions, dictyocaulosis occurs quite often, but in the Southern regions, isolated cases of this ailment have been recorded.
Causes and symptoms
As a rule, animals become infected in the summer, while eating green food in the pasture.
Symptoms include:
- decline in activity;
- the cow does not respond to stimuli;
- loss of appetite;
- diarrhea;
- there is a cough that only gets worse;
- rapid breathing.
In severe cases, death is observed.
Treatment methods
If a disease is detected, the following solution is prepared:
- Take crystalline iodine 1.0 and potassium iodide 1.5.
- Pour in distilled or boiled water - 1500.0.
- The mixture is heated to + 30 ° C.
The resulting solution is injected with a needle into the trachea.
Prevention measures
To prevent many diseases it is necessary:
- comply with sanitary standards;
- keep animals in clean, dry, warm rooms with good ventilation;
- provide quality food;
- if one of the animals dies, disinfect the entire room;
- periodically take samples to detect infections.
This is the only way to timely identify the disease at an early stage and eliminate it.
Conclusion
Lung disease in cows is a fairly common problem that many farmers have to deal with. It is important to understand that any type of disease is most difficult for young animals, unlike adult cows. That is why it is so important to recognize lung disease in the early stages, which will allow you to take action to eliminate it, without harming livestock.
