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Vaginitis in cows is an infectious disease that causes swelling and irritation of the genitals. Most often, vaginitis is diagnosed in young individuals who have reached breeding age, as well as in weakened and sick animals. Calves occasionally fall ill.
The danger of the disease lies in its rapid spread - in a few days it can spread to the entire herd. In addition, vaginitis causes sexual dysfunction, including in bulls. At the first signs of infection, it is necessary to call a veterinary service worker who must determine the type of disease and, in accordance with it, draw up a treatment plan. If proper measures are not taken in time, vaginitis can lead to a number of complications: endometritis, sepsis, etc.
What is vaginitis
Vaginitis (or colpitis) is an inflammation of the vaginal mucosa in a cow. The causative agent of the infection is most often the parasitic bacterium streptococcus.
There are several types of disease:
- Serous vaginitis - is expressed mainly in tissue edema and minor hemorrhages.
- Catarrhal-purulent vaginitis. The first signs, in addition to puffiness, are ulcers, hemorrhages, erosion of the vaginal membrane.
- Diphtheritic vaginitis is determined by a sharp increase in the body temperature of a cow, bloody discharge with a strong odor and the presence of fibrinous films on the vaginal membrane.
- Phlegmonous vaginitis is also expressed in an increase in the body temperature of the animal, but differs from the diphtheria subtype by the presence of purulent discharge with an admixture of necrotic tissue.
The incubation period for vaginitis in cows is 20 days.
Causes and risk factors
It is customary to distinguish the following ways of penetration of infection into the cow's body:
- Through close contact with other animals. A cow can become infected with vaginitis from sick individuals, including during mating - sires in this case act as carriers of the infection, however, their disease is asymptomatic.
- Through the environment. Vaginitis can be caused by keeping flocks in unsanitary conditions when infestation occurs through musty or rotten bedding, slurry, or dirty animal care items.
- Through superficial and internal damage to the genital organs. The bacterium enters the cow's body through injuries to the vulvar mucosa, received during childbirth, if contaminated objects were used during delivery. Also, infection can occur during insemination of a cow, both artificial and natural, if it is carried out in violation of veterinary and sanitary standards.
- Through a burn of the vaginal mucosa. There are frequent cases of infection during self-treatment of a cow, especially if such drugs as "Vagotil" and "Lugol" were used. Exceeding the dosage damages the mucous membrane of the genital organs, therefore, at the first sign of cow malaise, it is recommended to call a specialist. The veterinarian will calculate the required dose of the drug, which will reduce the likelihood of developing vaginitis in the animal through burns to a minimum.
The course of the disease is long, relapses often occur.
Symptoms of the disease
Vaginitis in cattle is determined by the following symptoms:
- the cow begins to behave restlessly for no apparent reason, is easily irritated, often wags its tail;
- the sick individual stands with an unnaturally arched back and legs wide apart;
- discharge of various kinds (purulent, mucous, blood, etc.) emanates from the vagina;
- the labia of the animal swell and acquire a reddish tint;
- at the base of the tail, dried secretions accumulate on the inside, forming a dense crust;
- the cow has more frequent urination and defecation;
- with chronic vaginitis, dark red nodules accumulate in the vagina, which eventually brighten and become yellowish-white.
In bulls, colpitis is almost asymptomatic. Sometimes the disease becomes noticeable by small nodules the size of a millet grain, which are formed on the surface of the animal's penis, rapid weight loss with the same diet and impotence.
Diagnostics
It is rather difficult to independently diagnose the disease correctly, since most of the symptoms in vaginitis coincide with the clinical picture of other cattle diseases. In particular, in order to establish an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude the following diseases:
- brucellosis;
- vibriosis;
- trichomoniasis.
In addition, it is necessary to accurately determine the subtype of infection - the plan for further treatment depends on it. Some remedies that work for one type of vaginitis can make things worse when treating a different type of vaginitis. In order to determine what caused the inflammation, the veterinarian must take a smear of vaginal discharge from a sick cow and examine it by palpation.
Treatment of vaginitis in cows
The first thing to do if you suspect vaginitis is to take the cow to a separate stall and, if possible, not disturb the sick animal again. The former place of detention is thoroughly disinfected and the litter is completely changed.
The course of treatment lasts on average about 2 weeks. In the acute course of the disease, the veterinarian prescribes antibiotics, however, in most cases, it is sufficient to rinse the genitals of the animal daily.
For these purposes, use:
- Potassium permanganate (another name is common in everyday life - potassium permanganate). The cow's vaginal cavity must be washed with a weak solution in the ratio of 2 crystals per 1 liter of water, and the solution must be warmed up before use. In bulls with colpitis, prepuce is treated.
- 1% solution of sodium chloride or tea (drinking) soda, also preheated.
- Novocaine ointment. Novocaine is used for severe inflammation of the vaginal mucosa. You can also use a suspension of bleached oil, "Ichthyol" (3%), or a combination of fat and opium tincture in a ratio of 9: 1.
- "Furacilin". Recommended dosage: 4 tablets in 1 liter of water.
- "Vagotil". For 1 liter of slightly heated water, no more than 15 ml of the drug is consumed.
- 1% hydrogen peroxide solution.
- 3% alum solution - prescribed for bleeding.
The genitals of a sick animal are washed with a special syringe or a rubber bulb, the water must be boiled before that. The procedure is usually carried out once a day, however, if the disease is severe, the cow's vagina is treated 2 times, in the morning and in the evening.
After that, the washed area must be lubricated with iodideserine. In addition to vaginal irrigation products, the course of treatment includes the use of special ointments:
- "Ichthyol";
- "Syntomycin";
- "Tetracycline".
The ointment is applied to a cotton swab and injected into the animal's vagina using a special tool. After a day, they take it out.
Also, vaginitis in cattle is effectively treated with "Phenothiazine". Method of application: inside, in relation to 40 g of the drug per 0.5 l of water.
The most effective and proven folk methods of treatment include irrigation of the genitals with solutions based on onions, honey and garlic:
- The honey solution is prepared in a water bath at a temperature of 40 ° C. For this, 1 tbsp. l. honey is mixed with 1 tbsp. l. "Ichthyola". When the mixture has cooled, a cotton swab is moistened in it and inserted into the cow's vagina for 3 hours.
- A solution of onions is made from onion juice and diluted "Ichthyol" (up to 30%), taken in equal proportions. A tampon soaked in solution is used to lubricate the vaginal mucosa once a day. The tampon is not left inside.
- Garlic solution is a mixture of diluted garlic juice (10%) and Ichthyol, also diluted with water (up to 30%). The tampon is dipped into the solution and placed in the cow's vagina for a day.
In addition, infected animals respond well to treatment using onion or garlic gruel, which is made from 5 tbsp. l. shredded plant. The resulting mass is wrapped in gauze and injected into the genital tract of the animal for 7-8 hours. After removing the tampons and gauze, it is recommended to lubricate the walls of the genital organs of the cow with fish oil.
Forecast and prevention
Treatment for vaginitis is usually delayed over a long period of time and is not always successful. The likelihood of developing the disease can be minimized using the following set of measures:
- As soon as it is suspected that a cow has contracted vaginitis, she must be separated from the rest of the herd so that the disease does not spread to other animals.
- If at least one individual has been diagnosed with inflammation, the premises where the herd are kept should be treated with a 10-15% solution of slaked lime.
- Healthy cows are best not inseminated naturally. The artificial method is safer in this regard.
- From time to time it is necessary to take sperm from breeding bulls for sterility.
- If sick individuals were found in the livestock, healthy animals are transferred to other places only after 20 days of quarantine.
The prognosis for successful treatment is generally favorable; vaginitis cannot be fatal. In most cases, the disease becomes chronic, but in the remission stage, foreign bacteria do not cause discomfort in the cow.
Conclusion
Vaginitis in cows in itself is not as dangerous as it might seem, however, treatment should not be delayed - the disease can lead to serious complications if the necessary measures are not taken in time. At the first signs of irritation, it is recommended to call a veterinarian to provide qualified assistance, since with self-medication there is a high risk of aggravating the condition of the animal. Vaginitis is treated differently depending on the type of infection.
They resort to folk methods of treatment only when it is not possible to consult a specialist.
In addition, you can learn more about the removal of inflammation of the genital organs in cattle from the video below:
