Content
Salt poisoning of cattle is a serious disorder that can lead to the death of the animal in a matter of hours. Inexperienced farmers and owners of personal subsidiary plots often recognize the symptoms of this dangerous condition already at a later stage. To prevent poisoning and avoid the death of cattle, each owner should be able to recognize the first signs of an overdose and familiarize himself with the rules for helping an animal with salt intoxication.
Causes of salt poisoning
Table salt (sodium chloride) is an important component of the cattle diet. Most feeds and feed mixtures do not satisfy the animal's need for vital macronutrients - sodium and chlorine. These important macronutrients, concentrated mainly in soft tissues and body fluids, perform the following functions:
- regulation of water exchange in the body;
- maintaining acid-base balance, osmotic pressure and volume of body fluids;
- chlorine is a part of gastric secretion (hydrochloric acid), which is necessary to create an acidic environment in the stomach and activate digestive enzymes;
- sodium promotes the absorption of glucose in the intestine, activates the action of the enzyme amylase.
In the cattle diet, the content of these macronutrients is normalized by the introduction of sodium chloride. With the correct organization of feeding the cows, the required amount of table salt is calculated based on the weight of the animal. For cattle, the norm of consumption of table salt per day is 5 g per 100 kg of body weight. For high-yielding cows, the salt rate is increased by another 4 g per 1 liter of milk yield.
The need for mineral supplements among cattle increases when they eat silage. Forage for silage has a more acidic pH, so the salivary glands of the animal produce a secretion with a higher sodium bicarbonate content to neutralize acids than, for example, when feeding with roughage or fresh grass.
An excess of table salt in the diet of cattle can lead to intoxication. Most often, salt poisoning in cows occurs:
- with an excessive intake of sodium chloride with feed;
- after a long salt fast;
- with insufficient watering.
Symptoms of salt poisoning in cows
Signs of salt intoxication appear approximately 1-2 hours after consuming an excess amount of sodium chloride. Salt poisoning in cattle can be identified by the following symptoms:
- lack of gum and appetite;
- teeth grinding;
- vomiting, shortness of breath;
- profuse salivation;
- intense thirst;
- hypotension of the proventriculus;
- frequent urination;
- diarrhea;
- depression, weakness.
When a large dose of salt is consumed, the content of sodium ions in the blood plasma exceeds the norm by 1.5-2 times. The components of table salt are deposited in the soft tissues of the body, the permeability of cell membranes, osmotic pressure in tissues and their dehydration are disturbed. Due to a violation of the electrolyte balance (Na / K and Mg / Ca), depolarization of the protein-lipid membrane of the cells of the nervous system occurs and, as a result, a disorder of reflex activity occurs, overexcitation of the nervous system. With salt poisoning of cattle, muscle tremors, cramps and paralysis of the limbs can also be observed. In calves with salt poisoning, as in adult animals, it is noted:
- impaired coordination of movements;
- rapid breathing;
- decrease in body temperature;
- opisthotonus.
With regular feeding to cows of feed and compound feed with an increased content of sodium chloride (subtoxic doses), chronic intoxication occurs, which is characterized by diarrhea, frequent urination and general depression.
Treatment of salt poisoning in cattle
Excess sodium in the body leads to metabolic disorders, oxygen starvation (hypoxia) and death of the animal. Symptoms of acute poisoning appear shortly after consuming excess sodium chloride.
When the first symptoms of salt poisoning appear in cattle, treatment should be started immediately. First of all, you need to seek help from a veterinarian. Only a specialist will be able to differentiate table salt intoxication from other types of poisoning.
In order to prevent dehydration of the body, a sick animal must be provided with abundant watering. If the animal is unable to drink on its own, water is introduced through a food tube or rectally. An antidote is administered intravenously - a 10% solution of calcium chloride according to the dosage and depending on the weight of the animal (1 ml per 1 kg), a solution of glucose (40%) intravenously, 0.5-1 ml per 1 kg of the animal weight.
Orally appoint:
- milk;
- vegetable oil;
- starch solution;
- flaxseed decoction;
- absorbent agents.
Forecast and prevention
In acute poisoning and the rapid development of clinical signs, the prognosis is poor. The sooner the symptoms of intoxication are identified and appropriate measures are taken, the more chances for the animal to recover.
In order to prevent salt intoxication of cattle, it is necessary:
- comply with the norms for giving salt, taking into account the age, physiological state and productivity of the animal;
- after a long salt fast, mineral supplements must be introduced gradually;
- provide free access to clean fresh water.
When purchasing compound feeds, you must carefully study their composition. In mixed feed for cattle, the sodium chloride content should not exceed 1-1.2%. Unscrupulous manufacturers often exceed this norm, since table salt is a fairly cheap raw material.
Conclusion
Cattle poisoning with table salt is quite common. Intoxication occurs after salt starvation or consumption of feed (compound feed) with a high content of sodium chloride. When the first signs of illness are detected, the owner of the animal should provide first aid as soon as possible and call a veterinary specialist. Severe poisoning with sodium chloride is practically not cured. The earlier treatment is started, the more favorable the further prognosis.
