Content
Poisoning is the most common cause of cattle deaths. When the first warning signs appear, you need to act quickly, until the toxins have time to penetrate into the blood. Any delay can lead to the death of the animal. Therefore, every pastoralist should know the symptoms and treatment of cow poisoning in order to provide timely assistance.
Causes of cattle poisoning
Cows are not selective for food and therefore eat everything that comes their way, especially when grazing. This feature is the main cause of food intoxication.
The main provoking factors that can cause food poisoning in a cow are:
- Potatoes... This vegetable, if not properly stored and used, produces solanine, which leads to dysfunction of the cow's digestive organs. You can identify the content of the harmful substance by the green tint of the peel and germinating processes. This occurs as a result of exposure to sunlight or long-term storage of tubers.
- Poisonous plants... They can enter the body of a cow during pasture, as well as with freshly cut grass or in hay. The most dangerous of them are lupine, groundwort, hemlock, buttercup, fern. The stems and leaves of these plants contain toxic substances that block the digestive system, cause poisoning and can lead to death.
- Chemicals... Nitrates, pesticides, insecticides are widely used to combat plant diseases and pests. Therefore, the toxic substances they contain can enter the cow's body along with treated grass, hay or water.
- Sugar beet... This root vegetable has a high sugar content. With its excessive use, the component is fermented with the release of a large amount of lactic acid, which is the cause of poisoning.
- Poor quality feed... In spoiled food, pathogenic microflora actively multiplies. Eating it by a cow leads to inflammation of the digestive tract. With the further absorption of toxins into the blood, the functioning of the nervous system, kidneys, and liver is disrupted.
- Young corn... The ears of the plant are often used as feed for cattle. The high carbohydrate content of corn promotes rumen fermentation followed by the release of lactic acid. Its absorption in the body leads to general intoxication.
In addition to these factors, mercury, arsenic and other hazardous components can provoke poisoning.
Cattle poisoning symptoms
It is impossible to completely exclude the likelihood of poisoning calves and adult cows even if all the rules of care, grazing and maintenance are followed. Therefore, it is important to be able to recognize the first signs of intoxication in order to help the animal in a timely manner.
Typical signs of poisoning:
- bloating;
- constipation or loose stools with blood, mucus and foam;
- general depression;
- wobbly gait;
- lack of appetite;
- rapid heart rate and breathing;
- profuse salivation;
- constricted or dilated pupils;
- high temperature;
- chills;
- limb cramps;
- frequent urination;
- a change in the shade of the mucous membrane in the oral cavity (blue discoloration - arsenic poisoning, redness in combination with ulcers - mercury);
- inappropriate behavior;
- mental agitation.
What to do if a cow is poisoned
An experienced specialist should treat a cow in case of poisoning, since it is unlikely that the livestock breeder will be able to accurately determine the root cause by the identified signs. To neutralize the poison in the body, you need to rinse the scar, give an antidote and introduce an enveloping agent to prevent further absorption of the poison into the blood.
It is necessary to select an antidote, and to treat poisoning in a cow, depending on the cause of intoxication:
- Poisonous plants... For treatment, it is worth using acetic acid diluted with water at a concentration of 0.5%. A ready-made solution with a volume of no more than 2 liters should be poured into the cow's mouth. In parallel, wash the stomach with potassium permanganate (0.1%), and then introduce glucose and urotropin 10%.
- Mercury... To improve the condition of the cow, you need to use the Strizhevsky antidote to neutralize the poison. In the future, the sick animal needs to be given milk or mucous broths to drink, which will create a protective film and prevent further absorption of toxins.
- Nitrates... Methylene blue in the form of a 1% solution helps to neutralize the action of these harmful components. After that, you need to wash the stomach through a tube.
- Arsenic... Washing with 1% burnt magnesia will help neutralize the poison. Then the cow needs to pour milk into her mouth.
- Sugar beet... Washing in this case should be carried out with a 0.1% solution of potassium permanganate. After that, insulin is injected subcutaneously to reduce the concentration of sugar in the blood and sodium chloride (5%).
- Chlorine-containing products... Initially, you need to wash the stomach, and then introduce 15 g of sodium carbonate, glucose, calcium chloride.
If a cow is poisoned with chemicals, you need to pierce the scar through the abdomen. In addition, it is worth giving a lot to drink so that the toxins do not linger in the body, but are excreted in the urine. This will reduce their concentration in the blood.
Algorithm for gastric lavage.
- Insert a probe into the scar through the esophagus.
- Pour in 20 liters of medicinal solution in accordance with the cause of the poisoning.
- Remove the contents of the stomach through a tube.
- Refill 40 liters of the required liquid.
- Massage the peritoneum to stimulate the scar, which will allow the solution to be removed with a strong stream along with toxic substances.
At the end of the cleansing, give the cow the appropriate medicine, depending on the poisonous substance.
Other groups of medicines that can be used in case of poisoning:
- Absorbents (white clay, activated carbon). They should be used immediately after eating poisonous components. Once the toxin is absorbed into the bloodstream, they will be useless.
- Laxatives (Glauber's salt). They help to remove toxins along with feces, but they must be used within an hour after eating a harmful component.
- Glucose... It should be administered with profuse vomiting and loose stools to prevent dehydration of the sick cow.
- Caffeinated products... Help to normalize the nervous system.
- Chloral hydrate... This drug helps to reduce muscle tension if the poisoning is accompanied by cramps in the limbs.
For the duration of treatment, a sick cow needs to be provided with complete rest. For the first two days, you do not need to feed her, but give only a plentiful drink. During all this time, administer the drugs prescribed by the doctor, according to the indicated dosage and frequency.
On the 3rd day of treatment, the animal should be regularly offered liquid food in the form of flour or oatmeal. After improving the condition, the cow should be accustomed to the usual feed gradually, adding in small doses. This is due to the fact that the restoration of the digestive system takes a certain amount of time.
Prevention of poisoning in cows
The likelihood of cow poisoning can be minimized by following simple preventive measures. They include a range of activities and help keep the cow healthy.
Basic rules for the prevention of poisoning:
- store food in a dry, well-ventilated area to prevent mold growth;
- not to release the cow to pastures located near the farmland treated with chemicals;
- store potatoes correctly, preventing the formation of solanine in it;
- when harvesting hay, carefully inspect the pasture for poisonous plants;
- graze cows in safe areas where no chemicals have been used and where there are no potentially hazardous crops;
- the daily consumption of sugar beets should not exceed 12 kg per adult cow;
- conduct a thorough check of the feed at the stage of harvesting, purchasing, paying attention to the composition, consistency, moisture, as well as the presence of parasites and molds;
- after using chemicals, dispose of packaging, preventing the ingress of harmful components into rivers, lakes and other places where cows drink.
Conclusion
Knowing the main symptoms and treatment of poisoning in a cow, it is possible to provide timely assistance to a sick animal and thereby save his life. Any delay in this case can lead to the death of the entire herd.
But in order to prevent this, it is worth following the basic rules of care and maintenance, since it is easier to prevent poisoning than to restore the health of the cow for a long time.
