Purulent mastitis in a cow: causes and symptoms, drugs for treatment

Purulent mastitis is one of the most difficult problems a livestock breeder can face. Adult cows often get sick with it, the disease leads to a decrease in milk productivity, a decrease in its quality and complications. Consider the causes and symptoms of purulent mastitis in cows, diagnostic methods, drugs for treatment, methods of prevention. As well as the consequences of the disease.

Causes of the problem

Purulent form of mastitis occurs as a result of subclinical, catarrhal, serous mastitis. Pus appears after penetration of bacteria into the udder when the nipples are injured, when the milking technology is violated, when milk remains in the udder.The infection can enter at any time if the stall where the cow lives is dirty. The animal lies on a dirty, damp bed, which allows bacteria to easily enter the udder. Cold and drafts also contribute to inflammation.

Infection can get into the canals of the udder not only from the outside, but also from the body - from diseased internal organs.

Symptoms and signs of illness

When catarrhal mastitis occurs, inflammation of the alveoli and ducts of the udder. The disease is indicated by: thickening of the nipple, the formation of dense nodules in the thickness of the udder, an increase in the body temperature of the cow. Inflammation inside the udder is also indicated by a change in the type and structure of milk, it becomes watery, flakes and clots appear in it. There may be blockage of the passages of the nipple with curdled formations.

Purulent mastitis can develop as a complication after improper treatment of other forms of mastitis. In cows, the disease develops in an acute and chronic form.

In acute, usually 1 quarter is affected. Symptoms for acute and chronic mastitis are different. In the acute form, there is a sharp decrease in milk yield, the milk becomes bitter or s alty from purulent contents, sometimes with an admixture of blood. The affected part of the udder swells, its size increases, and when touched, the animal feels pain.

With chronic purulent mastitis, the symptoms become less pronounced, pain is not felt when touched, the temperature returns to normal. Milk acquires a yellowish color and becomes slimy. The inflammatory process leads to the fact that the alveoli in the udder are replaced by connective tissue, and the udder gradually loses its correct functionality.

Diagnosis of disease

To make a diagnosis of "purulent mastitis" it is necessary to examine the milk of a sick cow. It contains pus and pathogenic microorganisms. They are arranged in chains, along their length it is possible to establish the form of the disease: in acute they are short, in chronic they are long.

Change in the color of milk is also characteristic of purulent mastitis, in a sick animal it becomes yellowish due to the admixture of pus. You can not drink it, either fresh or processed.

How to treat purulent mastitis in cows

Treatment begins at the first sign of inflammation. Prescribe antibacterial drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs that remove swelling and reduce pain (Mastinol, Nitoks, Mastisan). Disinfectants are injected from a syringe directly into the udder. The solutions should be there for a maximum of 4 hours, then the liquid must be milked. The dosage of funds, the duration of treatment is determined by the veterinarian.

Superficial abscesses are opened, pus removed, disinfected with iodine or ichthyol. Removal of abscesses during mastitis helps to cleanse the tissues of the udder, improve blood circulation in the organ, and restore its functions.

At the time of treatment, the animal is placed in a separate stall, on a clean, dry bedding. Milk is harvested every 6 hours, this prevents stagnation and compaction. After that, the milk is disposed of, in no case should it be mixed with milk from he althy cows. After the end of milking, the udder is massaged and smeared with antibiotic ointment.

Possible consequences

Chronic, improperly treated or untreated purulent mastitis leads to the appearance of a malignant tumor at the site of fibrous tissue. More often, part of the udder tissue loses its functionality, which affects milk flow. The productivity of cows that have had purulent mastitis is irrevocably reduced. Such individuals are culled in dairy farming.

The animal can even die if the acute form of the disease is not treated. In chronic cases, bacteria from the udder constantly enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, can infect other organs and poison the body with toxins.

Prevention measures

It is important that the barn is clean and dry. The litter should be changed as soon as it becomes dirty, the feeders and drinkers should be clean. You need to clean the animal itself, its skin and udder. Drafts must be prevented and animals must not lie on the cold floor.

In order not to miss the onset of purulent mastitis in cows, you need to watch during milking for signs of the disease. Massage the udder before and after milking, wash it and wipe it with a cloth before starting work so that bacteria do not get into the teats. If fresh wounds, scratches, cracks, abrasions are found, the damage must be immediately treated with antibacterial drugs.

During milking, all the milk from the udder should be milked so that nothing remains. Monitor the regularity of milking, do not skip the procedure, overflowing the udder with milk is a common cause of purulent mastitis in farm animals.

Purulent mastitis in cows is a serious disease leading to a decrease in the productivity of dairy cattle. Any dairy cow can get sick. In the absence of treatment or incorrect, insufficient therapy, complications often occur, the disease can end in the death of the animal. Mastitis can be prevented by following standard animal care, cleanliness and milking practices.