Cattle demodicosis: causes and symptoms, treatment for subcutaneous ticks and prevention

Many farmers periodically encounter various diseases in cattle. These pathologies provoke a decrease in productivity, and sometimes even lead to the death of animals. One of the most common disorders is the development of demodicosis in cattle. It is also often referred to as scabies. This pathology causes severe discomfort in animals and can lead to complications.

Causes of disease

Demodectic mange is rapidly spreading among animals. The causative agent of pathology is the demodex mite. It provokes damage to the sebaceous glands and hair follicles in a cow.The size of the pest is only 0.3 millimeters. Its body is worm-shaped and is divided into cephalothorax and abdomen. Infection with demodicosis occurs from sick individuals, through the farmer's clothes or dirty tools. If symptoms of pathology appear in at least one animal, it should be immediately isolated.

It is important to systematically inspect the entire herd. Calves are recommended to be examined on a par with adult animals. This should be done starting at 3 months. In some situations, the infection has a weak course. However, her symptoms are not visible.

When infected with demodicosis, there is a decrease in susceptibility to other infections. In addition, the disease provokes a decrease in the productivity of cows and a slowdown in their growth.

Signs and symptoms of disease

When infected with a pathology, the following symptoms are observed:

appearance of small bumps on the skin;
hair loss in the area of a tick bite;
excretion of a grayish-white liquid when pressing on the tubercle.

When infested with ticks, it is important to immediately contact a veterinarian who can conduct all the necessary studies.

Methods for diagnosing an illness

Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, at the first symptoms, you should consult a veterinarian. When identifying characteristic bumps on the skin, it is recommended to conduct a microscopic examination.

If there is a scab in the nodule, it is recommended to pull it out with tweezers and examine it with a microscope. If there is no scab, it is worth taking a sample of the contents of the mound and also examine it.

If it was not possible to identify demodicosis using microscopic examinations, then in the area of \u200b\u200bthe most frequent location of ticks, it is worth plucking the hairline.Then apply 2 drops of vaseline oil to a clean surface, fold the skin into a fold and squeeze out the mites with the blunt part of the scalpel. The scraping and hairs should then be examined under a microscope.

How to treat demodicosis cattle

It is possible to cope with demodicosis with folk remedies and veterinary drugs. However, it is worth starting therapy only after confirming the diagnosis. In this case, the treatment must be selected individually, taking into account the state of he alth and the severity of skin lesions.

Anti-scabies drugs

To treat cows and eliminate subcutaneous mites, you should use the following remedies:

"Dikrezil". To eliminate the pathology, an emulsion with a concentration of 0.75% is used. For 1 animal, 2-4 liters of acaricide are required. It is worth processing cattle every 6 days.
"Ivermek". The composition is administered by injection once. For 50 kilograms of weight, 1 milliliter of the substance is used.
"Sevin". A suspension with a concentration of 0.75-1% is used for external treatment of calves older than 3 months and adults. 1-3 liters of liquid is required for 1 procedure.
Acrodex. The tool is used for aerosol treatment of animals. The course of therapy includes 4 treatments with an interval of 5-7 days.

In addition to the main therapy, drugs are prescribed to strengthen the immune system and the general he alth of animals.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies also help to cope with demodicosis. To begin with, it is recommended to wash the animal well. To soften the crusts that have formed on the affected parts of the skin, it is worth wiping them with a soapy solution with the addition of Creolin.

After a day, it is recommended to wash the cow with a solution made on the basis of ash lye. This will help increase the effectiveness of therapy.

Processing premises and inventory

It is important to consider that ticks can live separately from the animal. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the processing of the premises in which the cows live. Every day it is worth cleaning the corral from waste products. Washing feeders and drinkers is also important. In this case, it is imperative to use disinfectants and pour boiling water over the containers. If necessary, the stall should be washed using antiseptic preparations. A farmer who can also carry ticks is advised to wash their hands thoroughly after contact with animals. It is important to use antibacterial soap when doing this.

Preventive measures

All new individuals that enter the farm should be examined for the presence of ticks. After the appearance of a new animal in the herd, it is recommended to place it in a stall or a separate pen for a certain time. After the end of the incubation period, as a preventive measure, it is worth using a weak solution of "Cypermethrin" to treat the cow.

With the advent of heat, it is necessary to examine all individuals for the presence of the first symptoms of pathology. Be sure to carry out general cleaning in the room in which the cows are kept. Every day it is worth removing the feces and, if necessary, washing the cows.

Prophylactic treatment of the walking area and cleaning tools is of no small importance. After contact with animals, it is recommended to wash your hands. If the stall is dirty, it should be cleaned with antibacterial agents.

The development of demodicosis in cattle is considered a fairly common pathology that can lead to negative he alth consequences.If measures are not taken in time, there is a risk of slowing down the development of animals and reducing their productivity. Therefore, at the first symptoms of a violation, you should contact your veterinarian.