Why does a cow grind its teeth: causes and what to do, symptoms and prevention

To make cattle breeding profitable, the owner should pay attention to the slightest changes in the behavior of animals. They can inform a person about problems or serious illnesses that are starting. Understanding why a cow begins to grind its teeth, it is necessary to exclude diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, muscular dystrophy and some other factors.

Why does a cow grind her teeth

There are several reasons why an animal starts grinding its teeth. When using low-quality feed with sand, earth, garbage, a characteristic rattle occurs.Lack of nutritional vitamins and minerals makes cows chew bedding, gnaw pieces of plaster in the barn. With the normalization of feeding, the creaking of the teeth disappears. However, if everything is fine with the nutrition and maintenance of animals, and the cow continues to grind its teeth, this may be a signal of the development of serious diseases.

If gum is missing

Cow chewing gum is an indispensable part of the digestive process. The animal swallows unchewed food, then returns it from the stomach in portions, moistens it abundantly with saliva and swallows it again, replacing it with another portion. The loss of cud means a slowdown or complete cessation of the digestion process, if you do not fix it as soon as possible, the cow will die. The reasons for the loss of chewing gum may be different, the situation occurs in the following cases:

• getting into the digestive tract of foreign objects (nail, wire, glass);
• eating poor quality food;
• development of diseases (parakeratosis of the scar, gastroenteritis, pale muscle disease);
• complications after calving.

Milk-fed calves can't have ruminant, the process starts when the calf is switched to adult food.

Scar parakeratosis

The disease is characterized by an increase and thickening of the papillae of the scar, in which its microflora changes. Parakeratosis occurs in animals fed finely ground food without sufficient roughage. It is observed in fattening animals and calves. In cows, appetite and motor function of the rumen decrease, teeth grinding, diarrhea mixed with blood occur, chewing gum is lost. Against the background of these signs, if left untreated, dehydration, ulceration and scar necrosis develop.

If it is not possible to normalize the condition of the animal in 1.5-2 weeks, it is culled.

Gastroenteritis

Dangerous gastrointestinal disease in cows and calves, which is characterized by:

• diarrhea, bloating, the presence of excruciating colic;
• temperature increase;
• lethargy, lack of appetite, the animal lies a lot;
• grinding teeth;
• increased breathing, manifestations of cardiovascular insufficiency.

The disease affects calves and adult livestock in violation of housing conditions, the use of poor-quality feed and dirty water for drinking, and the unfavorable epidemiological situation in the area.

White Muscle Disease

Develops in calves during the first days of life. After calving, metabolic processes in the baby's body are disturbed. Vitamins and minerals are no longer absorbed, muscle atrophy is observed. Symptoms of the disease are:

• sluggish apathetic state;
• presence of shortness of breath, increased heart rate;
• sharp stench of feces;
• appearance of convulsions;
• grinding teeth;
• temperature increase.

The calf lies, cannot stand on its feet, the animal is characterized by heavy labored breathing and gnashing of teeth. The reason for the development of white muscle disease is an increased sulfur content in the body of the animal.

How to Diagnose

Gum appears within an hour after eating. If the process of regurgitation of food is disturbed, the animal is in pain, this can be understood by the following signs:

• cow spreads front legs wide;
• stretches the neck;
• bends in the back, groans plaintively and grinds his teeth.

If the grinding of teeth is caused by the ingress of earth or sand into the feed, there is no loss of appetite and indigestion. It is necessary to observe the animals, inspect and shake the feed, clean the feeders. Soon the grinding of teeth disappears.

What to do

If the animal begins to grind its teeth, loses appetite and becomes lethargic, it should be isolated from the rest of the livestock. Careful monitoring of the condition, examination of feces and calling a veterinarian is the first thing a responsible owner should do. The cow is given plenty of clean water to drink and no food is given during the day.

The doctor must examine the animal, order a blood test. After the diagnosis is made, treatment is prescribed.

When diagnosing scar parakeratosis, roughage is introduced into the diet, the animal's nutrition is normalized. Vitamin A and brewer's yeast are prescribed (500 grams per liter of water), increased acidity is reduced by drinking a mixture of baking soda and burnt magnesia (4% solution is prepared) and given 2-4 liters daily. Sick cows are injected with fluid from the rumen of he althy animals. For gastroenteritis, after receiving the test results and a daily starvation diet (with plenty of clean water), the stomach is washed by drinking a solution of baking soda to the animal.

Important: the cow should not be given any feed for 24 hours.

After the doctor prescribes the use of antibiotics, vitamin complex (A, B, E, C). To eliminate spasms, "No-shpu" is used. After normalization of the state, they give rice or oatmeal broth, drink chamomile broth. White muscle disease is treated comprehensively, with the use of sodium selenite, a complex of vitamins (E, B), methionine, drugs to maintain cardiac activity.

Problem Prevention

It is possible to avoid diseases with a balanced diet of animals, observing the regime of keeping. Adding vitamin and mineral supplements to the diet reduces the likelihood of the problem.

Feeders and drinkers should be washed thoroughly with a hot 2% solution of baking soda. Shake off the feed, avoiding the ingress of sand, earth, glass or wire. Water animals only with clean water, do not use rotten, dirty, frozen vegetables for feeding. Thoroughly (1-2 times a day) clean the barn.

In the diet of pregnant cows, only high-quality feed is introduced, they are given vitamins and minerals (s alt, fish oil, bone meal, brewer's yeast), strictly on the recommendation of a veterinarian. Losing gum is a signal of serious problems. Timely measures help the animal and keep it he althy and productive.

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