Postpartum paresis in a cow: symptoms and treatment, what to do for prevention

Poor housing conditions and improper feeding can lead to the development of certain diseases in cows. Among them is postpartum paresis, which is otherwise called a coma of milk cows. This is a paralytic pathology, which is accompanied by paresis of the digestive organs and limbs. In the absence of timely treatment of postpartum paresis, the cow has serious consequences.

General information about the disease

Postpartum paresis - a serious disease of cows, sheep, goats and less often pigs, which is expressed in paralysis of the pharynx, tongue, intestines and legs, ends in a coma and death.The disease makes itself felt immediately after childbirth, and in very rare cases - a week or a month later. In some animals, paralysis is recorded after each birth.

If no assistance is provided or untimely treatment, the coma of dairy cows leads to death after 1-3 days (sometimes a little more). Therefore, therapy must be started in the first two days from the onset of the disease. The prognosis in such cases is almost always favorable - on the second or third day, the symptoms of the disease disappear.

Pathology develops as a result of metabolic disorders, the main of which is an imbalance of calcium and magnesium in the blood. The body of a pregnant cow is deprived of part of the substance in favor of the fetus. During lactation, this problem only gets worse. A decrease in calcium levels, in turn, leads to inhibition of the central nervous system. Strong pain during childbirth also contributes to this.

Causes of paresis in cows

Maternity paresis after calving in cattle is determined by the following factors:

1. Unbalanced cow nutrition, namely lack of phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D.
2. Excess protein.
3. Imbalance of calcium and magnesium in the body of a cow.
4. Deviations in the work of the endocrine system.
5. Lack of physical activity.
6. Cow stays in a cold room for a long time.

The exact causes of the pathology cannot be established. These factors may contribute to the appearance of the disease, but are not its immediate causes.

As a result of long-term observations, it was possible to identify animals that are at risk:

• Fatted cows with a diet high in protein and concentrates;
• Cows, whose age is 5-8 years;
• high-producing cows.

Symptoms of pathology

The first signs of a mild illness are expressed as follows:

• refusing food;
• passive behavior;
• depressed or excited state;
• moving instability;
• lack of sensitivity to pain;
• tremor;
• appearance of a rash on the udder;
• decrease in body temperature.

In the future, the cow cannot stand up, because her legs failed due to weakness. One of the main signs of paresis is the special position in which the cow's body is located: the head is turned to one side (or lies on the chest), the neck is bent, the limbs are bent under the stomach.Other symptoms are expressed as follows:

• cow sticks out tongue, drooling profusely;
• Cow stops urinating and defecation;
• swallowing dysfunction;
• decreased respiratory rate, hoarseness;
• reduced or no milk;
• tympania;
• if the disease occurs during labor, the exit of the calf to the outside slows down (the muscles of the uterus stop contracting).

What to do, how to treat postpartum paresis in cattle

There are several ways to help a sick animal. The main methods of therapy are as follows:

• drug treatment;
• special treatment measures (milk infusion, air blowing).

Medicated treatment

Veterinary medicine offers an effective way to provide first aid. A 10% calcium chloride solution and a 40% glucose solution are injected intravenously into a sick animal in the amount of 200-400 milliliters and 200-250 milliliters, respectively. Also, a 20% solution of sodium benzoate (15-20 milliliters) is injected under the skin. In addition, an intramuscular injection of a 25% solution of magnesium sulfate in an amount of 40 milliliters, as well as vitamin D2, is recommended.

Providing assistance through these medications leads to the recovery of the animal almost immediately after the end of therapy.

Folk treatment

There are also alternative treatments:

1. Schmidt method. The problem is solved by pumping air into the udder of sick animals through the teats. For this, an Evers device or a standard car or bicycle pump is used.In the second case, a catheter is required. To prevent infection, a cotton wool is inserted into the hose, which acts as a filter. Before starting therapy, the heifer is laid on its side. Next, the udder is freed from milk, and the nipples are disinfected. Then connect the catheter and begin to pump air. You need to start with the two lower lobes, and after inflating the four lobes, the procedure is repeated in the same sequence. Pumping is carried out gradually, until the skin on the udder is smoothed. Like a soccer ball, the udder should make a distinctive sound when tapped. At the end of the procedure, massage the tissues near the nipples to prevent air from escaping due to the contraction of the sphincter. If this does not help, the nipples should be tightened with a tape or bandage for no more than two hours. Pulling with a thread or rope is strictly prohibited, since such an action will provoke tissue necrosis. Improvement should come within half an hour. If this is not observed, the procedure is repeated after 6-8 hours.
2. Infusion of milk. Using a Janet syringe and a catheter, 600-2000 milliliters of fresh or heated milk is poured into the udder. The advantage of this method over the previous one is that there is no risk of destruction of the alveoli, the development of tissue necrosis. In addition, recovery occurs faster, and milk production does not decrease in the future. Milk is injected into one of the four lobes of the udder. If the procedure did not help, milk is poured into the same share in the same amount, and the remaining quarters are filled with air.

In a complicated course of the disease, when the cow is unable to empty her intestines and bladder, urine and feces are removed using massage.

Possible Complications

Lack of proper treatment leads to the development of tympania. Pathology is a swelling of the scar due to strong gas formation. The problem is eliminated by piercing the scar and introducing into its cavity a 5% alcohol solution in a volume of 400 milliliters.

Also, as a result of paresis, acute secondary pneumonia may develop due to aspiration of water or food.

Prevention measures

To prevent pathology, a number of preventive measures must be observed, which include:

1. Changing the diet of a cow during the prenatal period. Grass and concentrates are being removed from the daily menu.
2. You can't walk your pet in hot weather.
3. Elimination of drafts. The room must be equipped so that the cow does not blow through.
4. With a decrease in lactation, as well as during dry periods, the amount of concentrates in the cow's menu should be limited (maximum - 3 kilograms with 8 kilograms of hay in the diet).
5. With a week left before delivery, the cow is given an injection of glucose and vitamin D
6. When the weather conditions are optimal, the cow should be walked regularly.
7. The animal needs to be given mineral supplements.
8. You can't overfeed a cow.
9. It is recommended to add premixes to feed.
10. After calving, the animal is soldered with a special energy drink.
11. Timely vaccination of pregnant cows.

In a word, preventive measures come down to observing the rules for keeping and feeding cows. Postpartum paresis in cows is a dangerous disease that, if treated late or not, leads to the death of the animal. Most often, pathology occurs in older cows, as well as in highly productive dairy cows. In young individuals, paresis is practically not observed. The main factor that determines the development of pathology is malnutrition and non-compliance with the rules for keeping livestock.

Recommended