A cow with a hole in its side: why they make and put fistulas, stages of creating a valve

A cow walking proudly with a hole in its side is an unusual sight. For animal lovers, such intervention in the body of a cow may seem unacceptable. However, do not jump to conclusions and rush to protect the animal. The hole made by the surgeon allows you to adjust the nutrition of the cow, as well as conduct effective treatment.

What is the hole in the abdomen for?

Nature rewarded the cow with a special structure of the stomach. The body consists of 4 separate parts, each of which performs its work. Most of the gastrointestinal tract of the cow is occupied by a scar.The capacity of this "receiver" of chewed food is 200 liters. Numerous microorganisms are responsible for the initial processing of ingested food. Helpers invisible to the eye are concentrated in the scar area and contribute to the production and synthesis of protein in the pet's body.

Processed food enters the mesh of the stomach. This part of the body acts as a kind of filter. Small and liquid particles of food are sent to the next chamber of the stomach (book), and large ones in the form of belching return to the animal's oral cavity. The cow re-chews the grass, and everything repeats from the beginning.

In the book, food fibers are further ground and sent to the rennet section. In the final stage, the processed food is exposed to gastric secretions.

A sharp transition to a summer diet and overeating of juicy grass by animals lead to disruption of the pet's stomach. Stopping the mechanism of burping food is fraught with serious consequences.The remains of undigested food in the digestive tract of the cow cause fermentation and bloating. Only an experienced farmer or veterinarian can save a cow from torment. Without timely help from a specialist, a cow may die. In a severe case, a cow is given a painful procedure - a scar puncture.

To simplify the task will help the implantation of a special fistula into the body of a cow. The device is a hole made in the side of the cow. With the help of a fistula, the veterinarian gets direct access to the organs of the cow's digestive tract. With the help of a cannula, a specialist can remove accumulated gases from the intestines of a cow, remove a foreign body from the esophagus, and also directly inject a therapeutic drug. During the procedure, the cow does not experience pain, so the owner does not have to worry about the condition of the pet.

Getting quick access

If necessary, the veterinarian uses the hole in the cow's side to surgically treat the cow's vital organs.The operation is often performed on an animal with traumatic reticulitis. A dangerous disease occurs due to the penetration of a foreign sharp body into the mesh of the stomach of a cow. A foreign object injures the walls of the stomach, heart, respiratory organs or the internal cavity of the peritoneum.

Due to damage to the internal organs, the animal develops diseases such as pleurisy, peritonitis or traumatic pericarditis.

Under these conditions, the only chance to save the pet is an operation by opening the scar. For the convenience of surgical intervention, a cow turner is used. Having fixed the animal, the veterinarian penetrates the gastrointestinal tract of the cow, removes the foreign object and, after dissecting the wall of the scar, proceeds to save the damaged organ.

Resettlement of microflora

In the treatment of acidosis (accumulation in the stomach of lactic acid) and other disorders of the digestive organs, the veterinarian resorts to transfaunation. The procedure consists in the transfer of a certain number of microorganisms from the rumen of a he althy cow to the gastrointestinal tract of a sick animal.

You can safely take up to 2 liters of liquid stomach contents from a cow kept on a farm. A hole made in the side of the animal allows valuable microorganisms to be placed in the digestive tract of an ailing cow. The procedure is carried out for 40-60 minutes. The treatment helps to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract of the cow and restore the lost productivity of the animal.

Laboratory research and experiments

The effectiveness of diagnostic studies directly depends on the speed of the actions taken. With the help of a fistula installed in the belly of a cow, a specialist can immediately take the necessary samples. The valve allows the specialist to determine exactly how a particular type of food or medication affects the cow's digestion.

Several years ago, such studies were carried out by probing. The traditional method of diagnosis brought physical suffering to animals. Thanks to the modern method of research, the pet undergoes diagnostic procedures completely painlessly.

Steps of the operation

The valve is installed only by adult, well-fed, calving cows. The optimal age for the operation is 2.5-3 years. At a younger age, pets continue to grow, so the installed fistula can be very displaced.

Cow preparation

Experienced people begin preparatory activities 2 weeks before surgery. Regardless of vaccinations, cows are tested for susceptibility to tuberculosis, brucellosis, anthrax and other infectious diseases. Vaccination is completely stopped 30 days before valve insertion.Only 60 days after the operation, you can return to the usual vaccination schedule for the owners. Feeding the pet is stopped 12 hours before the start of the procedure.

Some experts prohibit watering cows before surgery, but the vast majority of veterinarians consider this measure unnecessary.

Scar operation

As a rule, the operation is carried out in autumn or spring. During this period, comfortable weather remains, and there are no annoying insects. The fistula is placed under local anesthesia. Using chalk, the veterinarian marks on the animal's body where the cannula should be placed.

The device is made of special plastic. Due to its resistance to oxidation, the fistula is not destroyed by gastric acid and microorganisms. The valve should be located in the hungry hole, on the side of the spine. The operation is carried out according to a single algorithm.

1. The animal is given a muscle injection of any relaxant. This will help relieve some nervous tension and calm the cow.
2. The cow is securely fixed on a special machine.
3. Burenka is injected with an anesthetic and an incision is made at the place marked with chalk.
4. The veterinarian gently spreads the muscle fibers and makes an incision in the peritoneum.
5. The tissues of the scar wall are carefully pulled up to the incision site. Carefully, without affecting the muscles, the specialist fixes the scar tissue on the skin of the cow.
6. Then the veterinarian makes an incision in the stomach and stitches the edges of the tissues with the skin of the cow.
7. The cannula is heated, this makes the part elastic.
8. The fistula is inserted into the hole made. The device securely wraps around the muscles, so it does not need to be fixed.
9. The hole is sealed with a special lid.

Benefits of Fistula Insertion

Despite their intimidating appearance, fistulas have a number of advantages over traditional methods of influencing the animal's body:

1. Possibility of emergency intervention in a situation dangerous for the he alth of cows. You can access the internal organs of a cow at any time.
2. Possibility of urgent removal of food from the pet's stomach. Digestive problems often occur due to poorly digested food. Urgent cleaning of the cow's stomach from poor-quality feed will help prevent the disease. The easiest way to do the procedure is through the opening valve.
3. Convenience of the procedure for removing accumulated gases from the digestive tract of cows.
4. Constant monitoring of the bacterial environment inhabiting the cow's stomach.
5. Possibility of competent drawing up of a diet of a cow. Thanks to the installation of the fistula, it is easy to determine which type of food is suitable for the pet. Ultimately, the technology contributes to higher milk yields and product quality.
6. Convenience of administering medications directly into the gastrointestinal tract of the pet. Thus, the chances of saving a cow in case of acute poisoning increase.

Aftercare

During the first week after the operation, the tumor on the injured area of the body does not fall off, so the animal is given antibiotics. The course of taking the drug is designed for 5 days. All this time, the diseased area is treated with any disinfectant solution.

Burenka is kept in an isolated, clean room. It is necessary to protect the pet from contact with relatives and other animals. The healing process should take place under the supervision of a specialist. The cow's diet does not change. The milking of the animal is carried out according to the usual schedule for everyone.

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