Calf diseases: description and symptoms, home treatment

The maintenance of cattle is associated with constant monitoring of the he alth of animals. Timely assistance allows you to save the animal, as well as prevent the spread of infectious diseases among the herd. Calves are prone to various diseases due to weak immunity. Every breeder can distinguish between pathology and prevent development if he has some knowledge.

Classification of pathologies

Calves are young animals that have not reached 1 year of age. They are near the cow during the first weeks of life, and then begin to move within the fenced area on their own.Animals are prone to diseases, so they need systematic diagnosis. Veterinary reference books contain information not only about the symptoms of diseases, but also about conditions associated with drinking too much water, poisoning, and various injuries.

Diseases and disorders are classified according to the main features:

not transmitted to other animals;
infectious;
parasitic.

Infectious diseases

Dangerous category are infectious diseases transmitted due to the development of a pathogenic microenvironment. They quickly spread from an infected individual to other animals.

Scabies

Demodicosis, or scabies, develops due to the appearance of the demodex mite in a calf. The tick infects the hair follicles, as well as the sebaceous glands. Scabies is dangerous because it slows down the development of the calf, significantly weakens its immunity. Symptoms:

appearance of tuberosity on the skin;
partial hair loss;
gluing wool in separate areas.

To prevent the spread of demodicosis, calves are treated with acaricides. When diagnosing scabies in one calf, treatment requires the entire livestock.

Help! Preventive measures against scabies include annual preventive treatment of all livestock throughout May.

Streptococcosis

Streptococcal infection affects young calves in their first months of life. The causative agent is hemolytic streptococcus, which can be transmitted through the birth canal. Symptoms:

temperature increase to 42 degrees;
appearance of wheezing;
increased heart rate;
development of hypothermia;
discharge of pus from the nostrils.

Sick calves are placed in quarantine, injected with antistreptococcal serum, prescribed antibiotics. Effective drugs are sulfonamides, as well as symptomatic agents. Mandatory diet therapy with simultaneous injections.

Dictyocaulosis

This is a seasonal disease that affects calves between 3 and 7 months of age. Symptoms:

sudden coughing fits;
discharge of thick mucus from the nostrils;
inactivity, apathy;
temperature increase.

The causative agent of the disease is a nematode, which is localized in the bronchi of the calf. Timely detection helps to cure up to 90% of young animals. The skin is treated with local preparations, an iodine solution is injected into the lungs.

Attention! Calves must be quarantined, not pastured with adult stock.

Pasteurellosis

The causative agent becomes a bacterium. She gets to the calf up to a year through water or penetrates by airborne droplets.

Symptoms:

apathy, depression;
complete loss of appetite;
increased heart rate;
hoarseness of breath;
increased body temperature;
discharge of pus from the nostrils;
severe diarrhea;
blue mucous membranes.

Pasteurellosis is difficult to cure. Timely detection allows you to quickly prescribe diuretic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs. The starting antibiotic for the treatment of pasteurellosis is Penicillin.After the acute stage of the disease has passed, the young are injected with a special serum. The use of antimicrobial drugs is becoming a concomitant therapeutic method.

Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidiosis is provoked by parasitic species, cryptosporidium. They develop in the body for 3-7 days, are localized in one place, forming extensive colonies. The source is infected animals and carriers. Symptoms:

disorders of the digestive tract;
weakness;
loss of appetite;
increased thirst;
severe diarrhea.

Early diagnosis allows animals to be treated symptomatically. Calves are given a remedy for diarrhea, restore water-s alt metabolism, and are prescribed dietary feed.

Aerobic dysentery

Anaerobic dysentery affects newborn calves. Infection occurs during the feeding process. The cause of the development of the disease may be the use of dirty drinking dishes. The acute form can lead to the death of the calf. Symptoms:

severe diarrhea;
exhaustion of the body;
dehydration.

Death occurs as a result of the development of pulmonary edema and impaired liver function. If anaerobic dysentery is diagnosed in a newborn calf, then all young animals are immediately vaccinated to save the livestock.

Colibacillosis

The second name for colibacillosis is white sucker diarrhea. The causative agent is an enteropathogenic Escherichia coli containing a somatic antigen. Signs:

a sharp rise in temperature;
lethargy, apathy, loss of appetite;
pain in the muscles of the abdominal wall, which manifests itself on palpation;
grey-white diarrhea;
Inability to digest colostrum.

Treatment of colibacillosis involves the administration of hyperimmune serum simultaneously with an antibacterial course. Preventive measures include antiparasitic sanitary and hygienic measures that are carried out when keeping pregnant cows, as well as during delivery and in the first days of life of calves.

Paratyphoid

Paratyphus is caused by Genther's wand. The disease is acute from the very beginning. Signs:

loss of appetite;
temperature increase;
appearance of pink sores on the abdomen;
persistent diarrhea;
apathy.

Treatment is based on the administration of antiparatyphoid serum. At the same time, they are taking measures to improve the conditions of detention, monitor the quality of feed.

Coronavirus enteritis

The reason is the ingestion of a special virus. The lethal outcome is 30-50% of the total number of diseases. Signs:

damage to the intestinal mucosa;
atrophy of the walls of the stomach;
damage to the mucous membranes of the oral cavity;
presence of mouth ulcers;
bloating;
persistent diarrhea.

Coronavirus enteritis can be cured by urgent vaccination. To get out of this state, special serums are used, and symptomatic treatment is also prescribed.

Noncommunicable diseases

Noncommunicable diseases are no less dangerous. They can cause serious violations.

Hypodermatosis

This is a chronic disease caused by subcutaneous gadflies. Gadfly larvae are able to parasitize in the body of a calf for six months, injure internal organs and tissues. Symptoms that develop gradually if a calf becomes sick:

constant anxiety;
itching;
edema;
skin soreness;
appearance of tubercles.

They begin to treat immediately after the discovery of gadflies: they vaccinate, put antibacterial drugs, and carry out local treatment.

Advice! Infected calves must not be shared with other animals.

Timpania

The disease strikes calves when they begin to switch from dairy foods to other feeds. Symptoms:

repeated vomiting;
refusing food;
rapid breathing;
hardening of the scar;
enlargement of the left side of the animal's abdomen.

Calves are injected with a liter of an aqueous solution of ichthyol or kerosene mixed with clean water. This technique helps to strengthen the reduction of the scar and reduce the amount of gases formed. The reasons are the following factors:

eating poor quality food;
changing diet;
incorrect calculation of the daily amount of food;
blockage of the esophagus with large pieces of food.

Bezoar disease

Vet says bezoar disease is most common in lambs. Calves begin to get sick during the period when they are weaned from cows. This provokes a violation of appetite, as a result of which perversion may occur. The perversion is expressed in the fact that the calves begin to lick the wool of their mothers, and then each other.

The hairs that enter the intestines gather in lumps, accumulate and provoke serious disorders. Sick calves must be isolated, the composition of the feed ration improved, minerals and vitamins of an additional type must be introduced, Apomorphine is injected subcutaneously or iodine tinctures with milk are given. Treat symptomatically diarrhea or constipation. Preventive measures against the disease are adequate feeding and proper maintenance of cows and calves after weaning.

Broncho-pneumonia

Broncho-pneumonia develops due to hypothermia. Treatment involves managing symptoms:

lowering temperature with antipyretics;
drink plenty;
use of antibiotics when needed.

Rickets

Rickets in newborn calves is manifested by abnormal bone development. Fragility and deformation of bones lead to damage to the internal organs of animals. Rickets is the result of an unbalanced diet of cows, as well as a lack of vitamins and minerals. Rickets in calves is diagnosed by the following features:

skull deformity;
thickening of the joints;
limb curvature.

Caring for rickety animals is a lengthy process that requires attention. In addition to meeting the content requirements, it is necessary to revise the diet, as well as use veterinary drugs that compensate for the lack of vitamins and minerals.

Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is typical for young cattle. Dyspepsia is caused by malnutrition in the cow or the inability of the calf's stomach to digest the food received. Dyspepsia is characterized by the following symptoms:

decrease in temperature;
appearance of intestinal cramps;
lethargy, apathy, rapid breathing;
persistent diarrhea.

Therapy includes watering the calf, as well as the use of antibiotics to stop the development of putrefactive microflora.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis in calves occurs as a reaction to the inflammatory process of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastroenteritis can be caused by feeding a calf poor quality feed, a sudden transition from a dairy type of feeding to adult food.Gastroenteritis is treated with antibiotics and antimicrobials. At home, they do gastric lavage, and be sure to isolate the sick calf from other animals.

White Muscular Disease

"White mouse", according to researchers, occurs as a result of a lack of certain groups of vitamins and minerals in the body. Outbreaks of white muscle disease are diagnosed in winter or spring, when the lack of vitamins is especially noticeable. Symptoms:

loss of appetite;
apathy;
persistent diarrhea;
cloudy eyes;
rapid breathing;
appearance of convulsions.

After the diagnosis is made, all means are used to restore the vitamin and mineral balance. Additionally, the treatment course includes camphor oil, which normalizes the work of the heart.If the disease is complicated by concomitant symptoms, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.

What kind of nose should a he althy calf have?

A nasolabial mirror can tell a lot about an animal's condition. The skin of the nose is distinguished by its special density and structure. A dry and hot nose often indicates an increase in temperature and the development of an infectious disease. But, if dryness lasts no more than 10-15 minutes, then there is nothing to worry about. A wet and cool nose is considered the norm. The animal may often lick it and provoke profuse salivation. If the nose is unnaturally cold and blue, then this indicates the development of a disorder in the animal's body.