Atony of the proventriculus: causes and symptoms, methods of treatment of cattle and prevention

Cattle have a complex digestive system, the functioning of which depends on many factors. The cause of atony of the proventriculus may be the wrong diet or low-quality food. If you do not take immediate action, there is a risk of negative consequences. These include obstruction of the stomach and even death. Therefore, the very first signs of pathology should be the basis for contacting a veterinarian.

Description of disease

The state of atony of the proventriculus in cattle is accompanied by a decrease in the contractile activity of some parts of the stomach - in particular, the mesh, books and scar.In this case, weakness or complete absence of contractions is observed. Of course, such a low digestive activity affects the condition of the animal and its mood.

Unhe althy diet is considered a common cause of the development of the disease. The main factors in the appearance of atony include:

• excess of heavy and roughage in the diet - for example, a lot of hay or straw against the background of an insufficient amount of succulent feed;
• drinking cold or dirty water, which contains many pathogens and impurities;
• sudden transition from one type of food to another - for example, replacing succulent grass with dry compound feed;
• poor quality food - rotten root crops, moldy feed, low grade concentrates can cause problems;
• infectious diseases or infestation of an animal with parasites.

Quite often, atony appears in the fall, when, after systematic grazing and green grass, the animal is transferred to compound feed.

Other factors that cause problems include the following:

• big noise;
• transportation of animals in transport;
• long haul;
• expressed stress;
• lack of systematic walking.

Forms and symptoms of the disease

The following symptoms are typical for atony of the stomach:

• loss of appetite;
• decrease in milk yield;
• general lethargy;
• temperature increase to 40 degrees;
• sudden weight loss;
• dense brown stool or its complete absence.

When feeling the abdomen, it is felt that the scar has become dense and does not shrink. In the normal state, the number of contractions before eating is 2-3 in 2 minutes.After eating, this parameter increases up to 5 times. The appearance of atony provokes a strong decrease in the number of contractions. With complex forms of atony, they completely stop. Against the background of infections, complex forms of endometritis or mastitis, with helminthic invasion, there is a high probability of secondary atony.

At the initial stage of the appearance of pathology, a decrease in scar contractions is observed. This stage of the disease is called hypotension. The first signs of the onset of the disease include belching with gases and the absence of chewing gum. For acute hypotension is characterized by a sharp development. Within a few hours, the animal's scar stops shrinking, and its condition is disturbed. The first signs of atony and hypotension include a deterioration in appetite and a tendency to lie down. In this case, the farmer should immediately notice such changes in the behavior of the pet and take appropriate measures.The most characteristic symptom of atony disease is the cessation of belching.

When these signs appear, you need to feel the stomach. If the number of contractions is less than 1-2 in 5 minutes, this indicates the development of hypotension. In such a situation, urgent action is required.

How is atony diagnosed in cattle

To diagnose atony in a cow, the veterinarian examines the history and clinical symptoms of the disease. If hypotension is of secondary origin, signs of the underlying disease are added to the symptoms of hypotension.

It could be ketosis, gastroenteritis, osteomalacia. It is also possible to have signs of acob altosis and acetonemia. During pregnancy, hypotension is characterized by slow development and increases towards the end of this period. Equally important is the differential diagnosis. The veterinarian needs to exclude traumatic reticulitis, osteomalacia, ketosis.Atony should also be distinguished from gastroenteritis, blockage of the book, mastitis, endometritis and other pathologies.

Methods of treating pathology in cattle

Treatment of pathology should be aimed at restoring motility and secretion of the proventriculus. Of no small importance is the restoration of their microflora, the fight against putrefactive processes and intoxication. If adequate therapy is started in time, it will be possible to normalize the condition of the animal in the first 3 days.

Veterinary drugs

An experienced veterinarian should deal with the disease. First, it is recommended to remove food that has stagnated. To do this, use a 1% solution of sodium sulfate or bicarbonate. It needs to be mixed with 30-40 liters of water.

When the pressure is reduced, sodium chloride is injected into the vein. This also reduces the symptoms of intoxication and increases muscle contractions. After the removal of food, you should worry about the normalization of motor and secretory functions. To get such results, it is recommended to introduce a pharmaceutical infusion of hellebore root. Intravenously, it is worth using 2-3 milliliters of the drug, orally - 5 milliliters. The components of this substance contribute to the stimulation of muscle contractions. For oral administration, the infusion is recommended to be mixed with water.

To restore normal metabolic processes, intravenous administration of 300 milliliters of a 40% glucose solution is required. You also need 150 milliliters of calcium chloride solution. Approximately 10 milliliters of caffeine is recommended subcutaneously.

In addition, for therapeutic purposes, it is worth using "Pilocarpine", "Physostigmine", "Prozerin". To stop fermentation and putrefaction in the digestive organs, it is recommended to use Ichthyol.For 1 liter of water, it is worth taking 15 milliliters of the product. The composition should be administered twice a day. Creolin is also suitable.

Folk remedies

Homemade recipes improve the functioning of the digestive organs, but are not able to cleanse the body of toxins. Therefore, before using such funds, it is important to do a gastric lavage. To prepare a stimulating composition, you will need 50 milliliters of alcohol, 100 grams of yeast and 200 grams of sugar. Mix the finished composition with 1 liter of water and give to the animal. Reapply the mixture after 1-2 days.

Walking and massage

To restore motor skills, the animal needs to move more. If it lies all the time, the treatment will not bring an effect. The cow needs to walk at least 20-30 minutes 2-3 times a day. A sick animal should be massaged for 10-20 minutes. The procedure should be done 2-4 times a day. In this case, it is recommended to perform smooth circular movements.

Proper nutrition

Before the condition stabilizes, the cow should not be fed. To prevent dehydration, you should use only clean water. After cleansing the stomach and eliminating inflammation, it is permissible to feed the pet. At the same time, it is worth giving him greens, chopped root crops and hay. Roughage will have to be abandoned.

Prevention and prognosis

To avoid problems, you should follow these rules:

• walk your pet regularly;
• pick up the optimal amount of food;
• control feed quality;
• pre-steam the straw;
• to make a balanced diet;
• provide clean water.

With proper care and timely assistance, pathology can be easily cured. Atony of the proventriculus is a complex pathology that is associated with a violation of the rules for keeping animals. The disease is treatable, which is why it is so important to see a veterinarian right away.

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