Why does a cow cough: causes and home treatment

Cough is a reflex mechanism by which the body tries to get rid of a foreign body that has entered the respiratory tract, and it can also be a symptom of some pathologies. In veterinary medicine, cough in cattle is a significant parameter in the diagnosis of diseases; its nature may indicate a particular pathological process. Consider why a cow coughs and what should be done to help her at home with some serious illnesses.

Causes of cattle cough

Cough in cows, like in all animals, is a physiological process that is necessary to free the airways from what interferes with normal breathing.

Among the causes leading to a cough, the common cold is the most common. Animals catch colds because they are in damp and dirty rooms, with drafts, with sudden changes in temperature, in which ventilation, cleaning and disinfection are carried out irregularly. Animals can cough from getting into the trachea or pharynx of irritants - dust or gases, or with mechanical damage to the respiratory tract. Usually such a cough disappears as soon as the irritant stops.

Separately, infections caused by bacteria or viruses can be distinguished, with the development of respiratory and some other diseases, cough is one of the main symptoms.

Among such diseases are tuberculosis, pasteurellosis, rhinotracheitis, streptococcosis, coronavirus and rotavirus infections. Coughing can be a symptom of a parasitic disease, in which parasites reside in the lungs. Cough in animals can be caused by hypovitaminosis and insufficient intake of protein in the body (poor-quality feeding), decreased immunity due to insufficient physical activity, lack of solar insolation.

Cough reflex mechanism

Usually cough occurs after irritation of the pharynx, bronchi, trachea, root of the tongue. As an irritating factor, there may be inflammatory processes, exposure to aggressive compounds and gases, accumulation of exudate, foreign bodies. The body of the cow reacts with a sigh, in which the abdominal muscles participate. The glottis then contracts and pressure builds up in the chest to push the extra stuff out of the airways.

Varieties of the problem

Cough in cows can be different in strength and character and depends on the severity of the pathological process, where it is localized, also depends on the degree of development of the muscles of the respiratory tract and the he alth of the cow.

In case of inflammation in the cow's trachea and larynx, a short but intense and loud cough is heard, wheezing caused by accumulated fluid, the animal's temperature rises, it breathes heavily.If the disease affects the lungs, the cough will be dull and long, and there is also heavy breathing.

What to do if a cow coughs

Since it is obvious that coughing in cattle occurs for a variety of reasons, you must first identify them in order to begin therapy. Consider serious lung pathologies that are subject to mandatory treatment.

Tuberculosis

The source of tuberculosis pathogens for cows is the discharge of a sick animal - sputum, feces, or for a calf - milk. The pathogen is transmitted through food, water, respiratory tract. Contributes to the spread of tuberculosis crowded content, joint feeding and watering of sick and he althy animals, common grazing. With severe tuberculosis, cows experience shortness of breath, wheezing during breathing, weight loss and loss of appetite, dry skin, fever, cough with sputum.

Often, at the initial stage, the disease proceeds secretly, without obvious and characteristic signs, it can be detected during this period only with the help of diagnostic procedures. Tuberculin test can be done in calves from 2 months and pregnant cows. With an increase after 3 days of the injection site and a local rise in temperature, a second test is carried out.

Pathological changes in tuberculosis in cattle - the formation of nodular seals in the affected organs, formed from connective tissue and calcium s alts. There are also necrotic foci in the lungs, foci of inflammation containing pus, cavities, inflammation of the lymph nodes, ulcers on the mucous membrane, pathological changes in the heart, kidneys, liver, bone marrow.

Treatment of bovine tuberculosis is impractical, when the diagnosis is confirmed, animals are slaughtered.

Inflammation of the lungs

Typical for calves in the first month of life, but adult animals can also get sick.The reasons are keeping on a cold and damp floor, hypothermia, drafts, lack of vitamins in the feed, insufficient physical activity. The disease proceeds acutely, subacutely, atypically and chronically. Cough, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and weight loss are characteristic, in the acute form - fever and swelling of the extremities, chest, abdominal wall, temperature, nasal discharge. Treatment should be started immediately, within 2-8 days the sick animal may die.

Dictyocaulosis

The disease is caused by Dictyocaulidae nematodes, parasitic in the lungs and bronchi of cows and ruminants. Infection occurs through animal contact, grazing, through bedding. Cough in cows with dictyocaulosis occurs from mechanical irritation of lung tissues by parasites.Toxins poison the body, the animals' metabolism is disturbed, the temperature rises.

Complications - CNS depression, secondary infections, exhaustion. Possible death of calves. Treatment at home is carried out with anthelmintic drugs.

Prevention

Measures should be aimed at improving the conditions of livestock care and maintenance, animals should be in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area, take daily walks. Proper feeding and walking are the main factors that increase the resistance of cows to infections. It is mandatory to carry out disinfection treatments of the premises, keeping new individuals in quarantine.

Cough in cows and calves is often a sign of infectious diseases. It is important to identify the disease in time, to treat animals, if possible, to organize preventive measures.

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