White muscle disease of calves: signs and treatment at home
The development of white muscle disease in calves is often observed in the first weeks of life. This pathology is characterized by a violation of metabolic processes and problems with the performance of contractile functions. The danger of muscular dystrophy lies in the fact that it is impossible to eliminate it. After the illness, the calf will develop poorly. If timely treatment is not started, mortality rates reach 60%. Therefore, the very first symptoms of the disease require the help of a veterinarian.
What are the features of pathology
Cow white bone disease is an endemic disease. It mostly affects young people.Currently, the disease is not well understood. Usually, the pathology affects calves. However, it occasionally occurs in other cattle as well.
If the use of conventional drugs does not give positive results within 3-5 days, it is recommended to urgently start using antibacterial drugs. As a result of pathology, the heart muscle suffers, skeletal muscles are deformed, morphological processes are observed in the structure of internal organs.
The exact causes of the disease have not yet been identified. However, scientists suggest that the development of pathology is often associated with a lack of vitamins and minerals. Most of the diseases occur in winter and spring.
With the development of pathology in a sick animal, a decrease in the level of total protein and an increase in nitrogen are observed. A distinctive feature of the pathology is a violation of creatinine metabolism and an increased content of phosphorus. Pathology is more common in New Zealand, USA, Australia.
Symptoms of the disease
Pathology is characterized by several development options, each of which has specific symptoms. The duration of the acute stage is 7-10 days. Pathology is characterized by the following symptoms:
- general oppression;
- development of tachycardia;
- cardiac weakness;
- breathing;
- appearance of symptoms of conjunctivitis accompanied by blurred eyes;
- serious nasal discharge;
- violations of the alimentary tract;
- bloating;
- profuse salivation;
- paralysis and paresis - while the calf has a violation of motor activity;
- grinding of teeth.
For other forms of the disease, less pronounced symptoms are characteristic. At the same time, an accurate diagnosis can only be made by a veterinarian.
Shapes
There are several options for the development of the disease. Each of them has a specific clinical picture.
Spicy
The acute form of the white mouse is characterized by the general weakness of the animals. They suffer from stiffness of movement. It is not uncommon for calves to experience tremors and convulsions. After a while, other signs appear. These include paralysis of limbs or other parts of the body. Paresis may also occur. With this course of the disease, there is a clear violation of the work of the heart and blood vessels. This condition is characterized by an increase in heart rate, which reaches 140-180 beats per minute. This produces weak and muffled heart sounds.
Subacute
This form is characterized by less pronounced symptoms. The main signs of the disease include a noticeable deterioration in appetite, the appearance of wheezing in the sternum area, and slight depression of the animal.
With the development of a subacute form of pathology, a sharp decrease in the parameters of the body's resistance is observed.
As a result, he becomes more vulnerable to various pathologies. This entails the occurrence of inflammatory processes and pleurisy in the calf. This form of pathology is present for 14-30 days. At the same time, in 60% of cases, it provokes the death of a calf.
Chronic
The chronic course of the disease is characterized by a clear depletion of the body of cattle and a slowdown in its development. In this case, symptoms of heart failure occur, and anemia develops. Subacute and chronic forms of pathology in calves can cause dangerous he alth consequences - gastroenteritis and bronchopneumonia.
Diagnostic rules
When white muscle disease is suspected, it is important to engage in a comprehensive diagnosis of animal myopathy.It is important to take into account the clinical picture and the results of studies. It is also worth comparing the test data with the age category of the animal in order to exclude the development of pathologies with a similar clinical picture.
The performance of fluoroscopy is of no small importance. Electrocardiography is recommended to assess the functioning of the heart. This procedure helps to detect damage to the heart muscle. If the calf has died, pathological changes help to identify myopathy. These include the following:
- severe skeletal muscle damage;
- increase in the size of the heart and lungs;
- puffiness in fiber layers;
- softening the brain.
Differential diagnosis is of no small importance. At the same time, it is necessary to distinguish pathology from enzootic ataxia.
How to cure an illness in cattle
To cope with the disease at home, you must strictly adhere to the recommendations of the veterinarian and maintain the condition of the animal. After determining the exact diagnosis of the sick calf, it should be immediately isolated. He definitely needs to lay a warm bedding. It will protect the animal from hypothermia and other pathologies.
It is important to follow a special diet. It consists in introducing the following foods into the diet:
- carrot;
- quality hay;
- bran;
- fresh dairy products.
It is very important to maintain a full drinking regimen. In addition, it is important to control the cleanliness in the box and systematically clear it of food debris and manure.
At the same time, there are no specialized medicines that help to cope with pathology. For treatment, you should use the following:
- Sodium selenite solution - this helps replenish selenium deficiency in the animal's body. The agent is recommended to be administered subcutaneously.
- "Methionine" - this amino acid allows you to restore disturbed metabolic processes.
- "Tocopherol" - ensures the normalization of metabolic processes.
- Cysteine.
The dosage of medicines is determined by the veterinarian - this is done taking into account the stage of the disease.
Folk remedies
Pathology is usually not treated with folk remedies. As an addition to the usual course of therapy, camphor oil can be used. It is also permissible to use Cordiamin. These substances improve the functioning of the heart muscle.
Prevention of white muscle disease
After recovering, the calves struggle to grow and experience many problems. Therefore, the main method of combating the disease is not therapy, but prevention. Even with a lack of selenium, a he althy calf may not get sick. Therefore, proper nutrition of the female at the end of pregnancy is of particular importance.
During this period, it is recommended to adhere to a two-phase feeding with a low nutritional value in the dry wood 3-8 weeks before the planned calving. At the same time, in recent days, it needs to be gradually increased.
The recommended concentrations of calcium and phosphorus, as well as their ratio, also differ. In recent weeks, preventive measures are required that are aimed at preventing ketosis.This violation provokes the birth of weakened calves. To avoid problems, it is recommended to saturate the diet of cattle with energy supplements. These include Felucen and Propylene Glycol.
The high content of vitamins - especially fat-soluble ones - is of great importance. Lack of carotene increases the need for antioxidants. Therefore, it is worth performing prophylactic injections of "E-selenium". This tool is used by injection.
A couple of months before the birth of a calf, a cow is recommended to inject the drug intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Usually used 15 milliliters of the substance per 1 individual. In this case, it is required to perform 3-4 injections with an interval of 2 weeks. White muscle disease is a serious pathology that can lead to the death of a calf. To avoid this and prevent stunting, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian in a timely manner and strictly follow his recommendations.However, it is much better to prevent the development of pathology.
Recommended
Colibacteriosis of calves: signs and who is the causative agent, treatment and prevention
Description of colibacillosis in calves. Caused by Escherichia coli, manifested by diarrhea, intoxication. It is treated with antibiotics, antitoxic serum.
White muscle disease of lambs: causes and signs, methods of treatment
White muscle disease of lambs is understood as a complex pathology, which is accompanied by severe metabolic disorders. If measures are not taken in time, there is a risk of death of the livestock.
White muscle disease in goats: symptoms and methods of diagnosis, treatment
White muscle disease develops in goats with a deficiency of selenium and vitamin E in the feed. If pregnant goats do not receive all the vitamins and minerals, they give birth to non-viable offspring.
