Only a few of the experienced breeders can say with certainty what to do if a cow is bitten by a snake. But not only productivity, but also the life of the animal depends on the timely measures taken.
snake in the meadow
Why is a snake bite dangerous for a cow?
Despite the fact that the cow is a large animal, she experiences snake bites painfully. And bites in the udder area can have serious consequences. But of course, in many ways, their character depends on the variety of reptile. Within the CIS countries, cattle owners most often encounter attacks by the steppe viper. When bitten by a cow, the following changes are observed:
- the level of activity drops sharply, the animal behaves anxiously, lethargy gradually develops;
- breathing becomes frequent and heavy;
- appetite disappears;
- milk production in the udder stops;
- sometimes the cow falls sideways.
As a rule, the animal recovers within a week. The first two hours after being bitten are the most important. In the absence of prompt measures during this period, the livestock may die.
In the case of an attack by other, less dangerous, varieties of snakes, the symptoms are not so pronounced. Most often, they are manifested by loss of appetite, lack of milk in the udder and general lethargy. As a rule, the animal returns to normal within a few days.
But although the risk to the life of a cow with a bite is small, it is still there. It is also worth considering that after the milk reappears in the udder, it cannot be used. It still contains reptile poison, which means that the product is simply poured out. If at the same time young animals were fed from cows, they lose the main source of food, which is fraught with high mortality among calves.
Calf sucking milk
How to treat a bite?
The best option is to introduce an antidote, which has its own characteristics for each region and is based on a specific type of snake. But as a rule, it is extremely difficult to acquire such a tool.
Attention! In the absence of an antidote, Diphenhydramine is administered as first aid to the animal. The injection is carried out once at a dosage of 0,5 ml.
Also, Suprastin and Prednisolone can be used as an effective remedy for snakebite. But the exact dosage and features of the application are determined by the veterinarian.
Another important direction in the treatment of a reptile bite in the udder is the removal of swelling of the mammary gland. For this, drugs based on dexamethasone are used. Mastisan is also used, which relieves the main signs of mastitis caused by a bite. But its use is more effective with constant parallel milking. During the period of poisoning, its amount is almost zero. But even the remains are toxic to the body, so they are constantly removed from the udder.
From folk remedies, a mixture of clay and vinegar (6% concentration) copes well with edema. The resulting composition is applied to the site of the lesion. As a rule, after the first application, positive changes are observed.
Treatment of a cow after a snake attack requires a lot of money and time on the part of the owner. The animal must also be provided with comfortable conditions of detention. With the success of therapeutic measures, the animal returns to normal again within 3-7 days.
Preventive measures
It is worth noting that there are certain points, the observance of which helps to significantly reduce the risk of attacks by poisonous snakes on livestock. These include:
Snakes are found in pastures with stones
- careful checking of proposed grazing areas before cattle are driven out to them;
- improvement of the pasture area, which includes leveling holes and bumps, removing stones, bushes and snags in which reptiles can hide;
- survey of local old-timers about the invasion of snakes in regions where grazing is planned.
It is also advisable to ask reliable sources about exactly which varieties of poisonous scaly are found in the area where livestock is bred. Such information will allow to collect the correct stock of drugs for the treatment of cows if necessary.
Conclusion
Cattle suffer snake bites no less painfully than humans. Moreover, such a situation can even end in the death of animals, and in the case of a favorable outcome, it is accompanied by a sharp drop in productivity. Therefore, every farm owner must know how to properly provide first aid to an animal in case of a snake bite and how to protect livestock from such a risk.
