Diarrhea in a cow is a dangerous disease and it occurs quite often. This condition cannot be ignored, because the body of the animal quickly dehydrates, and as a result, a fatal outcome may occur. Intestinal disorders are caused by various reasons, they will be discussed in this article. Readers will also learn how diarrhea in cattle is treated with medication and folk remedies.
cow diarrhea
Causes
Intestinal disorders are often a symptom of:
- infectious diseases.
- parasitic infestations.
- Poisoning.
Cows can eat food in which mold has formed due to improper storage, and also eat poisonous grass or mushrooms in the pasture (in the absence of proper control). Together with food, pesticides and nitrates enter the stomach of animals.
Often, with a lack of certain vitamins and microelements, their taste preferences change, then the animals begin to lick the soil, sand, and plaster. As a result, microbes enter the digestive tract, which cause fermentation processes in the intestines and diarrhea.
Reference. Cold drinking also provokes frustration, as does eating frozen grass in autumn. Young animals are at particular risk.
Evidence
Consider the symptoms of diarrhea in detail:
- The stool becomes more frequent (from 5 to 12 times a day).
- Feces change color, smell, texture (it can be watery, slimy, frothy, with blood).
- The animal is weakened, oppressed.
- The cow has no appetite.
The cow has no appetite
Symptoms of dehydration are especially dangerous, so you should be attentive to livestock. If there is a large loss of fluid (up to 15%), a fatal outcome is possible. When dehydrated, there is:
- Dryness of mucous membranes.
- Eyes sink.
- The animal does not urinate.
- The heart rate slows down (blood becomes thicker).
If the cow is vilifying, it is necessary to call a veterinarian to find out the cause of the disease. Only with the right diagnosis is it possible to prescribe effective treatment.
Diagnostics
The veterinarian should evaluate the clinical picture of the disease. In order for him to be able to correctly diagnose, it is necessary to provide him with full information about any changes in the behavior and condition of the cow, namely:
- What is her temperature.
- Color, consistency of feces, frequency of bowel movements.
- Was there vomiting, how many times.
- When the diarrhea started.
- What did she eat the day before.
- When was the animal dewormed?
This information will help the veterinarian make a diagnosis. In parallel, he will examine the animal, listen to the heart rhythm, and assess the condition of the oral mucosa. Only then will he be able to guess what caused the diarrhea. How to treat a cow, a specialist will also tell you.
Treatment
In the first 1-2 days after the onset of acute diarrhea, it is recommended to keep the animal on a starvation diet in order to reduce the load on the intestines. Drinks are offered in unlimited quantities.
Drinks are offered in unlimited quantities.
In the future, food that is easily digested is gradually introduced into the diet โ talkers based on oatmeal or flour, high-quality hay or fresh grass, a small amount of root crops. As the condition improves, concentrates are gradually introduced.
Attention! It is important to carefully check the food base, perhaps the cause of the disease was mold or toxic substances.
Treatment should be carried out strictly according to the scheme prescribed by the veterinarian, especially when it comes to an infectious disease or poisoning. A sick cow should be separated from the herd to avoid infecting other individuals. She is provided with peace, kept in acceptable conditions โ clean and warm.
Diarrhea in a cow is treated with medication if it is caused by a viral, bacterial or parasitic infection. It is acceptable to use folk remedies that help restore bowel function, fix stools and give strength to a sick animal.
The focus is on eliminating the cause of the disease, as well as combating dehydration, since it is this that most often threatens the life of the cow.
Medication
Therapy for acute diarrhea in cows should be started as early as possible. What medicines are used to stabilize the health of the animal:
- Broad spectrum antibiotics for the destruction of pathogenic intestinal microflora.
- Rehydrates, they help replenish the loss of fluid and salts (they are administered intravenously or orally).
- Sorbents โ they are designed to remove toxic substances from the body.
- Probiotics โ means that help restore the disturbed microflora.
- In case of poisoning, antidotes are used.
Reference. Antibiotics should be selected by a veterinarian, he will also prescribe the correct dosage and duration of treatment.
Folk remedies
Herbal decoctions are widely used to treat and prevent diarrhea in cattle. However, one cannot completely rely only on folk remedies, since they are not able to destroy the pathogen that caused diarrhea. It is allowed to use various decoctions and infusions in parallel with drug treatment.
Decoction of oak bark
Decoction of oak bark
This tool will help to fix the stool. It is prepared in an enamel bowl in a water bath. 50 g of raw materials are poured with a liter of boiling water, simmered on the stove for 20 minutes. Then the dishes are covered with a lid, wrapped so that the product is infused. After filtering, you need to add boiled water to the broth to bring its volume to the original. The cow is given half a liter of potion to drink twice a day.
Flax-seed
Flax seeds contain many vitamins and organic acids that are necessary for a sick cow. An animal is given a decoction of this raw material in order to restore its strength and replenish the useful substances lost during diarrhea. It is prepared like this: pour 100 grams of seeds with two liters of boiling water, cook over low heat for 45-50 minutes. Then the remedy is infused. After filtering, the concentrate is brought to the original volume with water. A sick cow is allowed to drink a warm decoction 2-3 times a day, 500 ml each.
grain charcoal
This folk remedy is used as a sorbent. The bread is charred in the oven, then crushed. Coal chips are mixed with water in a ratio of 1:10 and given to drink by a sick cow.
Prevention
Disease prevention includes the following measures:
- Keeping cows in a clean stall.
- Feed quality control.
- Animal grazing under supervision.
- Clearing pastures from poisonous herbs and mushrooms.
- Timely deworming and vaccination.
Diarrhea in a cow requires immediate attention. The animal should be examined by a veterinarian to determine the cause of the disorder. Treatment will be prescribed only after a diagnosis has been made. The farmer is required to be willing to follow the instructions of the veterinarian, otherwise the disease will progress and the animal may die.
