Bursitis of the knee joint in a cow: case history, treatment

Cattle bursitis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system. Occurs often, affects productivity. Causes of bursitis: lack of proper care, violation of the rules of maintenance, poor exercise. According to statistics, bursa injuries often occur when cows are crowded on hard surfaces (concrete, wood), with rare bedding changes.

What is bursitis

The cow’s bursa is a synovial sac (flat sac) made up of connective tissues. It is located in places where the joints experience the maximum load, where the mobility of muscles and tendons is maximum. The bag (bursa) is filled with fluid, it is located in close proximity to the joint and communicates with it.

All types of inflammation of synovial bags are called bovine bursitis. In cattle, the following bursae are affected:

• precarpal;
• hock (tarsal) joint;
• external tubercle in the region of the ilium.

Causes

Mechanical injury to the joint is the most common cause of bursitis in cattle. It can be both external and internal. To be productive, dairy cows should rest lying down for at least 14 hours. For comfort, they need bedding (hay, straw, sawdust).

Injuries (bruise, abrasion) of the joints, legs of cattle occur if the bedding layer is thin or absent. This happens because when lying down, the cow falls to the floor from a height of 30 cm. It physically cannot descend smoothly.

Now, due to the low cost, rubber mats are popular with farmers. They are used as bedding. They are quite solid. If they are not covered with a layer of straw, then cattle, in addition to abrasions and leg bruises, get hypothermia and, as a result, bursitis.

According to statistics, up to 11% of the livestock suffer from bursitis of the knee, hock and carpal joints when the herd is kept without litter. Other causes of bovine bursa injuries:

• short leash;
• kick due to high crowding in the barn;
• uncomfortable feeders;
• short stalls;
• transportation.

With injuries, stretching, displacement of the synovial bag occurs, which leads to its inflammation. Infection (tuberculosis, sepsis, brucellosis) is another, no less common cause of inflammation of the synovial bag of cattle.

Forms of the course of the disease

Cattle bursitis can occur in acute or chronic form. According to the structure of the inflammatory fluid (exudate) and changes in the tissues, the disease is divided into types:

• purulent bursitis;
• aseptic bursitis.

The cause of the latter is mechanical irritation, which caused hemorrhage in the cavity of the bag and in the tissues surrounding the joint. Signs of aseptic bursitis:

• hyperemia;
• edema;
• infiltration.

Types of chronic aseptic bursitis, their symptoms are shown in the table.

Fibrin is a protein formed in blood plasma. It clogs the injured vessels of the bag (bursa). This leads to thickening of the walls, proliferation of connective tissues, formation of ridges, bridges.

If left untreated, cattle can experience all stages of aseptic bursitis, from acute to chronic. In an acute form, swelling first appears in the area of ​​​​inflammation, the cow begins to limp heavily. On palpation, the presence of liquid exudate is felt.

With the transition to a chronic serous, serous-fibrous form, bovine bursitis is manifested by the appearance of a dense, mobile formation in the area of ​​​​inflammation. The amount of swelling depends on the location of the bursitis.

The skin in the area of ​​inflammation loses its mobility due to fusion with the tissues of the bag. With the ossifying form of bursitis, the swelling hardens, the skin thickens at the site of inflammation. It shows foci of keratinization, hair loss. The work of the joint is broken.

Acute purulent inflammation of the bursa proceeds differently. The swelling is painful, hot to the touch. When taking a puncture, the type of exudate is purulent. An animal with purulent bovine bursitis is very lame. The general condition is deteriorating. The development of purulent-resorptive fever is not excluded.

The cause of purulent inflammation is an infection that has entered through the damaged membrane of the bag, or infectious processes occurring in adjacent tissues. External manifestations of purulent bursitis of cattle:

• necrosis of the walls of the bag;
• the formation of subcutaneous phlegmon;
• bursal fistulas;
• purulent discharge.

Diagnostics

The veterinarian conducts a visual examination of the animal. Assesses the general condition of the cattle (temperature, pulse, rumination), habitus, fatness, body position. Performs a skin examination for:

• elasticity;
• humidity;
• the presence and extent of damage;
• condition of the hairline.

The veterinarian feels the site of inflammation. Gives an assessment of the consistency, limited swelling, pain. Determines the degree of joint mobility.

A puncture is taken if visual examination data is not enough to make a diagnosis. If the infectious nature of bovine bursitis is suspected, the exudate is sent for bacteriological examination, and the blood serum for serological examination.

Therapies

In the treatment of bursitis of the knee joint of cattle, conservative and surgical methods of treatment are used. Operations are forced to be resorted to with purulent inflammation of the bag and with advanced, complicated forms of aseptic bursitis.

Therapy of acute aseptic bovine bursitis on the first day is reduced to applying cold, applying tight bandages. At the next stage, the following procedures are carried out:

1. Thermal. A warming compress is applied, a paraffin application is made, and a lamp is warmed up.
2. Rub a resorbing ointment into the area of ​​inflammation.
3. Inject antibiotic.

The litter is changed for the cow, and comfortable conditions are created. If the disease is detected on time, then the swelling does not increase in size. Otherwise, its increase is observed, then the treatment regimen is changed:

1. The cavity of the bursa is cleaned of exudate.
2. A solution of carbolic acid (5%), iodine (3-5%), silver nitrate (5%) is introduced into the bag.
3. Light massaging movements distribute the solution over the entire area of ​​the bursa.
4. Put on a bandage.

Purulent inflammation is always treated promptly:

1. The cavity is opened, cleaned, washed.
2. To clean the wound, hydrogen peroxide, a pink solution of potassium permanganate, a solution of furacilin are used.
3. Cotton turunda is impregnated with Vishnevsky’s ointment. It is put into the wound.
4. Turunda is periodically replaced.

Preventive measures

Measures for the prevention of bursitis of the knee joint of cattle relate to the maintenance, nutrition, and immunization of cows. Animals that are emaciated and weakened by other infections often suffer from inflammation of the bursa. Carrying out timely vaccination of calves, cows, competent composition of the diet of the herd reduces the incidence rate.

These measures increase the resistance of animals to the effects of harmful factors. There is a list of activities during which the percentage of development of bursitis of the knee joint of cattle is reduced:

• grazing cows on flat, safe pastures;
• the presence of soft bedding and its regular replacement;
• lack of drafts in the barn;
• installation of feeders at a sufficient distance from each other;
• transportation according to the rules;
• periodic inspection of cows for infectious diseases, routine vaccination.

Conclusion

It is easier to eliminate bovine bursitis at the initial stage of the disease. With proper and timely treatment, you can do without surgery. With an advanced stage of ossifying bursitis of the knee joint, the chances of recovery in cattle are minimal.