Gastroenteritis in calves

Gastroenteritis in calves and cows is a fairly common disease of the digestive system that occurs against the background of inflammatory processes occurring in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. The most dangerous consequence of this disease is the dehydration that occurs in calves and adults, which can lead to rather sad consequences.

Causes of gastroenteritis 

Gastroenteritis can occur in young and adult cattle for several reasons:

• sanitary and epidemic (violation of sanitary norms and rules for keeping animals, lack of timely vaccination, etc.);
• genetic (low level of the immune system of young and adult animals);
• physiological (general weakness of animals caused by improper conditions of their keeping, lack of a constant temperature regime in places where they are kept, their hypothermia or overheating, lack of walks in the fresh air at any time of the year);
• infectious (infection of livestock from various sources).

In calves, gastroenteritis most often occurs due to improperly organized nutrition, namely:

• feeding calves with low-quality, sour milk;
• too abrupt transition from the milk type of feeding to the adult type of nutrition;
• watering calves with too cold or dirty water.
• in the use of poor quality feed;
  Important! The main cause of gastroenteritis is improper feeding of cattle. This may show up:

  

• non-compliance with the diet and watering;
• the use of frozen fodder in feeding livestock, as well as rotten, sour, moldy or fodder clogged with earth and sand.

Symptoms and course of the disease 

Gastroenteritis is a disease that is always accompanied by very bright symptoms.

Important! The main symptom of gastroenteritis is the presence of intense diarrhea in the animal.

Depending on the nature of the inflammation, there are several forms of this disease, each of which has its own characteristic symptoms:

By the nature of its course, gastroenteritis has 2 main forms, each of which also has its own symptoms.

The acute form is characterized by:

• weakened behavior of the calf and the adult: the animal can lie in the same position for a long time or move randomly;
• loss of appetite or complete loss of interest in food;
• a sharp increase in body temperature of the animal;
• diarrhea, colic and bloating;
• disruption of the cardiovascular system, rapid breathing;
• gnashing of teeth and groaning.

The presence of these signs indicates the need to provide prompt assistance to the animal, since the lack of medical intervention can lead to a decrease in temperature, thickening of the blood and death of cattle.

The course of the chronic form is characterized by all the same signs as for the acute form, but they express themselves much softer. This is manifested in jumps and constant fluctuations in the improvement and deterioration of the state of the animal, which makes the individual very exhausted.

Diagnostics 

For the correct diagnosis of “gastroenteritis”, a whole range of studies and activities is carried out, namely:

• Laboratory study of the blood of a diseased individual. The blood of a calf or an adult animal is taken for analysis in order to establish the quantitative characteristics of leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, etc. The analysis is also carried out to exclude the possibility of intestinal infections affecting the course of the disease;
• The body temperature of the animal is constantly monitored, according to which, in this disease, one can speak about the course of its course and the dynamics of development;
• A thorough analysis of the feed ration of calves and cows and their living conditions is carried out. In the case of a disease of a young calf that is on a milk type of feeding, analyze the mode, completeness and quality of nutrition of his mother;
• They study the epizootic situation – the prevalence of the development of infectious diseases in the area of ​​​​residence of a diseased individual.

Methods of treatment of gastroenteritis in calves 

Treatment of gastroenteritis in calves and cows takes place in several main stages:

1. Isolate the sick animal from the herd, stop all feeding and call a professional veterinarian. Isolation is carried out in order to exclude the possibility of infection of other animals from a sick individual.
2. Lavage of the calf’s stomach to eliminate further intoxication with toxic substances. Washing is carried out, most often, with a solution of sodium bicarbonate or an isotonic solution. Laxatives may be prescribed to empty the bowel.
   Important! It should be remembered that on the first day, after gastroenteritis is established in a calf or cow, they are prescribed a complete absence of any type of feeding. Only clean drinking water is allowed in unlimited quantities. In some cases, in order to exclude the possibility of depletion of a diseased animal, the addition of glucose, sodium chloride or ascorbic acid to the water is allowed.
3. Administration of antibiotics and antimicrobials. In addition, the veterinarian must prescribe vitamins A, B, C, E to the animal. Elimination of pain and spasms in the gastrointestinal tract of the animal is carried out using various analgesics, No-shpy or Anestezin. To restore the normal intestinal microflora, the animal is prescribed probiotics.

   

4. After the critical point of the disease has been passed and the improvement in the condition of the individual has a positive trend, a separate dietary food is prescribed for the calf. A beneficial effect on the body of a sick animal is provided by slimy rice decoction, decoction of oatmeal, infusions of medicinal herbs, such as chamomile.

Forecast 

When identifying the first signs of gastroenteritis in a calf or cow and timely seeking veterinary care, a positive outcome of the disease will depend on the correct diagnosis and qualified treatment. If these conditions are met, the forecast for the complete restoration of the normal life of cattle individuals is:

• with an acute form of gastroenteritis – about 10 days;
• in the chronic form – about 30 days.

Preventive measures 

Gastroenteritis belongs to the category of diseases that are very quickly transmitted from individual to individual. This means that one sick calf can easily infect the entire herd. In order to prevent such a development of events, all preventive measures should be carefully implemented to counter the appearance of this disease in the livestock and the following aspects of the life of calves and cows should be carefully monitored:

• The mode and quality of the food received. For calves, it is especially important to control compliance with the “soft”, gradual transition from the dairy type of nutrition to adult nutrition;
• Feed intended for calves and adults should be additionally enriched with vitamins and minerals;
• Grazing of young animals should not be carried out on frozen ground;
• Sanitary living conditions for cattle. All bedding, stalls and feeders should be cleaned at regular intervals, the water in the drinking bowls should be kept clean and preferably at room temperature;

  

• The ambient temperature in the place where calves and cows are kept must be uniform.

Conclusion

Gastroenteritis in calves and cows is a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which is characterized by pronounced symptoms and transience. The main danger of this disease for cattle is the dehydration of the body of sick individuals. If medical care is not provided to a sick animal in a timely manner, the consequences of the disease can have a sad outcome. However, with timely diagnosis and proper therapy, gastroenteritis is successfully treated, and the animal quickly returns to normal living conditions.