Udder mastitis in a cow: what it looks like, what happens, how to cure

Symptoms of mastitis and preparations for the treatment of breast pathology should be known to every farmer. At the initial stage, it is important to distinguish this disease from a number of other similar diseases. Before starting treatment, you should consult a veterinarian and establish an accurate diagnosis.

What is mastitis in a cow

Mastitis is an inflammatory disease of the mammary gland of a cow. As a rule, pathogens are some types of staphylococci or streptococci. Infections of another kind are quite rare. This disease is one of the most unprofitable in cattle breeding, since milk yield drops significantly during the illness. During treatment, it is forbidden to consume dairy products due to the presence of antibiotics in it. The recovery period takes some time.

The causes of the disease are varied, but the responsibility for such pathological processes lies with the cattle breeder.

Cows with some anatomical features of the udder are predisposed to the disease. It is believed that individuals with an elongated form of the gland, funnel-shaped nipples are most susceptible to this disease. It is also noticed that certain breeds of cattle often suffer from mastitis – Simmental, red steppe. To some extent, the development of the disease can be influenced by immunity, season, age, and the physiological state of the animal. Often mastitis occurs in cows in large farms, where milking takes place using milking machines. Domestic individuals practically do not suffer from this pathology.

What does mastitis look like in a cow?

Symptoms of mastitis, its manifestations depend on the form of the disease. Particularly attentive, experienced milkmaids and herdsmen can detect the disease at an early stage. The following symptoms indicate the onset of the disease:

• redness of the nipple;
• in milk, small impurities of curd flakes;
• the volume of milk yields is significantly reduced.

In some forms of mastitis, the udder changes color, spots appear on the skin. Over time, other signs of the disease appear:

• the udder or individual lobes swell, the temperature rises;
• there is pain on palpation, the presence of seals;
• there is an increase in lymph nodes;
• a viscous white secret appears from the gland.

The general condition of the cow also changes. Her appetite disappears, some lethargy is observed, breathing becomes rapid, her pulse rises.

What causes mastitis in cows

The disease appears in cows during lactation, can often occur in a latent form. When mastitis is detected in a cow, it must be isolated from the rest of the herd. Pathogens enter the body of an animal in the following way:

• with inflammation during endometriosis;
• through the milk tract during milking;
• through cracks and wounds on the skin of the udder – they are the entrance gate for infection.

Factors that can provoke the development of mastitis in a cow are postpartum inflammatory processes, damage to the udder from impact, poor milking, unsanitary conditions in the barn, poor diet.

Congenital predisposition also plays an important role in the development of mastitis.

But the main cause of mastitis in a cow is a weak immune system of the animal, in which the body cannot resist infection and provoking factors.

Classification of mastitis in cows

Symptoms of mastitis in cows can vary significantly in different forms of the disease. There are the following types of disease:

• serous;
• catarrhal;
• fibrous;
• purulent;
• hemorrhagic;
• colimastitis;
• subclinical.

Serous mastitis can affect cows after calving. This form is acute. The udder turns red, swells, becomes hard. Simultaneously with these manifestations, the volume of milk, its fat content, decreases. Serous mastitis very quickly becomes chronic, so urgent help from a veterinarian is required.

The catarrhal form of mastitis affects mainly first-calf heifers. The first symptoms of the disease make themselves felt immediately after calving. A cow develops mastitis in one lobe or quarter. After a slight compaction, nodules are found a week later. This is a blockage in the milk ducts. With a catarrhal form of the disease, the cow behaves relatively calmly, but the quality of milk is deteriorating every day: its fat content decreases, flakes and clots appear.

The fibrous form of mastitis is considered the most dangerous of all the others. The onset of the disease is characterized by a sharp rise in body temperature, the cow begins to limp, and becomes anxious on palpation. Milk yields are reduced, in the affected part of the udder, lactation stops altogether.

With the purulent development of mastitis, there are clots of casein and pus in the milk. The cow is depressed, there is no appetite, the animal prefers to lie down. Gangrene develops inside the udder. Purulent mastitis is subdivided into purulent-catarrhal, phlegmon, abscess.

Clinical signs of the hemorrhagic form of mastitis in a cow are blood in milk, an increase in the body temperature of the animal up to 41 ° C. The general condition of the individual is depressed.

With the development of colimastitis, lactation stops completely, even if only one lobe of the mammary gland is affected. Body temperature rises to 42°C, there are signs of exhaustion, dehydration. This form of mastitis is extremely difficult to treat.

With the development of subclinical mastitis, there are no obvious symptoms, but the infection is rapidly spreading. In this case, the disease can be detected only during monitoring of the milk flora. If you miss the onset of the disease, it will develop into a serous form, and then into a chronic one.

The chronic form of mastitis manifests itself if the acute stage proceeded unnoticed, and the animal’s body coped on its own. Diagnosis can be made by analyzing milk, using the settling method or using a special test. The chronic form should be treated despite the absence of symptoms, otherwise mastitis will periodically worsen.

How to check for mastitis in a cow

In order not to miss the beginning of the development of mastitis, it is necessary to take milk for analysis once a month during the entire lactation period. Sometimes a similar test for mastitis in cows is carried out at home. To do this, use a 5% solution of dimastine and special milk-control plates.

In each of the cells, 1 ml of milk is expressed from that milking, which corresponds to the share of the cow’s udder. 1 ml of dimastin is added to each sample, everything is mixed and observed for about 15 minutes.

If the liquid remains homogeneous, then the reaction to mastitis is negative. With jelly-like traces – doubtful. A clot indicates a positive reaction. Color also matters. Orange is normal, red is pathological.

As an additional examination, you can apply the settling method:

• first you should milk 10 ml of milk from each nipple;
• put it in the refrigerator for 17 hours at a temperature of 10 ° C;
• then examine the color, sediment, the width of the fatty layer.

A cow with mastitis has watery milk, sediment more than 1 mm.

Bromothymol testing is widely used in veterinary medicine. A solution of 0,5 substances is mixed with distilled water. A couple of drops of the mixture are injected into 1 ml of milk and the color change is observed. By its shade determine the presence or absence of the disease.

Each of the samples has some error, so several tests should be carried out in different ways and preparations.

How to treat mastitis in cows

The treatment regimen for mastitis in cows depends on the severity and form of the disease. In any case, antibiotic therapy is the most important. The animal should be isolated in a clean room, provide complete rest, reduce the amount of water and succulent feed to reduce milk production. The following therapeutic measures will also be useful:

• rubbing antibacterial ointments;
• the imposition of bandages, compresses with therapeutic agents;
• udder massage before and after milking;
• milking 4 times a day only by hand;
• washing the milk ducts with antibiotic solutions;
• washing the breast with warm water 5-6 times a day.

It is possible to treat mastitis in cows at startup with antibiotics. This is one of the most effective methods of getting rid of the infection. Therapy is carried out in a complex, with the use of vitamins, restorative drugs.

Treatment of chronic mastitis in a cow

Getting rid of the chronic form of mastitis is quite difficult. Therefore, treatment must be comprehensive. Use drugs containing hormones, antibiotics, antibacterial substances. You can use vaccines against mastitis in cows. Some of these products are based on antibiotics and may act against bacteria.

Homeopathic preparations are widely used in the form of gels and vaccines. They are well combined with traditional methods of treatment, have no side effects.

Mastitis in cows is sometimes successfully treated without the use of antibiotics. Often a special composition is used for this: 40 ml of a 2% solution of novocaine, 60 ml of 40% glucose, 60 ml of calcium borogluconate are mixed, heated to 38 ° C. The solution should be injected into the peritoneum in the region of the hungry fossa 3 times, every 48 hours.

A good effect is achieved in the treatment of mastitis in cows with antibiotics, especially during the dry period.

Treatment of acute mastitis in a cow

Mastitis negatively affects the general condition of the cow’s body. Antibiotics will not be enough, therefore, general strengthening drugs are prescribed to restore the immune system. In the acute form of the disease, apply:

• streptocide solution;
• glucose;
• sodium chloride solution;
• novocaine solution;
• inside the udder solution of ichthyol.

When abscesses, suppurations appear, they need to be opened. The procedure must be done by a veterinarian. After opening, the wounds will require special care.

In especially difficult cases – abscess, phlegmon, gangrene, apply:

• saline solution with novocaine;
• urotropin with calcium chloride;
• a solution of potassium permanganate is injected into the diseased nipple with gangrene.

To maintain the body of a cow, preparations with caffeine in the composition are prescribed.

Medications for mastitis in cows

Cows with mammary disease should be treated by a qualified specialist. As a rule, regardless of the form of pathology, the therapy will be complex, consisting of compresses, physiotherapy, taking antibacterial drugs, as well as folk remedies.

Treatment with medications is carried out several times a day at certain hours. To do this, use sterile instruments, disposable syringes.

Injections for mastitis in cows

One of the most effective ways to treat mastitis in cows is to inject medicines into the nipple with syringes (intracisternal method). The drugs are rapidly absorbed and after a short period of time a positive result of such treatment can be observed. However, the method has several disadvantages:

• can lead to narrowing and subsequent overgrowth of the nipple;
• the formation of milk stagnation;
• from the introduction of antibiotics, candidiasis of the udder begins.

In addition, insufficient sterility of the syringe, catheter during the procedure can lead to additional infection of the udder and milk canal.

Ointments for mastitis in cows

Special ointments can have a positive medicinal effect. Well suited heparin, ichthyol ointment. They help to quickly remove seals. From knots, lumps, light massage movements using camphor oil help. For wounds, abscesses, Vishnevsky ointment is used.

Folk remedies for mastitis in a cow

The catarrhal, fibrous form of mastitis is successfully treated with clay. To do this, mix two types of clay: red and white, add a decoction of plantain and nettle. Lubricate the udder with this mixture at night. In the morning, it should be washed with infusion of chamomile or dandelion. The procedure helps to relieve swelling, partially anesthetizes, and has an antibacterial effect.

A compress of raw beets with honey helps well. The mixture is applied to the cow’s udder. The procedure should be performed 15-20 times.

Puffiness, pain, inflammation is removed by grated carrots with cabbage leaves.

The breast of a cow after calving can be treated with starch. Rice, potato starch is applied to seals in the mammary gland. It is diluted in warm water and vegetable oil is added.

Udder massage for mastitis

Effective massage with the use of certain creams. They are able to warm up the inflamed tissues of the udder, expand blood vessels, and relieve swelling. Cream at room temperature is applied to the affected area with a thin layer and rubbed into the skin with massage movements.

Compounds based on camphor oil have the same properties. Such funds are used for 10 days twice a day. They can be used to prevent any form of mastitis. The effect is already noticeable on the 3rd day of application.

With some types of mastitis, massage is contraindicated, as is the use of warming compresses, creams, ointments.

Is it possible to drink milk if the cow has mastitis

The milk of a cow with mastitis has no biological value. It loses fat content, acidity, and does not withstand high temperatures. In the process of making cheese, cottage cheese, condensed milk, it may be difficult to comply with the production technology and product quality.

In addition, with advanced forms of mastitis, milk and dairy products will contain pus and flakes. Therefore, such products should not be used. It is not recommended to drink mastitic milk to a calf.

After the recovery of the animal, at least 2-3 weeks must pass for the milk to become of high quality. During this time, all drugs will leave the body, the number of somatic cells will stabilize.

How to milk a cow after mastitis

To properly milk a cow after mastitis, you should repeat the milking procedure 5-6 times a day. For active milk flow, a course of the hormone oxytocin is pierced, which significantly increases the production of milk. The drug can also be used in case of complete loss of milk after calving. It is necessary to distribute the cow gradually, alternately checking lactation in the diseased and healthy lobes.

Prevention of mastitis in cows

Prevention of mastitis includes the following measures:

• keeping the barn clean, without foreign objects, in order to exclude udder injury;
• lack of dampness and drafts in the room;
• only clean bedding should be used;
• carrying out hygiene procedures before and after milking;
• correct milking technique by hand and milking machines;
• regular udder massage;
• well-designed diet;
• timely diagnosis;
• milk analysis (tests);
• correct launch of the animal;
• complete expression of milk during the milking procedure;
• vitamins and minerals in the diet.

The milkmaid should inspect the cow’s udder daily and, at the slightest suspicion of mastitis, consult a veterinarian.

Conclusion

Symptoms of mastitis in a cow and preparations for treatment should be known to every owner of cows. Milk is a unique product – it can be consumed raw and many dairy products are prepared from it. From the cattle breeder, forces and means are required to monitor the health of the animal, its diet, and conditions of detention. Only then will he have highly productive cows on his farm.