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Every farmer sooner or later faces the fact that the animals on his farm start to get sick. Diarrhea in cows can be the result of problems with the digestive tract, the result of infectious diseases. The primary task of a person in this case is to prevent dehydration of the animal as soon as possible.
Possible causes of diarrhea in cattle
Diarrhea is one of the indicators that a cow has problems with the gastrointestinal tract. But it is worth remembering that there are other reasons that can cause diarrhea in bulls. The most common variants of the appearance of the disease include:
- Dysbacteriosis, which can develop due to a sharp change in food. Avoid abrupt transitions from dry hay to fresh grass and vice versa. Also, dysbacteriosis can occur due to a lack of fiber in the body. Most often, the problem is typical for young bulls. Another cause of the disease may be eating insufficiently clean vegetables and root crops.
- Poisoning. Cows are promiscuous in their food, so they can easily eat a poisonous plant or moldy vegetables.
- Damage to the body by helminths or other parasites. Diarrhea in this case will be the result of intoxication.
- Intolerance to certain types of food. Most often due to the presence in it of any components that are rejected by the digestive system of a cow.
- Processes of food fermentation in the stomach. Most often, this phenomenon occurs in the off-season with a night temperature decrease. Frozen grass starts fermentation and, as a result, causes bloating and diarrhea.
- Lack of vitamins and micronutrients. A hungry animal begins to literally lick everything it sees. The ingestion of inappropriate products or objects disrupts the digestive tract.
- Viral infections that cause the inability to properly absorb water in the intestines. Most often, cows suffer from rotavirus infection, gastroenteritis and coronavirus enteritis.
There are cases when the onset of diarrhea can be a symptom of more serious diseases in livestock. Cows are prone to diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys. In such cases, additional diagnostics in specialized veterinary centers is required.
What is dangerous liquid stool in a cow
Diarrhea is characterized by insufficient absorption of water in the intestines, so its cleansing from feces occurs much more often than usual. Prolonged diarrhea gradually leads the animal to dehydration, which can lead to serious health problems. Lack of water in the tissues leads to inflammation and can cause destruction of some internal organs.
If, during diarrhea, a cow comes out with blood along with the feces, the cow needs an urgent examination by a veterinarian. Most often, blood is evidence of damage to the intestinal walls or the presence of a large number of parasites in the animal. In cases of serious injuries, urgent surgery may be required to avoid the death of a sick animal.
The most dangerous is diarrhea in young bulls, especially in cases of discharge with blood. Dehydration of the body of young animals occurs much faster than in adults. Untimely noticed diarrhea and late start of treatment practically do not leave the bulls a chance to survive.
What to give a cow for diarrhea
The main thing to do at the first sign of diarrhea is to make sure the cow is getting plenty of fluids. In addition to a large amount of water, it is necessary to improve its natural absorption. To do this, add a small amount of salt to it.
A prerequisite for the treatment of diarrhea in cattle is a restriction in feeding. Malnutrition will reduce the production of feces and relieve the digestive system for a while. To consolidate the treatment, it is advised to add a variety of astringent preparations to the water.
Conventional treatment for diarrhea in cattle
Diarrhea in a cow can be a sign of a more serious illness. The first priority in the treatment of the animal is precisely the elimination of diarrhea and dehydration. After a complete stop of loose stools, it is necessary to take tests in order to continue the fight against the disease. The traditional method of treating cattle for diarrhea is the following sequence of medications:
- Replenishment of the fluid-salt balance of the body. For these purposes, sodium hydrochloride, Regidron, Orasan, Gastrolit and Reosolan are used. These drugs are diluted according to the instructions on the package and soldered to sick cows. You can use a homemade analogue of such drugs – diluted in 1 liter of water 3 tbsp. l. sugar, 1 tbsp. l. salt and 1 tsp. soda.
- The next step is to cleanse the cow’s body of toxins. At this stage, it is recommended to give absorbents – Polysorb, Polypefam and Sorbik.
- Next, you need to reduce intestinal motility. For this intramuscular injection of Domperidone or Metroproclamide. These medicines will reduce the frequency of bowel movements.
- Restoration of the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The cow is given preparations containing a complex of enzymes – Finzym, Oltec or Fidland.
- The result should be the consolidation of normal intestinal microflora. The best solution is to use special complex probiotics for cows – Biomastin or Emporobio.
With proper treatment, diarrhea stops fairly quickly. If after 3 days the cow continues to have diarrhea, you should seek veterinary help as soon as possible. Most often, such cases indicate some more serious disease.
During diarrhea, the body of the cow is greatly weakened, so she may refuse to eat. In such cases, it is necessary to inject glucose solution intravenously. This will increase the appetite and add energy to the animal.
Folk remedies for diarrhea in cows
There are times when it is not possible to quickly get veterinary care. The farmer should turn to traditional medicine, repeatedly tested by the ancestors. These treatments have been passed down from generation to generation and have proven to be excellent in the treatment of diarrhea in bulls. It is believed that at home the following methods are best to help stop diarrhea:
- Decoctions based on flax, rice and oats. It can be given to cows both in pure form and diluted with water. Such decoctions help fix loose stools and get rid of diarrhea.
- Activated charcoal binds toxins and absorbs harmful microorganisms. In the absence of tablets, you can use crushed charcoal.
- To improve the microflora in case of diarrhea, cows are recommended to give overcooked rye bread. It must be crushed into powder and diluted in water.
- A decoction based on plantain and wild rose has excellent antitoxic properties that can alleviate the shock state of the body in case of poisoning by parasites.
- To restore the intestinal microflora, it is recommended to feed cows with fermented milk products. Small portions of kefir or yogurt will help restore the chair.
There is an opinion that the most important basis for the treatment of diarrhea in cows with folk remedies is the use of astringent decoctions. An hourly intake of liquid on St. John’s wort, burnet and bird cherry berries helps to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Do not forget about the oak bark – for a long time it has been one of the main components of medicines aimed at restoring the proper functioning of the intestines.
Preventive measures
Treatment of diarrhea in cows is quite problematic. To avoid diseases, it is necessary to strictly observe a set of measures aimed at preventing possible diseases. Most often, such aspects relate specifically to the maintenance of cows. To prevent diarrhea in cattle, you must:
- maintaining the cleanliness of the stall in which the cows are kept, and the timely cleaning of manure;
- fresh balanced food of good quality;
- the cleanliness of the pasture and the absence of poisonous plants on it;
- the use of portable drinkers for cows and the rejection of watering places on rivers and streams;
- preventing livestock from eating plants after night frosts.
In order to prevent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to add a small amount of activated or bread charcoal to food. It helps to get rid of excess gases, and also promotes the absorption of accumulated harmful bacteria. Coal is diluted in cooled boiled water in a ratio of 1:10. It is believed that the optimal dose is 10 ml of this infusion per 1 kg of animal weight. Taking this mixture once a month minimizes the possibility of developing dysbacteriosis and other diseases of the digestive system.
Conclusion
Diarrhea in cows is a disease that, with late detection or insufficient medical care, can cause great harm to the animal’s body and can be fatal. The correct set of measures for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the digestive system will avoid the appearance of diarrhea in livestock.