Content
Many animal diseases are very similar to known human diseases. There are similarities between mammals in the structure of tissues, joints, and muscles. The structure of the joints is also similar, and therefore the pathologies are often the same. Arthritis in cattle is common and for a variety of reasons. In order to treat the disease effectively, it is necessary to detect it in time in cattle and begin to act, or better yet, to prevent the formation of painful processes in the joint.
What is bovine arthritis
Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints in cattle. The animal limps barely noticeably at first, and becomes more severe as the disease progresses. The affected areas become swollen and, at a later stage, severe lameness occurs. The animal loses its productivity and also its weight. This is an acute inflammation of the joint, which occurs due to purulent infections.
This disease occurs in breeding bulls, cows, calves, horses, and pigs. In this case, age does not matter. In most cases, age is not important; even a young calf can develop arthritis after injury.
Veterinarians distinguish not just one, but a whole group of diseases that are united under the term “arthritis.” The nature of the disease can be dystrophic, mixed, and also inflammatory.The disease is also divided into primary, when the infection occurs directly in the joint, or secondary, when the infection enters the joint from neighboring tissues, as a result of abscesses, osteomyelitis.
Classification
The method of treatment, as well as the future prognosis for cattle, depends on the classification of the disease. It is important to distinguish the just beginning process of joint inflammation from severe pathology, which can deprive an animal of a limb and greatly reduce the productivity of livestock. Bovine arthritis is divided into two types:
- purulent;
- aseptic.
The purulent variety occurs only after open wounds and dislocations of the joints. More often accompanied by fever and a very depressed state of the animal. At the same time, the aseptic variety also has acute and chronic forms, although the symptoms are similar to purulent arthritis.
As a result, growths, ecostoses, and osteophytes may occur. With purulent arthritis, a rapid heartbeat is characteristic and the temperature rises.
Purulent arthritis affects the largest joints of the animal, for example, the elbow, hip, and knee. Small joints are not susceptible to such destructive processes.
Causes of the disease
The main causes of the disease may be the following:
- injuries, sprains, bruises, ligament ruptures;
- heavy load on the joints, due, for example, to excess weight;
- metabolic disease;
- poor nutrition, which led to a lack of vitamins and minerals.
Arthritis in cattle is also caused by the natural aging process. The disease can also be provoked by failure to comply with sanitary and hygienic standards for keeping cattle, both in private farms and in large barns. Therefore, you should comply with all maintenance standards prescribed by the sanitary service, as well as cleanliness in the barn, and provide the animals with sufficient time in the fresh air. Then there is no need to worry about the health of the joints of calves, adult cows and bulls. Treatment for injuries should be rational and professional.
Symptoms of arthritis in cattle
The main symptoms of arthritis in cattle of any type are:
- lethargy of the animal and refusal to feed (hence the weight loss);
- lameness on the injured limb or fixation in a certain position (forced position of the limb);
- swelling of the joint and severe pain;
- increased heart rate;
- the affected area is hot and painful;
- the cow tries not to stand on the sore limb;
- if you feel the sore limb, pain is observed;
- bone growth;
- If the arthritis is purulent, then fluid may be released from the joint cavity.
If purulent arthritis occurs, the animal must be culled from the herd, since the disease cannot be treated in cattle at this stage. Therefore, it is important to start treatment at the initial stage. In case of a through lesion, a clear liquid with small admixtures of blood, called articular fluid, flows out of the wound.
Diagnostics
Purulent and aseptic arthritis have similar symptoms. Modern diagnostic methods will help to more accurately determine the disease. But before starting tests and instrumental diagnostics, the animal must be examined by a veterinarian.
The first instrumental method is x-ray. Arthropuncture is often used, when fluid is taken from the joint for analysis and sent to the laboratory for analysis. They study the bacteriological composition and establish an accurate diagnosis. This way you can identify rheumatism, tuberculosis, and various tumors.
A specialist can evaluate the analysis indicators. For example, with capsular phlegnoma, the condition of the animal sharply worsens; when taking tests, the leukocyte indicators are shifted to the left side. In a calm state, the cow holds its limb suspended in a semi-bent position.
With paraarticular phlegnoma, the animal is in a depressed state until the abscess opens. The cow lies down more often, sometimes completely refusing to feed.
The general condition of the animal, which refuses food during illness, is also assessed.
Treatment methods
The main treatment method that has proven effective is complex. First of all, it is important to provide rest to the joint and initially cold. Then - heat treatment. Other treatment methods should also be used:
- Rinse the joint cavity with a solution of novocaine and antibiotics. To do this, one needle is inserted into two opposite diverticula. A medicinal solution is injected into one, and liquid comes out through the other.
- Opening the joint with removal of necrotic tissue, as well as applying a suction bandage.
- If the coffin joint is affected, a decision may be made to remove the toe.
- Circular novocaine blockade.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures.
- If the wound is small, you can treat it with iodine.
- Using a pressure bandage with tricillin and other antibiotics.
Vishnevsky ointment also helps. Boric acid is also used to treat wounds in cattle.After opening the joint, it is recommended to treat the wound cavity with antiseptic powders.
Forecast
The prognosis for arthritis in cattle depends on the stage at which therapeutic measures began. The sooner the owner notices the problem and calls a specialist, the more favorable the prognosis will be.
In the chronic course of the disease, the prognosis is cautious, since it is often difficult to completely save the damaged limb in cattle.
If the disease is advanced, the animal has to be discarded, regardless of its breeding value, and sent for slaughter. Therefore, it is so important not to neglect the disease, but to begin timely treatment. Otherwise, complications may develop, such as:
- fistulas;
- deformation and shortening of the limb;
- ankylosis;
- arthrosis;
- dislocation.
If the dislocation in cattle is open, then it cannot be treated.
With capsular phlegnoma, the prognosis for the animal is questionable, and in the presence of purulent osteoarthritis, it is often unfavorable.
Disease prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Therefore, timely prevention of arthritis in cattle is very important. If all preventive measures are followed, the owner will be able to protect his cattle from any senile disease and complications, including bovine arthritis.
First of all, it is necessary to monitor the adequate nutrition of cows and calves so that there is no lack of vitamins and minerals. It is important to properly organize livestock housing during the winter. If there are few sunny days, you can provide ultraviolet light with artificial lamps that are mounted in the barn.
Regardless of where cattle are kept: on a private farm or on a large farm, it is important to comply with sanitary and hygienic standards.
Conclusion
Arthritis in cattle is a complex disease that affects the joints. If the case is neglected, it leads to the loss of the animal and its culling. Arthritis in cattle can be of a primary or secondary nature, and can occur as an independent disease or as a complication after injury. Therefore, it is important to carry out primary surgical measures when limbs are injured by animals.
