Content
Bronchopneumonia of calves is often encountered in veterinary medicine. The disease itself is not dangerous, but requires timely treatment. An advanced form of bovine bronchopneumonia leads to irreversible processes in the respiratory organs, which increases the mortality of young animals. It is possible to avoid such consequences.
What is bronchopneumonia
Cattle bronchopneumonia is an inflammatory process in the bronchi and lungs of young animals, which is accompanied by the accumulation of catarrhal exudate in the lumens and cavities of the alveoli.
The disease is long-lasting, however, it quickly spreads throughout the bronchial tree. Mostly young calves, whose age does not exceed 30-45 days, are affected.
Causes and risk factors
According to many scientists and researchers, bronchopneumonia in young cattle is a non-infectious disease. It occurs due to poor living conditions and unsatisfactory feed. Among the main reasons, scientists named the following:
- unbalanced feeding of breeding stock;
- lack of retinol in cattle feed;
- overheating or hypothermia of calves in the first months of life;
- keeping young animals in a poorly ventilated area where many microbes accumulate.
Incorrect selection of pairs and mating with close relatives leads to the appearance of weak young animals that are susceptible to various diseases, including bronchopneumonia. Errors in feeding cattle broodstock can lead to a deficiency of vitamin A, which should be present in large quantities in the milk of cows. Vitamin deficiency is dangerous for calves feeding on this milk. In young animals, the protective functions of the body are reduced; bacteria and microbes easily penetrate the respiratory tract.
The housing for calves should be dry and warm. Dampness, cold, stagnant air and drafts contribute to poor circulation; as a result, mucus, dust, bacteria, and ammonia accumulate in the lungs, which leads to the rapid development of bronchopneumonia.
In addition to these factors, there are anatomical features of young cattle:
- narrow passage in the bronchi;
- short trachea in calves;
- a large accumulation of blood vessels on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract;
- inelastic alveolar tissue.
The accumulation of all or several causes leads to the rapid emergence and development of an inflammatory process in the respiratory tract of young cattle, which leads to bronchopneumonia.
Clinical picture
It is difficult to recognize bronchopneumonia, since all organs of calves are involved in the process. At the beginning, changes occur in the nervous system of young animals, and the protective functions of the body decrease. The amount of protein in the blood increases, congestion in the lungs and swelling of the bronchi occur.Such microflora promotes the development of microbes, the accumulation of toxins, the inflammatory process begins, and necrosis of mucosal tissue. The affected areas are poorly visible and become denser. The calves begin to cough and snort.
With the development of bronchopneumonia in young cattle, ventilation of the lungs becomes difficult, gas exchange in them is disrupted, pressure decreases, the liver and kidneys work poorly, and changes occur in the heart muscle. As a result, sick calves experience fever, shortness of breath, their fur looks untidy, and most often the young calves cannot get up on their feet.
If cattle bronchopneumonia is diagnosed in time and treatment is started, then in a week or 10 days the calves will improve. Otherwise, a secondary lesion occurs, pleurisy or pericarditis.
Bronchopneumonia in young cattle occurs in 3 stages:
- light;
- acute;
- subacute or chronic.
The mild or initial form of the disease lasts 5-10 days. It starts with malaise. The calves are lethargic and their appetite is reduced. On the 3rd day, body temperature rises to 40-42°C, causing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Serous mucus comes out of the nose, gradually becoming purulent. A dry cough appears, which is replaced by a wet one. Heart sounds are muffled. Typical changes characteristic of the inflammatory process occur in the blood of young cattle.
The acute stage begins suddenly. The calves are clearly stunted, they have no appetite at all, and they cough constantly. Body temperature rises slightly. The mucous membranes of the eyes are pale, serous mucus is secreted from the nose. Wheezing can be heard in the lungs.The tissue in the affected areas is compacted; upon examination, lesions up to 2 cm in diameter are visible. The lymph nodes are easily palpable. If the calf dies, then at autopsy one can detect swelling of the upper respiratory tract, and catarrhal exudate is released from the lesions.
The chronic or subacute stage of bovine bronchopneumonia lasts 20-30 days from the moment of injury. The course is undulating, exacerbations occur periodically. The appetite of young animals is poor, the cough is wet, the body temperature is normal in the morning, and by the evening it rises by 1.5°C. Shortness of breath increases, the general condition of the calves gradually worsens, diarrhea and signs of toxicosis and intoxication of the body appear. The areas of the lungs affected by bronchopneumonia have a dough-like consistency and fluid accumulates in them. An autopsy of a dead calf shows that the liver is enlarged, the gall bladder is full, and the heart muscle is dark in color.
Diagnostics
A number of procedures will help to make a correct diagnosis. First you need to pay attention to the general condition of young cattle. The calves lie down; the lymph nodes can be felt under the shoulder blades and in the knee crease, however, this does not cause any discomfort to the animal. Body temperature remains normal, the conjunctiva of the eyes is slightly swollen. The appetite of young animals with bronchopneumonia is weak, and the act of chewing is reduced.
Pronounced changes in bronchopneumonia are noticeable on examination of the respiratory tract:
- shallow breathing;
- there is shortness of breath;
- clear mucus discharges from the nose;
- a dry cough begins, gradually turning into a wet one;
- wheezing is heard in the lungs and bronchi.
Blood tests can confirm the diagnosis.During the study, it is clear that the total number of red blood cells and hemoglobin are reduced; there is not enough carotene, phosphorus, calcium, and protein in the serum. All these data prove that the calves' diet was severely disrupted, resulting in malnutrition and vulnerability.
To correctly make a diagnosis, it is important to take into account the general condition of the young animals, data on the mother’s nutrition and the maintenance of the herd. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the place where calves walk and rest. General behavior, biochemical blood test and x-rays together will give a complete picture.
The veterinarian’s task is to exclude infectious diseases and viral pneumonia in calves. Only after this can treatment of bronchopneumonia begin.
Treatment methods
Bronchopneumonia in young animals must be treated comprehensively, depending on the severity of the disease. It is best to collect all the animals in a single group. In order for the treatment to proceed well and quickly, and also to give a positive result, it is important to provide the calves with adequate nutrition and create suitable conditions for their maintenance.
With properly planned treatment, the initial stage of bovine bronchopneumonia, its acute form, can be stopped. However, it is impossible to get rid of chronic bronchopneumonia. The process can be paused, the animal’s condition can be alleviated, but nothing more.
The complex of treatment procedures includes the following:
- antimicrobial therapy;
- symptomatic;
- substitutive.
To treat bronchopneumonia in cattle, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used, if necessary, together with arsenic preparations.Additionally, vitamins, mineral complexes and medications are prescribed that will help relieve the main symptoms of the disease.
In modern veterinary medicine, aerosol agents are used to treat bovine bronchopneumonia. This is justified by the fact that the smallest particles of the drug enter directly into the lungs, bypassing the calves’ liver. They are better absorbed into the blood and act on the affected areas within a few minutes.
Antimicrobial drugs are administered intramuscularly or intratracheally, which is more effective. Penicillin or tetracycline can be used. Breed them according to the instructions.
To combat coughing and facilitate pulmonary respiration in calves, expectorants are used in combination with inhalation of sodium chloride vapor. Vitamin therapy is of great importance, as it reduces the occurrence of side effects from taking antibiotics.
The administration of immunoglobulin serum will help restore the immunity of young animals. The injection is given 2 times with an interval of 48 hours.
Researchers and leading veterinarians in this field have proven that the most effective recovery of young cattle with bronchopneumonia occurs under the influence of hemotherapy. The animal's blood is purified and then reintroduced into healthy tissue. Doses are set by the attending veterinarian, taking into account the patient’s condition. In acute cases of bronchopneumonia, a single injection of 125-150 ml of serum is allowed. The number of injections is determined individually; up to 5 injections are allowed with an interval between them of 2 to 4 days. However, only the first 2 injections have an effect.
If there are no visible improvements, then administration should be stopped. The success of therapy can be judged if:
- reducing the temperature to normal levels;
- reducing the inflammatory process;
- disappearance of edema.
In some cases, to achieve a positive result, young animals are artificially heated with special lamps and the chest is rubbed.
Forecast
Timely treatment of calves with bronchopneumonia is economically justified. With the right course, the animal will feel better within 7-10 days. It won't be long until complete recovery.
The advanced form of the disease and its chronic stage are difficult to treat. As a rule, such calves are culled.
Prevention measures
All measures to prevent bronchopneumonia should be aimed at compliance with economic and sanitary standards. Premises intended for keeping young cattle must meet standards. Air humidity is maintained at 70%, ammonia levels should not exceed 5 mg/m, temperature differences should not exceed 5°C.
In addition, the nutrition of calves in the first days of life is important. The only food for young animals is colostrum and mother's milk. When preventing bronchopneumonia, it is important to walk young cattle in the fresh air. However, overheating of animals should be avoided. In hot weather they should be under a canopy.
In the premises for young animals, wet cleaning is carried out daily in compliance with all sanitary standards. Good results are obtained by aerosol treatment of livestock with disinfectants.Feed is distributed in the form of a wet mash to reduce dust in the air. It is mandatory to administer vitamins, premixes and other medications aimed at increasing the body’s protective functions.
Conclusion
Bronchopneumonia of calves is a dangerous disease of cattle that can be successfully treated. However, it needs to be diagnosed in time and treatment started. The main causes of bronchopneumonia are poor living conditions for young animals and insufficiently balanced feed.
