Content
Cattle bursitis is a disease of the musculoskeletal system. Occurs frequently and affects productivity. Causes of bursitis: lack of proper care, violation of maintenance rules, poor exercise. According to statistics, bursa injuries more often occur when cows are kept crowded on hard surfaces (concrete, wood), and with infrequent bedding changes.
What is bursitis
A bursa in a cow is a synovial bursa (flat sac) consisting of connective tissue. It is located in places where the joints experience maximum load, where the mobility of muscles and tendons is maximum. The bursa is filled with fluid; it is located in close proximity to the joint and communicates with it.
Bovine bursitis refers to all types of inflammation of the synovial bursae. In cattle, the following bursae are affected:
- precarpal;
- hock (tarsal) joint;
- external tubercle in the region of the ilium.
Causes
Mechanical joint injury is the most common cause of bursitis in cattle. It can be both external and internal. To be productive, dairy cows must rest lying down for at least 14 hours.For comfort they need bedding (hay, straw, sawdust).
Injuries (bruises, abrasions) to the joints and legs of cattle occur if the bedding layer is thin or absent. This happens because when lying down, the cow falls to the floor from a height of 30 cm. She physically cannot lower herself smoothly.
Nowadays, rubber mats are popular among farmers due to their low cost. They are used as bedding. They are quite hard. If they are not covered with a layer of straw, then the cattle, in addition to abrasions and bruises on the legs, suffer from hypothermia and, as a result, bursitis.
According to statistics, up to 11% of the livestock suffers from bursitis of the knee, hock and wrist joints when the herd is kept without bedding. Other causes of bovine bursa injuries:
- short leash;
- hoof kick due to high crowding in the barn;
- inconvenient feeders;
- short stalls;
- transportation.
When injured, the synovial bursa is stretched and displaced, which leads to its inflammation. Infection (tuberculosis, sepsis, brucellosis) is another, no less common cause of inflammation of the synovial bursa in cattle.
Forms of the disease
Cattle bursitis can occur in acute or chronic form. Based on the structure of the inflammatory fluid (exudate) and changes in tissues, the disease is divided into types:
- purulent bursitis;
- aseptic bursitis.
The cause of the latter is mechanical irritation, which causes hemorrhage in the cavity of the bursa and in the tissues surrounding the joint. Signs of aseptic bursitis:
- hyperemia;
- edema;
- infiltration.
Types of chronic aseptic bursitis, their symptoms are given in the table.
Type of aseptic bursitis | Characteristics of exudate |
Serous | Liquid, consisting of plasma and blood inclusions |
Serous-fibrous | Fibrin present |
Fibrinous | Large particles of fibrin, consisting of epithelial cells, fill the entire cavity |
Ossifying | The bursa cavity is filled with fibrous tissue, in which urate and calcium salts are deposited |
Fibrin is a protein formed in blood plasma. It clogs the injured vessels of the bursa (bursa). This leads to thickening of the walls, proliferation of connective tissues, and the formation of ridges and bridges.
If left untreated, cattle can experience all stages of aseptic bursitis - from acute to chronic. In the acute form, swelling first appears in the area of inflammation, and the cow begins to limp heavily. On palpation, the presence of liquid exudate is felt.
When transitioning to the chronic serous, serous-fibrous form, bovine bursitis is manifested by the appearance of a dense, mobile formation in the area of inflammation. The amount of swelling depends on the location of the bursitis.
The skin in the area of inflammation loses mobility due to fusion with the tissues of the bag. In the ossifying form of bursitis, the swelling hardens and the skin at the site of inflammation thickens. Foci of keratinization and hair loss are visible on it. The function of the joint is impaired.
Acute purulent inflammation of the bursa occurs differently. The swelling is painful and hot to the touch. When a puncture is taken, the type of exudate is purulent. An animal with purulent bovine bursitis is severely lame. The general condition is deteriorating. The development of purulent-resorptive fever cannot be ruled out.
The cause of purulent inflammation is an infection that has entered through the damaged membrane of the bursa, or infectious processes occurring in the tissues adjacent to it. External manifestations of purulent bursitis of cattle:
- necrosis of the walls of the bag;
- formation of subcutaneous phlegmon;
- bursal fistulas;
- purulent discharge.
Diagnostics
The veterinarian performs a visual examination of the animal. Evaluates the general condition of cattle (temperature, pulse, rumination), habit, fatness, body position. Conducts a skin examination for:
- elasticity;
- humidity;
- presence and extent of damage;
- hair condition.
The veterinarian palpates the area of inflammation. Gives an assessment of consistency, limited swelling, and pain. Determines the degree of joint mobility.
A puncture is taken if visual examination data are insufficient to make a diagnosis. If the infectious nature of bovine bursitis is suspected, the exudate is sent for bacteriological testing, and the blood serum is sent for serological testing.
Treatment methods
When treating bursitis of the knee joint in cattle, conservative and surgical treatment methods are used. Surgery is forced to resort to purulent inflammation of the bursa and to advanced, complicated forms of aseptic bursitis.
Therapy for acute aseptic bursitis in cattle on the first day is reduced to applying cold and applying tight bandages. At the next stage, the following procedures are carried out:
- Thermal. A warming compress is applied, a paraffin application is made, and the area is heated with a lamp.
- Rub a resorbing ointment into the area of inflammation.
- An antibiotic is injected.
The cow's bedding is changed and comfortable conditions are created. If the disease is detected on time, the swelling does not increase in size.Otherwise, its increase is observed, then the treatment regimen is changed:
- The bursa cavity is cleared of exudate.
- A solution of carbolic acid (5%), iodine (3-5%), and silver nitrate (5%) is introduced into the bag.
- Using light massaging movements, distribute the solution over the entire area of the bursa.
- Apply a bandage.
Purulent inflammations are always treated promptly:
- The cavity is opened, cleaned, and rinsed.
- To clean the wound, use hydrogen peroxide, a pink solution of potassium permanganate, and a solution of furatsilin.
- Cotton wool is soaked in Vishnevsky ointment. It is placed into the wound.
- Turunda is periodically replaced.
Prevention measures
Measures to prevent bursitis of the knee joint in cattle relate to the housing, nutrition, and immunization of cows. Animals that are exhausted and weakened by other infections often suffer from inflammation of the bursa. Timely vaccination of calves and cows, and proper preparation of the herd diet reduce the incidence rate.
These measures increase the animals' resistance to harmful factors. There is a list of activities during which the percentage of development of bursitis of the knee joint in cattle is reduced:
- grazing cows on smooth, safe pastures;
- the presence of soft bedding and its regular replacement;
- absence of drafts in the barn;
- installing feeders at a sufficient distance from each other;
- transportation according to the rules;
- periodic examination of cows for infectious diseases, routine vaccination.
Conclusion
It is easier to eliminate bovine bursitis at the initial stage of the disease. With proper and timely treatment, you can do without surgery. At an advanced stage of ossifying bursitis of the knee joint, the chances of recovery in cattle are minimal.
