What to do if a cow diarrhea

Every farmer sooner or later is faced with the fact that the animals on his farm begin to get sick. Diarrhea in cows can be a consequence of problems with the digestive tract, the result of infectious diseases. The primary task of a person in this case becomes the rapid prevention of dehydration of the animal.

Possible causes of diarrhea in cattle

Diarrhea is one of the indicators that a cow has gastrointestinal problems. But it is worth remembering that there are other reasons that can cause diarrhea in bulls. The most common variants of the disease include:

1. Dysbacteriosis, which can develop due to a sudden change in food. You should avoid sudden transitions from dry hay to fresh grass and vice versa. Dysbacteriosis can also 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 vegetables.
2. Poisoning. Cows are not picky about the food they consume, so they can easily eat a poisonous plant or moldy vegetables.
3. Damage to the body by helminths or other parasites.Diarrhea in this case will be a consequence of intoxication.
4. Intolerance to certain types of food. Most often it is explained by the presence of any components in it that are rejected by the cow’s digestive system.
5. Processes of food fermentation in the stomach. This phenomenon most often occurs in the off-season when temperatures drop at night. Frozen grass triggers fermentation and, as a result, causes bloating and diarrhea.
6. Lack of vitamins and micronutrients. A hungry animal begins to literally lick everything it sees. The ingestion of inappropriate products or objects disrupts the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
7. Viral infections that cause the inability to absorb water normally 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 susceptible to diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver and kidneys. In such cases, additional diagnostics are required in specialized veterinary centers.

Why is loose stool dangerous in a cow?

Diarrhea is characterized by insufficient absorption of water in the intestines, so it is cleared of feces much more often than usual. Prolonged diarrhea gradually leads the animal to dehydration, which can lead to serious health problems. Lack of water in tissues leads to inflammation and can cause destruction of some internal organs.

If a cow has diarrhea and blood comes out along with the feces, the cow needs 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 injury, emergency surgery may be necessary to avoid the death of the sick animal.

Diarrhea is considered the most dangerous in young bulls, especially in cases of bloody discharge. Dehydration in young animals occurs much faster than in adults. Untimely detection of diarrhea and late initiation of treatment leave the bulls virtually no chance of survival.

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 drinking plenty of fluids. In addition to plenty of water, it is necessary to improve its natural absorption. To do this, add a small amount of table salt to it.

A prerequisite for treating diarrhea in livestock is restriction in feeding. Malnutrition will reduce the production of feces and relieve the digestive system for a while. To consolidate the treatment, it is recommended to add various astringents to the water.

Traditional treatment of diarrhea in cattle

Diarrhea in a cow can be a sign of more serious illnesses. The first priority in treating an animal is to eliminate diarrhea and dehydration. After loose stools have completely stopped, you need to get tested to continue the fight against the disease.The traditional method of treating livestock for diarrhea is the following sequence of medications:

1. Replenishment of the body's fluid-salt balance. For these purposes, Sodium Hydrochloride, Regidron, Orasan, Gastrolit and Reosolan are used. These drugs are diluted according to the instructions on the packaging and fed to sick cows. You can use a homemade analogue of such medicines - 3 tbsp diluted in 1 liter of water. l. sugar, 1 tbsp. l. salt and 1 tsp. soda
2. The next step is to cleanse the cow's body of toxins. At this stage, it is recommended to give absorbents - Polysorb, Polypefam and Sorbic.
3. Next, you need to reduce intestinal motility. To do this, Domperidone or Metroproclamide is administered intramuscularly. These medications will help reduce the frequency of bowel movements.
4. Restoring proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The cow is given drugs containing a complex of enzymes - Finzym, Oltek or Feedland.
5. 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 quite 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 cow's body is greatly weakened, so she may refuse to eat. In such cases, it is necessary to administer intravenous glucose solution. This will increase the animal's appetite and add energy.

Traditional methods of treating diarrhea in cows

There are times when it is not possible to get veterinary help quickly.The farmer should turn to traditional medicine, which has been tested many times by our ancestors. Such treatment methods are passed down from generation to generation and have proven themselves in the treatment of diarrhea in bulls. The following methods are believed to be the best way to stop diarrhea at home:

1. Decoctions based on flax, rice and oats. It can be given to cows either pure or diluted with water. Such decoctions help to consolidate loose stools and get rid of diarrhea.
2. Activated carbon binds toxins and absorbs harmful microorganisms. If you don't have tablets, you can use crushed charcoal.
3. To improve the microflora during diarrhea, it is recommended to give cows overcooked rye bread. It must be ground into powder and diluted in water.
4. A decoction based on plantain and rose hips has excellent antitoxic properties that can alleviate the body’s shock state in case of parasite poisoning.
5. To restore intestinal microflora, it is recommended to feed cows with fermented milk products. Small portions of kefir or yogurt will help restore stool.

There is an opinion that the most important basis for treating diarrhea in cows with folk remedies is the use of astringent decoctions. An hourly intake of liquid containing St. John's wort, burnet and bird cherry berries helps normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Do not forget about oak bark - since ancient times it has been one of the main components of medicines aimed at restoring proper intestinal function.

Preventive actions

Treating diarrhea in cows is a rather problematic task.To avoid diseases, it is necessary to strictly follow a set of measures aimed at preventing possible diseases. Most often, such aspects relate specifically to the keeping of cows. To prevent cattle from suffering from diarrhea, it is necessary:

• maintaining the cleanliness of the stall in which the cows are kept and timely removal of manure;
• fresh, balanced food of good quality;
• the cleanliness of the pasture and the absence of poisonous plants;
• use of portable drinking bowls for cows and avoidance of watering on rivers and streams;
• preventing livestock from eating plants after overnight 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 release 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 dysbiosis and other diseases of the digestive system.

Conclusion

Diarrhea in cows is a disease that, if detected late or insufficient medical care, can cause enormous harm to the animal’s body and can cause death. The correct set of measures for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the digestive system will help to avoid the occurrence of diarrhea in livestock.

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