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Symptoms and treatment for ketosis in cows vary. They depend on the form and severity of the disease. This pathology is associated with digestive disorders and metabolic disorders in the cow’s body.
What is ketosis in cows
Ketosis (acetonemia) of cows is a non-contagious disease characterized by a profound disruption of metabolic processes in the animal’s body, which is accompanied by the accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood, urine and milk, as well as a decrease in blood sugar.
Ketones are formed due to the accumulation in the stomach of products with incomplete breakdown of proteins and carbohydrates. This causes ammonia absorption to be too slow. As a result, butyric and acetic acids are formed, from which acetone, acetoacetic and beta-hydroxybutyric acid are then obtained. It is these substances that pose a threat to health.
As a rule, cows aged 3 to 7 years with high milk production are most susceptible to ketosis. Most often, the disease develops 1-2 months after calving, since a lot of energy is expended during gestation.
Acetonemia in dairy cows brings significant economic damage to owners, because as a result of the disease, milk yield sharply decreases, the reproductive function of cattle is disrupted, animals lose body weight, and their lifespan is reduced. The mortality rate of calves from a cow with ketosis is almost 100%, since ketone bodies are able to penetrate the placenta and negatively affect the development of the fetus.
Causes of ketosis in cows
The reasons for the development of ketosis in dairy cows are varied, but almost all come down to neglect of basic feeding standards on the part of the owners. The fact is that before the onset of lactation, the body undergoes hormonal changes. Milk production requires more energy and protein. The body strives to synthesize milk in order to feed calves, and for this the cow needs a lot of food. But since the scar puts pressure on the uterus, the animal cannot eat properly. Despite eating enough protein to produce milk, there is not enough energy. Enriching feed with calories using concentrates leads to indigestion, acidosis and lack of chewing.
You can often hear advice to saturate food with sugars, but uncontrolled feeding, not calculated according to percentage, can lead to a worsening of the animal’s health. After all, in order to provide the body with calories, adipose tissue begins to be consumed.
The main, most important reasons for the development of pathology include:
- Poor feeding of dairy cows with energy feeds means a lack of carbohydrates and some microelements in the diet.Energy imbalance before and after calving, when the cow especially requires a balanced diet. This also includes a rapid transition from one type of feeding to another, which leads to disruption of the microflora in some parts of the stomach and loss of energy.
- General imbalance of the diet. The most important thing is the correct ratio between proteins and carbohydrates in feed, as well as between easily and difficultly digestible carbohydrates, since this balance affects the digestive processes and the ratio of breakdown products.
- The presence in the diet of cows of feed with a high content of ketones. We are talking about low-quality silage, haylage and other feed with signs of rotting. Spoiled feed is harmful to the digestive system and can contribute to the development of diseases such as cow ketosis.
Hereditary factors also play an important role in the development of ketosis. It has been noted that black-and-white cows are most susceptible to metabolic diseases, including ketosis. Whereas a cross between cows and Jersey bulls is resistant to metabolic disorders.
Sometimes ketosis develops due to dysfunction of the pituitary gland and adrenal glands. Disorders of this kind occur due to the overactive pituitary gland during lactation. However, this can be facilitated by lack of exercise, unbalanced nutrition, and poor living conditions.
Symptoms of ketosis in cattle
Ketosis can have several course options:
- in the acute course of ketosis, the cow is overexcited, she exhibits signs of a nervous disorder - trembling in some muscles, spasms, which are replaced by weakness, paresis of the hind limbs, the animal may fall into a coma, milk with a clear taste of acetone;
- in subacute cases, milk disappears, disturbances in the functioning of the animal’s digestive system occur;
- after the disease becomes chronic, reproductive dysfunction is observed, the cow does not go into heat, infertility develops, milk yield decreases by 50%, and in some cases agalactia (complete absence of milk) may occur.
Ketosis in cows also has several forms of manifestation:
- subclinical;
- clinical.
Subclinical ketosis in cows is most common. As a rule, sick animals are identified during a routine medical examination by taking a urine and blood test from a cow for ketosis. With this form, milk production decreases by 3-4 kg on average. There are also disturbances in the functioning of the rumen, problems with chewing cud and a slight weakening of appetite, its perversion (the animal begins to chew the bedding).
The clinical form of ketosis has an acute or chronic course. The animal exhibits more pronounced symptoms: loss of appetite and chewing cud, decreased elasticity of the skin, disheveled fur, yellow mucous membranes, enlarged liver, painful on palpation. Animals prefer to lie down and sway when they move. When analyzing milk, ketone bodies are detected. Exhaled air and urine smell like acetone.
In case histories of ketosis in cattle, a varied clinical picture is noted. It is caused by pronounced syndromes. With neurotic syndrome, the animal's nervous system suffers more. Gastroenteral syndrome is characterized by liver dysfunction. With acetone syndrome, changes occur in the heart and kidneys. The level of ketone bodies rises in the blood and urine.
Diagnosis of acetonemia in cows
At the slightest suspicion of ketosis and acidosis (acid-base imbalance) in cows, a series of laboratory tests should be carried out in urine, blood, and milk to identify acetone bodies using a special Roser reagent. They often resort to the Lestrade test when a dry reagent is used for diagnosis.
Having collected clinical signs of the disease, analyzed laboratory tests, carefully examined the animal and received information from the owner regarding living conditions and feeding ration, the specialist makes a diagnosis and prescribes therapy.
How to Treat Ketosis in Cows
Ketosis in cows can be treated at home, but you must follow the recommendations of your veterinarian.
Initially, the veterinarian determines the cause of the disease and prescribes a treatment regimen.
First of all, when you are in ketosis, it is important to adjust your diet. To do this, add all the necessary elements, and in the correct percentage, taking into account the needs of the sick individual:
- products with high protein content reduce;
- monitor the quality of hay and green feed;
- Vegetables in the diet include beets, potatoes, turnips, carrots;
- feed should contain mineral supplements, vitamins, and table salt.
To quickly restore the cow’s body, you will need active exercise, sunbathing, and skin massage to improve blood circulation.
Drug therapy should normalize the cow's blood sugar levels and restore rumen function. To start metabolism and replenish energy in the body, glucose is prescribed.
The injections show the following:
- novocaine with glucose;
- sodium bicarbonate solution to eliminate acidosis;
- according to the Sharabrin-Shakhamanov method, 1.5-2 liters of mixtures A and B are used inside the abdominal cavity;
- hormonal drugs to restore the endocrine system and reproductive function of the cow’s body.
Experts consider an effective remedy for the treatment of ketosis to be a solution of propylene glycol, which is administered through a probe for several days, sodium lactate in the amount of 400-500 g, as well as a mixture of calcium lactate and sodium lactate in equal parts, also for 2-3 days.
Consequences of ketosis in cows
For a healthy individual, ketone bodies are necessary to replenish energy in the body, but by causing the development of ketosis, they trigger pathological processes in the cow’s body. Sometimes diseases such as ketosis result in the death of cattle.
The consequences of ketosis include weight loss, sometimes up to 40%, and chronic diseases of the reproductive system. The reproductive function of a sick cow is reduced by 70%, and the offspring are born completely non-viable. In addition, the lifespan of the cow itself is reduced to 3 years. For a farmer, a diagnosis of acetonemia means large economic losses.
Prevention of acetonemia in cattle
To prevent ketosis, regular active walks, grazing on high-quality pastures, and balanced feed in the correct percentage are recommended. The diet of every cow must contain vitamin supplements, microelements, and root vegetables, which are capable of well cleansing the gastrointestinal tract of waste from the body.
It is necessary to reconsider the diet of pregnant cows, as they are in dire need of cereals, molasses, and feed fats.Stressful situations in cows should be excluded.
As a medicinal prophylaxis, veterinarians recommend adding sodium propionate to feed.
It is also important to closely monitor the livestock in order to promptly detect the first signs of ketosis and treat the disease.
Conclusion
Symptoms and treatment of ketosis in cows depend on the severity of the disease, as well as on concomitant pathologies that develop in parallel with the underlying disease. It is important for the owner to recognize the signs in time and invite an experienced specialist who can make a diagnosis based on clinical and laboratory tests, as well as prescribe the correct treatment regimen. Ketosis is a disease whose treatment requires an individual approach depending on the course of the disease. The outcome will depend on the severity of the disease, subsequent therapy and the endurance of the animal.
