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Bloody discharge in cows can occur at different times. After calving, a cow's bleeding does not always stop immediately. At other times, bleeding may be an indicator of illness or other problems.
Why does a cow have bleeding?
Blood in a cow can appear for various reasons. While on pasture, an animal may swallow a hard object, which will scratch the intestines when it comes out. Blood will be released along with the stool.
The mucous membrane in a cow's nose is very sensitive to shock, infection, and mechanical damage. There can be many reasons. Before treatment, you need to accurately determine the cause of nosebleeds:
- objects getting into the nostrils;
- use of healing instruments;
- the appearance of tumors;
- contagious infections;
- non-communicable diseases;
- metabolic changes;
- pulmonary and stomach diseases;
- reproduction of parasites.
Blood from the vagina. It does not always accompany diseases and is often a completely physiological phenomenon.
Some bloody secretions are dangerous, while others are quite harmless in different groups of cows.
Bloody discharge in a pregnant cow
Early diagnosis of pregnancy is important for livestock production.Reducing the service period reduces the costs of dairy farms. Currently, there are several types of determining pregnancy in an animal - ultrasound diagnostics, rectal and hormonal methods. In Russia, the rectal method has become widespread.
Its advantages are the detection of pregnancy and functional disorders in infertility. Disadvantages: labor intensive, the need for the presence of an experienced veterinarian, pregnancy period is from 2 to 3 months.
Bloody discharge in a cow during pregnancy may be the result of unsuccessful insemination. Manifestations of vaginitis (endometritis) are possible. Secretions from these diseases of the uterus can be purulent and without exudate. The onset of the disease is characterized by clear sputum streaked with blood.
Blood from the vagina before calving may indicate the onset of abortion in the early and middle stages. More often it occurs 2-3 weeks after insemination. This may be the result of placental abruption and fetal death. Sometimes, even after bleeding, pregnancy continues until calving, but the development of the fetus occurs with complications. In the later stages of calving, miscarriage is possible.
It is not uncommon for blood to bleed after insemination. It's not scary. If bleeding continues for no more than one day, this may indicate minor vascular damage caused by the procedure. There are several reasons for this:
- poor nutrition;
- chronic untreated inflammation after previous calvings.
In case of prolonged bleeding, you should call a veterinarian.Ovulation may cause some short-term bleeding. As the uterus enlarges, small vessels rupture within the first day. This phenomenon indicates readiness for mating.
Prenatal bleeding of mucus and blood indicates vascular damage as the calf moves through the birth canal. This pathology is treated after calving. After checking the uterus, rinsing with furatsilin or potassium permanganate is carried out. To combat bacteria, vaginal or rectal suppositories with an antibiotic are prescribed.
If a pregnant cow is bleeding and the vaginal secretions are brown before the calf is born, this indicates severe internal bleeding due to extensive damage to the birth canal. Homogeneous discharge indicates vaginal bleeding. The appearance of blood clots means the presence of uterine bleeding - it is dangerous for the life of the cow. In this case, the fetus and placenta are pulled out manually after calving, and the cow is injected with saline solution with glucose.
Incorrect positioning of the fetus with its hooves up can also lead to uterine bleeding with brown discharge.
At calving, obstetrics and hand turning of the calf are required. If this is not possible, surgical treatment should be resorted to.
Bloody discharge in a cow after calving
Most vaginal bleeding is associated with calving. The incidence of endometritis becomes the basis for inflammation of the walls of the uterus. The vagina secretes mucus with blood streaks from the 4th day. After some time, the amount of mucus secreted increases. There is more blood in it. The secretions themselves change color to a red-brown hue. The animal's temperature rises with decreased appetite and loss of strength.
Diagnosis of the disease identifies swelling of the uterus with bloody fluid at the bottom. Acute endometritis can develop into a chronic disease without timely treatment.
The second most important reason is the failure of the placenta to emerge after calving. May be complete or incomplete. This causes severe inflammation in the animal. You need to help the cow and pull out the placenta manually no later than 24 hours later. A retained afterbirth may begin to rot and decompose. In this case, the animal may die.
The next reason may be the release of lochia containing mucus, blood and particles of the uterus. At the very beginning they come out in the form of blood clots, then the amount of mucus increases. The absence of lochia within 4-5 days after calving indicates endometritis.
Purulent lochia with an unpleasant putrid odor is a sign of purulent-catarrhal endometritis. The cow suffers from increasing secretions and the amount of milk decreases. The disease is treated by administering the hormone oxytocin and the drug Rifapol.
Discharge of blood with dirty yellow patches is a sign of fibrous endometritis. The appearance of flakes in the discharge serves as an indicator of the urgency of treatment. An advanced disease threatens blood poisoning.
Heavy calving can lead to necrotizing metritis.
Necrosis spreads to the muscles. Ulcers appear. Crumbs form along with the blood. The cow is weak. If you miss treatment for the disease, paralysis develops.
Neglected cases develop into metritis, a fatal condition. In the absence of immediate treatment, the cow dies within a few days.
What to do if a cow is bleeding
If blood appears, it is necessary to determine the source and danger to the animal. The cow has multiple placentas, which reduces the risk of miscarriage. With minor bleeding, blood accumulates between the placentas and then resolves.
Help with uterine bleeding should be provided immediately after birth. During removal of the placenta, the problem is stopped immediately or after this procedure is completed.
To reduce blood loss from the uterus, drugs are administered to cause its contraction. In case of significant bleeding, drugs are administered intravenously to support the heart.
Prevention of blood loss from the uterus involves careful handling of the animal’s birth canal and reducing the invasiveness of surgical interventions.
Pregnant cows must be prepared for calving. To do this, check them regularly and provide them with adequate nutrition. Periodic examinations to prevent vaginitis and endometritis will help reduce the number of complications after calving. Timely piercing of the animal with vitamin complexes will help reduce the risk of uterine inflammation. They will increase the body's resistance to infections by increasing immunity.
Conclusion
If a cow bleeds after calving, this does not mean that the animal is sick. A decrease in the intensity of bleeding indicates normal functioning of the body or the non-seriousness of the disease. If there is an increase in bloody discharge or an increase in the level of red fibers in the mucus, it is worth paying attention to the onset of inflammation. The cow must be treated immediately.
