Content
Poisoning is the most common cause of death in cattle. When the first warning signs appear, you need to act quickly, before toxins have time to penetrate the blood. Any delay can cause the death of the animal. Therefore, every cattle breeder should know the symptoms and treatment of poisoning in a cow in order to provide timely assistance.
Causes of poisoning in cattle
Cows are not selective about food and therefore eat everything that comes their way, especially when grazing. This feature is the main cause of food intoxication.
The main provoking factors that can cause food poisoning in a cow:
- Potato. This vegetable, if not properly stored and used, produces solanine, which leads to digestive dysfunction in the cow. The content of harmful substances can be determined by the green tint of the peel and sprouting shoots. This occurs as a result of exposure to sunlight or long-term storage of tubers.
- Poisonous plants. They can enter the cow's body during grazing, as well as with freshly cut grass or in hay.The most dangerous of them are lupine, groundsel, hemlock, buttercup, and fern. The stems and leaves of these plants contain toxic substances that block the digestive system, cause poisoning and can lead to death.
- Chemicals. Nitrates, pesticides, and insecticides are widely used to combat plant diseases and pests. Therefore, the toxic substances they contain can enter the cow’s body along with treated grass, hay or water.
- Sugar beet. This root vegetable has a high sugar content. If it is consumed excessively, the component ferments and releases a large amount of lactic acid, which causes poisoning.
- Poor quality food. In spoiled food, pathogenic microflora actively multiply. Eating it by a cow leads to inflammation of the digestive tract. With further absorption of toxins into the blood, the functioning of the nervous system, kidneys, and liver is disrupted.
- Young corn. The cobs of the plant are often used as feed for cattle. The high carbohydrate content of corn activates fermentation in the rumen, followed by the release of lactic acid. Its absorption in the body leads to general intoxication.
In addition to the listed factors, poisoning can be caused by mercury, arsenic and other dangerous components.
Symptoms of poisoning in cattle
It is impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of poisoning of calves and adult cows even if all rules of care, grazing and maintenance are observed. Therefore, it is important to be able to recognize the first signs of intoxication in order to help the animal in a timely manner.
Characteristic signs of poisoning:
- bloating;
- constipation or loose stools mixed with blood, mucus and foam;
- general depressed state;
- unsteady gait;
- lack of appetite;
- increased heart rate and breathing;
- excessive salivation;
- constricted or dilated pupils;
- elevated temperature;
- chills;
- limb spasms;
- frequent urination;
- change in the shade of the mucous membrane in the oral cavity (blue discoloration - arsenic poisoning, redness in combination with ulcers - mercury);
- inappropriate behavior;
- mental excitement.
What to do if a cow is poisoned
An experienced specialist should treat a cow in case of poisoning, since it is unlikely that the livestock breeder will be able to accurately determine the main cause based on the identified signs. To neutralize the poison in the body, you need to wash the scar, give an antidote and introduce an enveloping agent to prevent further absorption of the poison into the blood.
It is necessary to select an antidote and treat poisoning in a cow depending on the cause of intoxication:
- Poisonous plants. For treatment, you should use acetic acid diluted with water at a concentration of 0.5%. The finished solution, no more than 2 liters in volume, should be poured into the cow’s mouth. At the same time, do a gastric lavage with potassium permanganate (0.1%), and then administer glucose and methenamine 10%.
- Mercury. To improve the cow’s condition, you need to use Strizhevsky’s antidote to neutralize the poison. In the future, the sick animal must be given milk or mucous decoctions to drink, which will create a protective film and prevent further absorption of toxins.
- Nitrates. Methylene blue in the form of a 1% solution helps neutralize the effect of these harmful components. After this, you need to lavage the stomach through a tube.
- Arsenic. Rinsing with 1% burnt magnesia will help neutralize the poison. Then the cow needs to pour milk into her mouth.
- Sugar beet. In this case, rinsing should be carried out with a 0.1% solution of potassium permanganate. After this, inject insulin subcutaneously to reduce the concentration of blood sugar and sodium chloride (5%).
- Chlorine-containing products. Initially, you need to perform a gastric lavage, and then administer 15 g of sodium carbonate, glucose, and calcium chloride.
If a cow is poisoned with chemicals, the rumen must be pierced through the stomach. In addition, it is worth giving a lot of fluids so that toxins do not linger in the body, but come out in the urine. This will reduce their concentration in the blood.
Algorithm for gastric lavage.
- Insert a probe into the scar through the esophagus.
- Pour in 20 liters of medicinal solution in accordance with the cause of poisoning.
- Empty the stomach contents through a tube.
- Refill with 40 liters of the required liquid.
- Massage the peritoneum to stimulate the scar, which will allow the solution to be removed with a strong stream along with toxic substances.
At the end of the cleansing, give the cow the appropriate medicine depending on the toxic substance.
Other groups of drugs that can be used for poisoning:
- Absorbents (white clay, activated carbon). They should be used immediately after eating toxic components.Once the toxin is absorbed into the blood, they will be useless.
- Laxatives (Glauber's salt). They help remove toxins along with feces, but they must be used within an hour after eating the harmful component.
- Glucose. It should be administered when there is excessive vomiting and loose stools to prevent dehydration of the sick cow.
- Caffeinated products. Helps normalize the functioning of the nervous system.
- Chloral hydrate. This drug helps reduce muscle tension if poisoning is accompanied by limb cramps.
During treatment, the sick cow must be provided with complete rest. For the first two days there is no need to feed her, but only give her plenty of fluids. During this entire time, administer the medications prescribed by your doctor, according to the indicated dosage and frequency.
On the 3rd day of treatment, the animal should be regularly offered liquid food in the form of flour or oatmeal. After the condition improves, the cow must be accustomed to the usual food gradually, adding in small doses. This is due to the fact that restoration of the digestive system takes some time.
Prevention of poisoning in cows
The likelihood of poisoning in a cow can be minimized by following simple preventive measures. They include a set of measures and help maintain the health of the cow.
Basic rules for preventing poisoning:
- store food in a dry, well-ventilated area to prevent it from becoming moldy;
- do not let the cow go to pastures located near farmland treated with chemicals;
- store potatoes correctly, preventing the formation of solanine in them;
- when preparing hay, carefully inspect the pasture for poisonous plants;
- graze cows in safe areas where chemicals have not been used and there are no potentially dangerous crops;
- daily consumption of sugar beets should not exceed 12 kg per adult cow;
- Carry out a thorough check of the feed at the stage of procurement and purchase, paying attention to the composition, consistency, humidity, as well as the presence of parasites and moldy fungi;
- After using chemicals, dispose of the packaging, preventing harmful components from entering rivers, lakes and other places where cows water.
Conclusion
Knowing the main symptoms and treatment of poisoning in a cow, you can provide timely assistance to a sick animal and thereby save its life. Any delay in this case may cause the death of the entire herd.
But in order to prevent this, it is worth following the basic rules of care and maintenance, since poisoning is easier to prevent than to restore the health of the cow for a long time.
