Content
The problem of the safety of young animals is always relevant. Infectious diseases and birth injuries are still a challenge for Russian veterinary medicine. Umbilical sepsis that develops after calving is especially dangerous.
Why is umbilical sepsis dangerous?
An acute course is fraught with the death of the calf in just a few days. Moving into the chronic stage, umbilical sepsis ceases to be life-threatening, but affects health:
- The lungs and joints of the calf are quickly affected.
- Circulatory failure and alkalization of the blood lead to hemological diseases.
- Infection of the cardiovascular system threatens with low blood pressure and tachycardia. Myocarditis and pericarditis subsequently develop. As a result, the heart muscle begins to work abnormally.
- Complications from the respiratory system are fraught with lung failure and ischemia.
- From the liver side, umbilical sepsis threatens with toxic hepatitis.
- The functions of the gastrointestinal tract are impaired. This leads to a catastrophic decrease in body weight and dehydration as a result of prolonged diarrhea.
- Areas of tissue necrosis are found on the wound.
- Metastases develop in various organs.New growths in the lungs threaten purulent gangrene and severe pneumonia. Damage to areas of the brain progresses to meningitis, which sometimes leads to death.
Causes of umbilical sepsis in calves
Umbilical sepsis is most often recorded in calves aged 1-10 days. It often appears within the farm rather than being introduced from outside. Main causes of the disease:
- Introduction of pathogenic microflora into the umbilical cord in case of unsanitary conditions at calving. An open wound contributes to the rapid development of sepsis. It occurs through direct contact with dirty bedding or unsterile hands of service personnel.
- Infection caused by injection of medication into the navel during calving. This manipulation is usually associated with the revival of the fetus.
- Increased permeability of fetal skin as a result of prematurity or malformations.
- Immaturity of the vessels of the umbilical cord or central nervous system.
- Reduced resistance to infections due to inadequate feeding of the cow.
Symptoms of navel inflammation in calves
The first signs of umbilical sepsis appear quickly. This form of the disease is called septicemia. It is characterized by the presence of a large number of bacteria and toxins.
Already 8-12 hours after calving we observe the following symptoms:
- The umbilical cord is thickened and painful.
- Body temperature rises by 0.5-1.5 degrees, constipation begins.
- The umbilical wound does not heal well.
- Suppuration in the navel area. The presence of deep abscesses without clear boundaries is phlegmon.
- Refusal to suck the udder.
- Stopping weight gain.
- Skin with pustular rashes and hemorrhages.
- Dyspnea.
- Convulsions are possible.
Diagnosis of umbilical sepsis
Diagnosis of umbilical sepsis is carried out based on anamnestic data during calving, clinical, and pathological signs. The main diagnostic tests are changes in the umbilical cord and surrounding area. Umbilical sepsis is diagnosed based on the following data:
- symptoms of the umbilical cord - the calf's navel is swollen;
- bacterial cultures,
- blood tests for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria;
- condition of the skin, the presence of pustules and hemorrhages;
- frequency and rhythm of breathing.
All tests are carried out at the peak of the disease. Sepsis should be distinguished from similar diseases. First of all, from dyspepsia, dysentery, enterobacterial infection. The difficulty of determining at the initial stage of the disease lies in the similarity of the symptoms to other pathologies - typhoid fever, lymphogranulomatosis, tuberculosis, brucelosis.
Treatment of umbilical cord inflammation in a calf
Treatment of navel inflammation in a calf is carried out according to several schemes after determining the sensitivity of the microflora to the antibiotic:
- Intramuscular administration of the drug for 3-6 days. Initially, Seledan is used at a dose of 10 mcg/kg calf weight. Days 1 and 5: administration of 2 ml of Trivit. Inject intraperitoneally with novocaine on days 1 and 4.
- According to the second scheme, antibiotics are administered intramuscularly and to the base of the navel in the first 2 days. Days 3-6 are used only intramuscularly. Next - according to scheme No. 1.
- Third scheme. Similar to the first - the introduction of Seledan on day 1 and Trivita on days 1 and 5. Novocaine is injected around the navel in the first 3 days; on days 1 and 4 it is injected intraperitoneally near the right hungry fossa.
- There is a method of treatment by administering streptomycin and penicillin. However, it is ineffective.In addition, it does not relieve pain or increase the body’s protective functions. Streptomycin and penicillin are toxic; they kill not only pathogenic, but generally all microflora. When they are administered, pain is reduced by adding a solution of novocaine.
- To reduce labor intensity, antibiotic injections are used with a single injection of novocaine into the peritoneum at a dose of 1 ml/kg body weight. For 5-7 days, intramuscular injections of streptomycin with penicillin or gentamicin are given. Supplement with 300,000 units of streptomycin dissolved in novocaine. The administration of novocaine increases lymphocytes by 41.7% while simultaneously increasing red blood cells. The duration of illness in calves is reduced from 6.2 days to 5.8. The therapeutic effectiveness of this method was 97.5%.
Before administering injections, it is necessary to sanitize the source of infection - antibacterial treatment with antiseptics, surgical removal of necrosis. In case of dehydration, intravenous solutions are used.
Symptomatic treatment for bleeding is vitamins C, K. In case of cardiac dysfunction, caffeine is used.
During the period of umbilical sepsis in calves, treatment is carried out in a disinfected room. The animal is provided with clean bedding and is limited from contact with urine and feces. Injuries to the navel are unacceptable. Sick animals are isolated.
Preventive actions
Immediately after birth, the calf should be dried with a clean cloth. If spontaneous rupture of the navel does not occur, trim it with a sterile instrument. After this, remove Wharton's jelly - the jelly-like layer of the umbilical cord. Treat the area with classic antiseptics.
Owners of calves must keep the area clean. During the provision of obstetric care, the veterinarian must maintain sterility and accuracy during surgical interventions. Treatment of the navel with antiseptics should be carried out carefully.
Conclusion
Umbilical sepsis in a calf is a serious infectious disease. Treatment must begin immediately with removal of pus and necrosis. Advanced sepsis can lead to death or serious consequences. Sepsis can be prevented by following sanitary and hygienic standards.
