Content
Serous mastitis in cows causes a lot of trouble for the breeder. Milk yield and quality of milk decrease, and in advanced cases, lactation stops completely. It is difficult to cure an animal without the intervention of a veterinarian.
What is serous mastitis
Serous mastitis is a serious and common disease in cows during the postpartum period. The mammary glands become inflamed and filled with fluid. This kind of deviation occurs for various reasons, but most often due to bacterial infections. They enter the body and affect a third of the mammary gland or the entire udder.
Pathogenic bacteria enter through cracks in the nipples and migrate to other internal organs. The ducts of the mammary gland are compressed and stop working normally, resulting in inflammation. Milk completely changes its composition.
Etiology and pathogenesis of serous mastitis in cows
Serous mastitis develops rapidly and affects a third of the herd after calving. That is why it is important to know the main causes of its occurrence, the rules of treatment and prevention.
The history of the disease begins with microbes that penetrate the blood and lymph of the cow. Due to serous mastitis, the production of the hormone oxytocin, which is responsible for the amount of milk, stops. The metabolism in the udder tissues is disrupted. The inflammatory process begins with more or less pronounced symptoms of mastitis. They are accompanied by soreness of the udder.
Without sufficient experience, it is difficult to determine serous mastitis
If serous mastitis is not treated in time and is not treated, it spreads to the milk ducts and a more serious stage of the disease begins.
The main reason for the development of serous mastitis is a decrease in immunity after calving, but there are other factors:
- postpartum complications;
- udder damage;
- gastrointestinal disease;
- unsanitary conditions of detention;
- improper and incomplete milking of the cow.
Postpartum complications are often observed in first-calf heifers when endometriosis develops or the placenta is not completely expelled. Serous mastitis is caused by mechanical damage to the udder, various diseases caused by improper feeding and unsanitary conditions in cow housing. Very often, the cause of serous mastitis can be poor quality milking. Milk residues gradually accumulate in the udder, which leads to the appearance of an inflammatory process.
Clinical signs of serous mastitis in cows
The inflammation begins suddenly and proceeds quickly; already in the first day you can notice that the animal is behaving suspiciously. The very first symptoms of mastitis that may indicate something is wrong are lethargy and lack of appetite. Later they are joined by manifestations characteristic of serous mastitis:
- the udder becomes hard, swells, and pain appears on palpation;
- the cow shows irritability and fear;
- udder tissues change color and turn red;
- the animal’s body temperature rises, the udder becomes hot;
- the milk takes on an uncharacteristic bluish tint and flakes appear in it;
- the amount of milk decreases sharply.
The initial symptoms of serous mastitis are very similar to ordinary congestion, but gradually the picture becomes clearer. There are characteristic differences that need to be kept in mind. With stagnation, the udder remains soft, feels like dough, but with serous mastitis it immediately hardens.
How to treat serous mastitis in a cow
The prognosis for the treatment of serous mastitis is favorable. If you contact a veterinarian at the first symptoms, then after 10 days the cow will be healthy. However, if microbes have penetrated the alveolar part of the mammary gland, the disease can become chronic. In the most advanced cases, complications arise in the form of tissue necrosis, which can lead to death.
For mastitis treatment to be successful, it must be comprehensive and include a number of measures. To begin with, the sick cow is separated from other animals and transferred to a stall. Her diet should contain mainly dry food, and watering is temporarily limited. After this, they massage and express the contents of the udder. Milking is carried out 4-5 times a day, excluding night time.
To avoid infection, you must maintain sterility when working.
If the udder is severely damaged, oxytocin injections are given to make the exudate drain more easily.Also, to clean the ducts, rinse with sodium bicarbonate solution. Antibacterial therapy is used for disinfection, in addition, ointments and warming bandages are applied. The course of antibiotics is at least five days.
Warming ointments and gels are aimed at resolving clots in the udder. They are applied in a thin layer. Vishnevsky, ichthyol and heparin ointments are suitable. During treatment of serous mastitis, the cow must be isolated from drafts. The room should be warm but well ventilated. This promotes rapid resorption of clots.
Among the drugs that have been certified and have shown the best results in the treatment of serous mastitis, the following can be distinguished:
- «Mastisan-A." A medicine based on streptomycin and sulfadimezine, which provide a lasting antibacterial effect. Available in the form of liquid for injection, 5 and 20 ml. In the initial stages of the disease, one injection is enough. In advanced cases, the solution is administered every day until complete recovery. The milk is used for food after three days.
- "Mastomycin". Gel based on gentamicin and lidocaine. It gives a good analgesic effect, in addition, it fights various bacterial microflora. The drug is completely ready for use. At the initial stage, two injections are given every 12 hours. In severe cases, up to six injections are allowed with the same interval.
- "Masti Vaixim." A German drug that has a positive effect on the condition of the animal. Two injections are enough for recovery.
You can also use other antibacterial drugs that are injected through the nipple into the udder. However, the dosage and accuracy of administration must be strictly observed. An incorrect procedure will add problems to the treatment of mastitis and cause additional infection. This is fraught with complications.
Folk remedies for the treatment of serous mastitis
Some livestock farmers resort to folk remedies for the treatment of serous mastitis. For this, regular laundry soap is actively used. All affected areas are rubbed well with it, left for 30 minutes, then washed off with warm water and wiped dry. The procedure is repeated until complete recovery.
Clay mash also helps against swelling and infections in serous mastitis.
Compresses are applied for 20-30 minutes.
In the initial stages of mastitis, herbal infusions are added to the drink of sick cows. Decoctions of chamomile and nettle are suitable. They can also be used for compresses and lotions.
Preventive actions
To avoid such an unpleasant disease in cows as serous mastitis, you need to take care of prevention. The conditions for keeping the animal and quality care, as well as good feeding, are of great importance. The heifer's diet must be balanced and contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. In addition, to prevent serous mastitis, you should not neglect routine preventive examinations.
Sterility must be maintained during milking. All equipment and inventory must be clean. The heifer's udder must be thoroughly washed and wiped with disinfecting solutions. Particular attention is paid to pregnant and recently calved cows.
Conclusion
Serous mastitis in cows can be completely cured if you seek qualified help in time.However, in any case, you will have to resort to antibacterial therapy to avoid re-infection. In addition, to restore immunity and support the body, you need to actively give the cow vitamin complexes. In addition, special attention is paid to prevention.
