Content
Constipation in a calf, especially during the period of weaning and transfer to roughage, is not uncommon. In adult cows and bulls, such digestive disorders are most often associated with improper feeding and maintenance. Constipation is often a warning sign when diagnosing diseases of the digestive system of young and adult cattle.
Causes of constipation in cattle
Constipation is a pathological condition that occurs as a result of a malfunction of the digestive system, characterized by a prolonged absence of bowel movements.
The causes of constipation in adult cattle may be as follows:
- feeding low-quality, stale or frozen food;
- feeding rotten, moldy or dirty food mixed with sand, earth and stones;
- feeding unpeeled or insufficiently chopped root vegetables, pumpkins, corn and other crops;
- the presence of foreign objects in the stomach or intestines (stones, pieces of fabric, plastic bags);
- development of neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract of the animal.
Constipation in a cow is often one of the signs of the following diseases of the digestive system:
- atony or hypotension of the forestomach;
- rumen overflow or tympany;
- blockage of the book;
- traumatic reticulitis, reticuloperitonitis;
- poisoning.
In calves, digestive problems most often appear at the age of 2-3 months. The main causes of constipation in young cattle are:
- drinking too cold or hot milk;
- drinking stale, sour, contaminated milk;
- a sharp transition when feeding a calf from whole milk to skim milk;
- non-compliance with feeding regime and daily routine;
- when the animal is overfed or underfed;
- lack of constant access to fresh drinking water;
- psychological factor, for example, weaning;
- abrupt transfer to adult feeding without prior accustoming to eating rough and succulent food.
Signs of constipation in cows and calves
The first symptoms of digestive system dysfunction in calves and adult animals, as a rule, begin to bother and cause discomfort on the second day. Often, even experienced farmers do not immediately determine the presence of a disease, since a calf or an adult cow does not show any signs of concern. If there is no defecation for more than 1-2 days, the animal can notice obvious signs of illness.
Signs of constipation in calves and cows:
- lethargy, depressed state;
- restlessness of the animal and frequent glances at the stomach;
- deterioration or lack of appetite;
- absence of belching and chewing gum;
- the animal lies a lot or walks from corner to corner, hits the stomach with its hind limbs (a common occurrence with constipation lasting more than a day in dairy calves);
- grunting when trying to defecate;
- bloating of the forestomach, flatulence;
- upon rectal examination, there is an absence of normal feces in the rectum, dry mucous membranes and the presence of a fecal plug;
- partial release of feces with an abnormal shape and consistency.
How to treat constipation in cows and calves
A delay in defecation of more than a day in an adult or young animal is an alarming symptom. A prolonged absence of defecation can lead to intoxication and death of the animal within 6 hours, depending on the cause of the disease. This symptom often accompanies serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, so the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of constipation in a calf or cow should be carried out by a veterinarian.
When constipation occurs in dairy calves, the first step is to reduce the amount of milk fed to reduce and prevent gas and bloating. As a laxative, the animal should be given 100-150 g of vegetable oil. You can also give a laxative enema with a warm soapy solution, as well as heated mineral or vegetable oils, which soften the stool and facilitate movement through the intestines.
For swelling, strong rubbing with turpentine diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio is effective. During the process of rubbing the abdomen, the calf must be fixed in a standing position - otherwise the procedure will not produce results.
To prevent constipation in young cattle (especially in dairy calves), the drug sulfadimezin can be used at a dosage of 1 g per head during the first milk feeding and 0.5 g during the next two feedings.
The following drugs are also used to treat constipation in calves and adult cattle:
- syntomycin;
- chloramphenicol;
- phthalazole;
- norsulfazole.
The drugs are available in the form of powder and tablets. Before use, the drug should be diluted with warm boiled water and administered in a dosage of 0.5-1 g per head 30 minutes before drinking milk (preferably on an empty stomach), 3 times a day.
Prevention
During the period of feeding calves with colostrum, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the feeding regimen and timely accustom the calf to eating rough and succulent feed. Long breaks between feedings should not be allowed, since a large amount of milk drunk by a hungry calf can get into the not yet developed mesh or rumen. Fermented milk that gets into these parts of the stomach can cause serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Calves up to 10 days of age (in some cases up to 15 days) can be fed only colostrum. The temperature of the milk fed should not be lower than +36°C and higher than +40°C, the optimal temperature is +37-38°C.
It is also recommended to give colostrum fat to calves to prevent diseases of the digestive system. This healthy product is prepared from fresh colostrum obtained in the first 3 days after summer calving and on the first day after winter calving.
In autumn and spring, young animals and adult cows should not be grazed after rain, dew, or frost.
Do not forget about compliance with zoohygienic standards for keeping cattle.The housing area and feeders should be cleaned, disinfected and checked for foreign objects daily. Dirt that enters the animal's stomach along with food from dirty drinking bowls and bedding often causes disruption of the digestive system, as well as the cause of certain infectious diseases.
Conclusion
Constipation in a calf or cow is a serious reason to think about the health of the animal. Most often, constipation and other dysfunctions of the digestive system of animals are associated with improper feeding. If signs of constipation appear, the owner, first of all, should seek help from a veterinarian and carefully analyze the animal’s daily diet.
