Foot rot in cattle treatment

Foot rot & Respiratory problems in Cattle

Foot rot is a sub-acute or acute necrotic (decaying) infectious disease of cattle, causing swelling and lameness in at least one foot. This disease can cause severe lameness and decreased weight gain or milk production. Lame bulls and females will be reluctant to breed. If treatment is delayed, deeper structures of the foot may become affected, leading to chronic disease and a poor recovery prognosis. Severely affected animals may need to be culled from the herd. The incidence of foot rot varies according to the weather, season of the year, grazing periods and housing system. Approximately 20 percent of all diagnosed lameness in cattle is actually foot rot.

7 Signs & Symptoms of Foot rot:

ü  Pain, sudden lameness with swelling of the interdigital space and coronet.

ü  Fever, loss of condition, reduced milk production (dairy cattle), loss of appetite and resulting loss of gain (beef cattle).

ü  Cellulitis and liquefactive necrosis (tissue death) in the interdigital space accompanied by a foul odor.

ü  Decreased feed & water intake.

ü  Necrotic lesions in the interdigital space, with a foul odor.

ü  Acute swelling and redness of interdigital tissues and adjacent coronary band.

ü  Spreading of the dewclaws due to swelling is a classic sign of foot rot.

Treatment

·        Local treatment:

o   Foot trimming

o   Topical medications

o   Surgical amputation of claw in chronic cases

·        Use ASHTYL 20% Injection antibiotic for the treatment of foot rot.

Prevention:

§  Prevention and control of foot rot begins with management of the environment.

§  Prevention of mechanical damage to the foot caused by frozen or dried mud, brush stubble and gravel is desirable.

§  Minimize animals’ exposure to sharp plant stubble and sharp gravel.

§  Attempt to minimize the time cattle must spend standing in wet areas.

§  Pens should be well-drained and frequently scraped and groomed.

§  Areas around ponds, feed bunks and water tanks should be maintained to minimize mud and manure.

§  Other preventive measures presently used include foot baths (most often used in confinement beef or dairy operations)

Respiratory problems in Cattle

Respiratory Disease is a devastating condition affecting cattle of all ages. It is the most common cause of mortality in all ages of cattle except young calves. It is most often associated with the assembly of large groups of cattle from diverse origins. The disease is of considerable economic significance in feedlots, it is responsible for a high mortality rate and the condemnation of infected carcasses at slaughter.

Many factors including stress and management play a role. The most important infectious agents involved are viruses and bacteria, though parasites occasionally contribute to clinical disease.

Symptoms:

Clinical signs of Respiratory Disease in cattle depend on many factors including the age of the animal, the causative organism(s) and the stage of the disease.

General signs:

·        Fever.

·        Depression.

·        Lack of appetite.

·        Dullness

Respiratory signs:

·        Rapid, shallow breathing.

·        Coughing.

·        Serous (watery), then purulent (pussy), and/or bloody nasal and eye discharge.

·        Salivation.

 

Diagnosis:

A presumptive diagnosis of Respiratory Disease is often made based on signs, the physical exam and disease incidence in the herd. Early detection is important so affected calves can be isolated in the sick pen. In many cases, an antimicrobial may be administered before disease-causing bacteria are identified to get the animal on the road to recovery as soon as possible.

An accurate diagnosis is important because many conditions have similar signs and can be mistaken for Respiratory Disease, including:

·       Allergic pneumonia and nasal inflammation

·       Pulmonary edema/heart failure

·       Pleuritis (inflammation of the lung lining)

·       Pulmonary fibrosis (damaged or scarred lung tissue)

·       Lungworms

Treatment:

Use ASHTYL 20% Injection each ml contains: TylosinTartrate  eq. to Tylosin(200 mg), Benzyl Alcohol (as preservative)(2% v/v), Water For Injection q.s. It treats Respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma spp. and Pasteurella spp in cattle, sheep &goats.

Prevention:

The key to preventing respiratory disease is to reduce stress and to vaccinate against viruses and bacteria that cause disease.

·        Vaccination with biological products targeting the viral and bacterial pathogens.

·        Good cattle handling and stress reduction

·        Minimize exposure to environmental conditions that contribute to disease, such as dust, crowding, fumes (proper ventilation is a key - especially with dairy facilities).

·        Provide adequate rest, feed and water (especially after shipping).

·        Make sure animals receive adequate levels of essential  nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

·        Nutritional soundness also helps prevent disease and improves immune function.

·        Handle animals with care.  Use low stress handling techniques.

·        Reduce and/or minimize pen movements.

·        Make sure bedding is clean and dry .

·        Keep animals as clean and dry as possible.

·        Avoid overcrowding.

·        Maintain good housing and ventilation.

·        Minimize heat stress.

·        Make sure animals receive the right deworming program in areas affected by lungworm.

·        Effective colostrum management to calves