Hoof rot in cattle: causes and methods of treatment of the disease

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Cows on large farms and in households often suffer from hoof rot. Hoof rot in cows is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. The skin around the hoof becomes inflamed, in severe cases, the decay of the horny tissue begins with the release of pus. The general health of the animal is deteriorating. Treatment of hoof rot is mandatory under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Hoof rot in cows

Stages of hoof rot of cows

This disease belongs to the category of especially dangerous ailments in cattle. If left untreated, this can lead to the development of an abscess over time.

Hoof rot in cows can occur in 3 stages:

1. Incubation period. Lasts 5-6 days after bacteria enter the hoof tissue.
2. Initial stage, latent form. The cattle feel normal, there is noticeable redness in the interdigital fissure, and an abundant discharge of pus. The condition can last for several months if the animal's immunity is strong.
3. Late stage, severe form. The active multiplication of bacteria leads to the development of inflammation. It is not difficult to recognize the disease: the sick individual will begin to limp, purulent discharge will be noticeable on the hooves.

The course of the disease is usually chronic with periodic exacerbations.

Treatment of hoof rot in cattle should be started at the first symptoms. A severe form of the disease can even lead to the death of a pet.

How hoof rot infections occur

Hoof rot occurs when a bacterial bacillus enters the hoof tissue or surrounding skin cells. Infection occurs in the following ways:

1. through the land to pasture, hay, litter;
2. upon contact with sick individuals.

Bacteria can enter pastures and pens on the wheels of vehicles. On the ground, hay, litter, bacteria quickly die. Once in the hoof tissue, parasites can live for about 4-5 years, so most often the infection is transmitted to healthy animals from a sick animal.

Cows and sheep are also susceptible to hoof rot, dogs can pick up the infection. More often they are the carriers of the infection, that is, if the dog is sick, it poses a direct threat to all individuals in the barnyard.

Hoof rot symptoms

If the immunity of the cow is not strong enough, then the first symptoms of the disease will appear 7-8 days after infection with the bacterium. Hoof rot has the following characteristics:

1. Hair around the hoof begins to actively fall out.
2. The skin around the hoof swells.
3. An inflammatory process is noticeable in the interdigital fissure.
4. The stratum corneum of the hoof is rejected with a discharge of pus. The discharge smells like rotten cheese.
5. In severe cases, the horn shoe falls off the hooves.
6. Loss of appetite, the animal quickly loses weight.

The infected animal cannot stand and move normally.

Walking hurts. What the disease of hoof rot looks like can be seen in numerous photos on the Internet.A complication of hoof rot is necrobacteriosis, when an additional infection joins the hoof rot. The cow has a stable temperature rise above 40 ° C, tendon and ligament cells die off. Bacteria penetrate into the tissues of the udder, into the mucous membranes of the mouth. If you do not start to treat the animal in a timely manner, the disease will lead to its death.

Hoof rot diagnostics

After the first symptoms of hoof rot appear, isolate the cow from the rest of the livestock and call a veterinarian.

The disease is diagnosed by the following methods:

1. Inspection. Hoof rot has a characteristic clinical picture that is difficult to confuse with other infections.
2. Microscopic examination. The material for analysis is scraping from a diseased hoof.
3. Blood test. They do not always take it. Helps to find out the stage of the disease and the presence of complications.

Bacteriological analysis allows you to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment. If you do not take action, this will affect the quality of life of animals, in especially difficult cases it can even lead to death.

Hoof rot treatment methods

Before treating hoof rot in cows, you need to prepare a separate room for sick people so that they do not come into contact with healthy livestock. The room should be warm and dry, it is important to provide good ventilation.

Treatment of hoof rot in cows is carried out as directed and under the supervision of a veterinarian. The main stages of treatment:

1. Cleaning the limb and hoof in warm water with soap and an antiseptic.
2. Primary surgical treatment of damaged areas. The destroyed, exfoliated tissues of the hoof and skin are cut off.
3. Extremity treatment in 10% formalin.
4. Taking antibiotics (intramuscular injection).
5. Antiseptic baths.

Most often, antibiotics of the tetracycline group are prescribed. Treatment of hoof rot at home is carried out using antiseptic baths. As an antiseptic, a solution of copper sulfate (10-30%), 10% formalin, 5% paraform is used. The procedures should be carried out every 3 days.

The room in which sick cows are kept must be disinfected, manure must be disinfected.

Can you drink milk from a sick cow?

When a cow gets sick with hoof rot, the question arises whether it is possible to drink milk from her. An unequivocal answer is given only by bacteriological examination. At the initial stage of the disease, bacteria are rarely present in milk; it can be consumed after boiling. If a cow has a severe illness, milk should not be drunk.

If an animal is injected with antibiotics, they will definitely be present in milk. Drinking liquid with antibiotics can cause allergies, dysbiosis in humans, therefore, milk is allowed to drink only some time after stopping drug therapy, usually after 8 days.

Prevention of hoof rot in livestock

To avoid mass infection of cattle with hoof rot, you need to follow several recommendations:

1. Preventive treatment of hooves with 10% formalin for the entire livestock population 2 times a year.
2. Regular check-ups by a veterinarian.
3. Compliance with sanitary standards in barns.
4. Newly purchased cows are quarantined for 30 days.

Nutrition plays an important role in keeping livestock healthy. You need to buy quality feed.

Hoof rot of cows is infectious in nature. It begins acutely, but quickly becomes chronic. Healthy cows are infected by contact with sick cows. Treatment is carried out with antiseptic solutions applied to the affected hoof and intramuscular injections of antibiotics. Untimely treatment can lead to the death of the animal.