Reasons why a cow can cough and home treatment
Cough is a reflex mechanism by which the body tries to get rid of a foreign body trapped in the respiratory tract, it can also be a symptom of some pathologies. In veterinary medicine, cough in cattle is a significant parameter in the diagnosis of diseases; its nature may indicate one or another pathological process. Consider why a cow is coughing and what should be done to help her at home with some serious illnesses.
Cattle cough reasons
Coughing in cows, as in all animals, is a physiological process that is necessary to clear the airways of what interferes with normal breathing.
Among the causes leading to cough, the common cold is common. Animals catch colds because they are in damp and dirty rooms, with drafts, with sudden temperature changes, in which ventilation, cleaning and disinfection are carried out irregularly. Animals can cough from ingestion of irritants - dust or gases - into the trachea or pharynx, or from mechanical damage to the respiratory tract. Usually, such a cough goes away as soon as the effect of the irritating factor stops.
Among these diseases are tuberculosis, pasteurellosis, rhinotracheitis, streptococcosis, coronavirus and rotavirus infections. A cough can be a symptom of a parasitic disease in which the parasites are in the lungs. Cough in animals can be caused by hypovitaminosis and insufficient intake of protein into the body (poor-quality feeding), decreased immunity due to insufficient physical activity, lack of solar insolation.
The mechanism of the cough reflex
Usually, a cough occurs after irritation of the pharynx, bronchi, trachea, and the root of the tongue. Inflammatory processes, exposure to aggressive compounds and gases, accumulation of exudate, foreign bodies can be an irritating factor. The cow's body responds with a sigh, which involves the abdominal muscles. Then the glottis contracts and pressure builds up in the chest to push the excess out of the airways.
Varieties of the problem
Cough in cows in strength and character may be different and depends on the severity of the pathological process, where it is localized, also depends on the degree of development of the muscles of the respiratory tract and the health of the cow.
With inflammation in a cow's trachea and larynx, a short but intense and loud cough is heard, wheezing caused by accumulated fluid, the animal's temperature rises, it breathes heavily. If the disease affects the lungs, the cough will be deaf and long, and heavy breathing is also noted.
What to do if a cow is coughing
Since it is obvious that cough in cattle occurs for a variety of reasons, it is necessary first of all to identify them in order to start therapy. Consider serious lung pathologies that are subject to compulsory treatment.
Tuberculosis
The source of tuberculosis pathogens for cows is the discharge of a sick animal - sputum, feces, or for a calf - milk. The pathogen is transmitted through food, water, and the respiratory tract. The spread of tuberculosis is promoted by crowded keeping, joint feeding and drinking of sick and healthy animals, and common grazing. With severe tuberculosis, cows have shortness of breath, wheezing during breathing, weight loss and loss of appetite, dry skin, fever, cough with phlegm.
Often, at the initial stage, the disease proceeds secretly, without obvious and characteristic signs, it can be detected during this period only with the help of diagnostic procedures. The tuberculin test can be done on calves from 2 months old and on pregnant cows. With an increase in the injection site and a local rise in temperature after 3 days, a retest is carried out.
Pathological changes in cattle with tuberculosis are the formation of nodular seals in the affected organs, formed from connective tissue and calcium salts. There are also necrotic foci in the lungs, foci of inflammation with pus, cavities, inflammation of the lymph nodes, ulcers on the mucous membranes, pathological changes in the heart, kidneys, liver, bone marrow.
It is impractical to treat tuberculosis in cattle; when the diagnosis is confirmed, the animals are slaughtered.
Pneumonia
Typical for calves in the first month of life, but adult animals can also get sick. The reasons are keeping on a cold and damp floor, hypothermia, drafts, lack of vitamins in the feed, insufficient physical activity. The disease is acute, subacute, atypical and chronic. Characterized by cough, gastrointestinal disorders and weight loss, in acute form - fever and swelling of the limbs, chest, abdominal wall, fever, nasal discharge. Treatment should be started immediately, within 2-8 days, the sick animal may die.
Dictyocaulosis
The disease is caused by the nematodes Dictyocaulidae, which parasitize the lungs and bronchi of cows and ruminants. Infection occurs through animal contact, grazing, through the litter. Cough in cows with dictyocaulosis occurs from mechanical irritation of the lung tissue by parasites. Toxins poison the body, the metabolism of animals is disturbed, the temperature rises.
Complications - depression of the central nervous system, secondary infections, exhaustion. Calves may die. Home treatment is carried out with anthelmintic drugs.
Prevention
Measures should be aimed at improving the conditions for caring for livestock and housing, animals should be in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area, take daily walks. Proper feeding and walking are the main factors that increase the resistance of cows to infections. It is imperative to carry out disinfection treatments of the premises, keeping new individuals in quarantine.
Coughing in cows and calves is often a sign of infectious diseases. It is important to identify the disease in time, to treat animals, if possible, to organize preventive measures.
