Three diseases to focus on preventing when raising cattle in spring

I. Bovine pleuropneumonia

Symptoms There are three clinical types

(1) Acute septicemic type: body temperature suddenly rises above 40°C, pulse quickens, appetite decreases, coat becomes rough and unkempt, muzzle is dry, breathing is difficult, rumination stops, sometimes nasal discharge and tears flow, diarrhea, the feces may contain fibrin and even blood, and sometimes the urine may also contain blood; death generally occurs within 24 hours.

(2) Pneumonic type: at the beginning of the disease there is weakness, conjunctival congestion, rapid heartbeat, elevated body temperature, and difficult breathing; symptoms of pleuropneumonia gradually become obvious, nasal discharge is bloody and red, there is a dry cough, percussion of the chest produces dullness, and auscultation reveals a ronchial sound.

(3) Edematous type: the sick cow has edema on the chest, head and neck, and in severe cases it can extend to the lower abdomen, with swelling of the tongue and pharynx, red and swollen eyes, tearing, drooling, difficult breathing, and cyanosis of the mucous membranes; death often occurs from suffocation or from diarrhea and collapse.

Treatment When this disease is found, it should be isolated and treated early. For adult cattle use 1,000,000-3,000,000 units of penicillin, halve the dose for calves, and inject intramuscularly. A 10% sodium sulfathiazole solution may also be used, 100-150 ml per head intramuscularly, twice a day. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment is: Coptis chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Atractylodes macrocephala, Paeonia lactiflora, Magnolia officinalis, and Siegesbeckia orientalis 40 g each; Schisandra chinensis, Fritillaria, donkey-hide gelatin, Alisma orientale, and Poria cocos 25 g each; Cannabis sativa seed 13 g as a guide; grind into powder and take with boiled water, 1 dose per day, for 3 consecutive doses.

II. Influenza

Symptoms The cow's eyes become red and swollen, breathing is difficult, joints become inflamed and the animal limps, a serous fluid flows from the corners of the eyes and nostrils, coughing occurs, the animal does not eat, and rumination stops.

Treatment Take 20 g of fresh whole plant of Ranunculus japonicus and 20 g of Boehmeria nivea root, add a little salt, pound them into a paste, apply it 3 cm above the hoof of the lame leg, wrap it well with gauze, and remove it after 6 hours. In addition, 0.5 kg of fresh whole plant of Perilla frutescens and a large handful of scallions can be decocted together and administered by drenching, once a day for 3 consecutive days. Also, 100 g of wild Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea plus 50 g of green tea can be infused with 1,000 g of boiling water and administered.

III. Ruminal impaction

Treatment Stop feeding and provide drinking water, perform rumen massage, and lead the cow out for a walk. Do not let it lie down. Administer 500 g of magnesium sulfate (or sodium sulfate), 15 g of ichthammol, and 600-800 ml of plain water in a single drench, and inject 0.1-0.2 g of pilocarpine subcutaneously. If the rumen is excessively distended, puncture it to release gas. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment uses 100 g of Rheum officinale, 250 g of mirabilite, 100 g of Magnolia officinalis, 50 g each of bitter orange and twig, 40 g of Scutellaria baicalensis, 100 g each of Angelica sinensis, hawthorn, Prunus humilis seed, Cannabis sativa seed, radish seed, and Pharbitis nil seed, 40 g of Aucklandia lappa, and 250 g of sesame oil as a guide; decoct in water and administer orally, while also needling the Pishu, Suqi, Weijian, and Baihui acupoints.