A Detailed Explanation of Common Diseases of Sika Deer and Their Prevention and Treatment Methods
The sika deer is a small to medium-sized deer, and every part of it is valuable: velvet antler, deer blood, venison, deer hide, and so on. As long as you can think of it, it has great value. Moreover, it has strong resistance and a low incidence of disease, making it a fairly easy special breeding project. But although its disease incidence is low, that does not mean it will not get sick. If there is no proper management during the breeding process, many diseases can also occur. So what diseases can sika deer get? How should they be prevented and treated? Let's take a look below!
1. Sika deer foot-and-mouth disease
Symptoms: In the early stage of the disease, the sika deer's body temperature rises rapidly, producing symptoms of high fever, and the muscles throughout the body visibly tremble. It drools, is listless and lethargic, has a poor appetite, or stops eating altogether. Even if it eats, it will not ruminate. Oral ulcers appear in the mouth, and after the blisters rupture, necrosis occurs; in severe cases, all the teeth fall out. These problems also appear on the deer's hooves and the skin all over the body.
Prevention and treatment methods: For deer with oral symptoms, potassium permanganate can be used to wash the mouth for disinfection, and then an appropriate amount of iodine glycerin can be applied. For deer with symptoms on the skin and hooves, agents such as creolin can be used to rinse and disinfect the affected areas, then antibiotics can be applied and the area bandaged.
2. Sika deer hemorrhagic enteritis
Symptoms: Sick deer suffering from hemorrhagic enteritis are in very poor spirits, stay away from the herd, then stare blankly and lie on the ground. Their body temperature also rises above 40 degrees, and in the early stage of the disease they have a poor appetite or stop eating. However, their water intake increases markedly, accompanied by diarrhea. After drinking water, they begin to pass watery feces, and later the feces begin to carry pus and blood, with symptoms of dehydration appearing. Breathing is rapid and heartbeat is accelerated. They run around aimlessly and circle in place. The course of the disease is very short, and in severe cases they die within two days.
Prevention and treatment methods: When sick deer are found, the affected deer should be fasted for about two days and given furazolidone every day, twice a day, continuously for about one week, which has a very obvious effect. If this oral method is not effective, drugs such as neomycin and chlortetracycline can be used for injection treatment.
3. Sika deer necrobacillosis
Symptoms: In the early stage of illness, sick deer show symptoms of lameness, and careful observation will reveal swelling at the hoof cleft and coronary band of the deer's hooves. When touched and pressed by hand, the deer is very sensitive, and a high temperature can be felt. As the disease continues to develop, the subcutaneous tissue of the deer's hooves is also damaged and cellulitis appears. The affected area becomes necrotic and then discharges a gray, foul-smelling liquid, along with fragments of necrotic tissue. In severe cases, both ears droop, the deer refuses to eat, body temperature rises rapidly, and it lies on the ground unwilling to get up.
Prevention and treatment methods: Use potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide to clean the affected area, then completely remove all necrotic tissue from the affected area, and then apply iodoform boric acid powder for disinfection. When the disease occurs in a group, agents such as soap solution can be used for foot bathing.
The above three are several common diseases of sika deer. Although the editor has listed only three, there are others, such as pasteurellosis. They are all caused by inadequate daily management. Also, everyone should note that foot-and-mouth disease can be transmitted to humans, so when handling sick deer with foot-and-mouth disease, you must first protect yourself; otherwise, not only will you be unable to handle the sick deer, but you will also become infected yourself.