Download Nursing the Downer Cow New Forest Eye

Nursing the Downer Cow
Downer cows can be very frustrating and time
consuming, sometimes with a futile outcome despite
best efforts. Appropriate nursing is vital to maximise
the chances of the cow getting up. The degree of
success in getting these animals up depends greatly
on the commitment of the farmer and staff to
dedicate time to nursing her. It is also important to
consider the welfare of the cow and weigh it against
her chances of recovery.
Downer cows suffer from muscle damage: pressure
causes loss of blood supply to the muscles and can be
likened to humans with bed sores. They are generally
unable to eat or drink enough to meet their
requirements and are likely to become hypothermic
and further depressed, leading to secondary problems. You need to keep reassessing the down cow’s condition. A cow that is bright and eating and
attempting to stand has a better outlook than a dull, depressed cow that isn’t
eating.
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Treat the initiating cause. Get us involved if there’s no response to your
treatment.
The cow needs to be kept comfortable on a soft surface. Deep straw is
better than a paddock, which is better than dirt and far better than
concrete.
They need shelter to protect them against the wind and rain. Shift them
to a barn if possible or near a hedge, create shelter with bales, put a
cover on them.
Keep the cow propped up so she’s sitting rather than lying down. Make
sure her back legs are folded under her as naturally as possible rather
than stretched out under her or out to the side.
Make sure the cow has access to water, a 20L bucket close to her is ideal.
You can dig a hole to put the bucket in to prevent it from getting tipped
over.
Make sure the cow has access to energy dense feed such as silage or
cake. Also make sure they have access to hay, which provides warmth as
it’s digested. Supplement with Ketol and molasses.
Roll the cow from one side to the other a few times a day to minimise
muscle damage. Alternate which side she spends each night on. Consider
rubbing and manipulating the limbs to restore circulation.
Assist her to stand for periods each day e.g. with a sling or hip lifters. Hip
lifters need to be used with care:
Never leave a cow unattended while in hip lifters.
If the cow is not taking her weight on the back legs do not leave her
hanging.
If she is taking her weight remove the hip lifters and let her stand on
her own.
Try lifting her a few times a day.
Hip lifters can be hired from the clinic.
New Forest Eye
(Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis)
This ocular condition is caused by the
proliferation of the bacteria Moraxella bovis, a
commensal organism in many cows’ eyes. The
infection is predisposed to by damage to the
conjunctiva by dust, flies and ultraviolet light
which allows the bacteria to grow and damage
the conjunctiva of the eye. Older cattle gain a
degree of immunity depending on exposure;
therefore it is primarily calves and animals
under two years of age that are most
susceptible.
Clinical signs to look out for are a copious
ocular discharge staining the face, a closed eye
and a cloudy circular patch on the surface of
the eye about 3-5 mm in diameter. If this is not
treated early, ulceration and even rupture of
the cornea can occur. Treatment is by
intramuscular or subconjunctival
oxytetracycline injection, and/or topical
antibiotic eye ointment. Pour on fly repellent
will also help limit the spread of the disease by
flies which act as a mechanical vector.
Displaced Abomasums
Displaced abomasums are one of the big challenges to the dairy industry in modern times. Left untreated
their outcome is inevitable either sooner (in the case of a right sided dilation and torsion) or later (in the case
of a left displacement). Even when successfully treated, however, affected animals usually fail to reach yield
potential, have an increased calving to conception interval than otherwise would have been the case and are
culled more frequently than unaffected herd contemporaries.
So what causes this condition and how is it best
treated?
The honest answer to the first of these questions is that nobody
really knows for certain. The traditional theory of a lack of long
fibre and poor rumen fill in a freshly calved cow with an
inherently unstable abdomen because of the space recently
vacated by the calf is only part of the story. Spill over of volatile
fatty acids, the products of digestion, from the rumen into the
abomasum cause atony of the muscular wall of this organ so it
does not contract as it should. Further, if unfermented
concentrates, and we feed more and more of them in the TMRs
we prepare for our freshly calved cows, spill over from the
rumen into the abomasum and continue to ferment the gas this
produces will make the organ increasingly unstable. Despite,
however, feeding rations with higher and higher energy
densities to our freshly calved cows many of them remain in
negative energy balance for some time after calving and this
sub-clinical ketosis is also involved. Sub-clinical hypocalcaemia
also has a role because, just as calcium is necessary to maintain
skeletal muscle tone so the cow can stand, so it is also necessary
to maintain muscle function in the gut. Intercurrent disease,
particularly metritis and mastitis, both of which are common in
the freshly calved cow, also play a role and genetic factors are
also involved (when did you last see a displaced abomasum
affecting anything other than a black and white dairy cow?).
‘Treatment’ options are many and varied. They should always
include a source of energy and calcium and on occasion medical
treatment alone may successfully resolve the situation. More
frequently, however, repositioning the abomasum either by
rolling and toggling or surgery, is required. Toggling is generally
quicker and easier than surgery and therefore cheaper, but not
so reliable in achieving success and is not appropriate in every
case (if there is not enough gas in the abomasum or in very fat
cows for example). Each case must therefore be assessed on its
own merits when deciding on treatment options. It should also
be remembered that whatever method is used to reposition the
abomasum, this is all that it achieves; it does not address the
cause of the displacement and so success cannot be guaranteed
(although is usually anticipated!).
Lungworm Control
It’s getting to that time again
when we should be keeping a
close eye on our cattle for signs
of lungworm (husk). The build up
of worms on pasture through
spring and early summer means
that now is the time to be wary.
Diagnosis of lungworm can be confirmed by veterinary
examination, faecal samples (brought into the lab and looked at
for lungworm) or blood samples.
Treatment is based upon worming the animals. It is advisable to
use a levamisole based wormer, as this reduces the risk of an
allergic reaction to dead worms which may lead to the animal’s
death. It may be appropriate to treat less severely affected
animals with an ivermectin based wormer. We
have negotiated a discounted price so we can
offer 2.5 litres Virbamec Pour-on for just £33.75
(excluding VAT) - just 68p/500kg animals.
Lungworm larva are passed in the faeces. In
optimal conditions, the larva can develop into the
infective L3 stage in as little as five days. At this
point, they leave the dung pat to reach the grass
where they await a hungry cow!! Once ingested,
Often, animals get worse before they get better.
the larva penetrate the gut wall and enter the
It is therefore recommended that badly infected
cow’s blood stream. Here they develop further
animals should be treated with antiand travel to the lungs. Final development of the
inflammatories and covering antibiotics alongside
larva to adults occurs within the lungs where they
the wormer.
can now reproduce, resulting in new larva to
Dictyocaulus viviparus (lungworm)
repeat the cycle.
Vaccination of young animals is possible with a
product called Huskvac. This should be carried out in the spring,
Respiratory signs are seen in affected animals as the larva and
six and two weeks prior to turnout.
adults develop. Signs may vary from mild, with intermittent
coughing, through to severe, where we see a raised respiratory
If you are concerned about lungworm in your herd or would like
rate and breathing with an outstretched neck. Severely affected
to discuss this further, feel free to contact us at the surgery.
calves may even die within one to two days.
Charity Bike Ride:
Salisbury to Shepton Mallet
During August and September, the forty-two XLVet member
practices are aiming to cycle between practices in a relay fashion,
raising money for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, a
charity supporting members of the farming community facing
hardship or distress, and Farm Africa, an international charity
providing training and support to poor, rural communities.
On Sunday 23 August, it was Endell’s turn to carry the baton,
from Endless Street to Shepton Mallet! In the week prior to the
ride, there was little preparation but plenty of panic! By the time
we set off from the practice on Sunday, there were five eager
cyclists who had managed to beg or borrow (but not steal!) a bike
- Steve, Jo, Will, Louise and James - and Ron and Lily in the EVG
van (cyclist support vehicle).
Cycling through Wilton and
along the Wylye Valley was
peaceful and picturesque.
We stopped for a few photos
along the way and all was
uneventful until a quite
explosive puncture!! The puncture was fixed and we were back
on the road within minutes, before coming to a halt at the Dove
Inn at Corton. At the pub, we were met by Kristina who was on
call for the day (fortunate to avoid the ride!), so we stayed for a
while.
It was soon time to hit the road, so on we went. A small
navigational error led us into Warminster, which has a lot of hills
when you’re on your bike! However, we struggled on and got to
our next target - Longleat Safari Park. Ron and
Lily stretched their legs whilst the rest of us just
hung around!
Now we know why the Mendips are called the
Mendip Hills! With grim determination, we
pedalled our way to Shepton Veterinary group
where we were given plenty of refreshments,
having cycled 44 miles! The
bikes were then loaded into our
support vehicle and petrol
power brought us home.
All in all, it was a hard but
enjoyable ride.
If you would like to donate to
our charities, please speak to
one of us. All donations will be
gratefully received.
For more details of the XLVet bike ride, please visit:
www.xlvets.co.uk