Mastitis is an inflammatory process in the mammary glands. In cows, this disease is not uncommon. Cattle, which is kept on large farms and stands in tethered stalls, are especially prone to this ailment . But pets are no exception. Milk of a sick cow is unsuitable for consumption, it is impossible to produce dairy and sour-milk products from it.
Causes of mastitis in cows
This disease develops for a variety of reasons. The onset of the first symptoms after childbirth is possible. Sometimes inflammation is caused by taking medications in the treatment of other diseases, for example, an increase in the uterine endometrium. After infections, a decrease in immunity and body resistance of pathogenic microflora is observed. This happens most often during lactation, at startup, but also occurs with dry.
The following causes also contribute to the disease:
- mechanical injury to the udder or only the nipples;
- improper milking procedure; milk is not completely skimmed off;
- the penetration of microbes or the onset of inflammation from the nipple canals;
- infection through the blood of an animal;
- diseases of the reproductive system of the cow;
- improper diet (only silage, adding bards or beer grains, lack of hay);
- lack of motor activity (with tethered content);
- non-observance of sanitary and hygienic standards (untimely cleaning of manure, litter is not poured, the room is not adapted for the proper maintenance of cows, the presence of drafts, etc.).
How to recognize the presence of mastitis in a cow?
The animal needs special observation in the first months at start-up and after calving. During this period, it is necessary to carefully inspect and check the udder, at least 2 times a week. When redness begins on the nipple, you need to conduct a trial milking. If there is cereal in milk, mastitis has begun. During start-up, in the second month, the cow’s milk burns out. At this time, 3 or 4 ml of a special secret can be squeezed out of the nipples, according to the consistency resembling honey. If the squeezed mass is liquid and gray, then it is mastitis.
In the postpartum period, colostrum is observed in the cow for 5 or 7 days. It must be checked. 1 cup is removed and put in a cold place for an hour. In the presence of mastitis, colostrum will exfoliate. Milk of a cow suffering from mastitis does not give a calf. Usually in the milk of an individual suffering from this disease, clots, flakes, purulent inclusions, and sometimes blood are clearly visible.
But there are still hidden forms of the disease when it is difficult to determine from milk whether the cow is sick or not. In such cases, you need to add 20 drops of a 10% solution of the drug "Mastidine" to a liter of milk and mix thoroughly with a wooden stick. If you get a jelly-like mass, then the animal is sick.
Symptoms of the disease
A sick cow experiences pain during milking, the amount of milk decreases markedly. The animal loses its appetite, looks tired, inactive. Lymph glands are enlarged, swelling of the udder, redness of the nipples appears. The temperature rises in the painful area. Thickened nipples. Flakes and lumps are present in milk. Sometimes instead of milk, a pale liquid flows.
With some varieties of the disease, pus and blood are found. With various types of mastitis, several other symptoms are added.
Types of mastitis
1. Subclinical. Distributed mainly in large farms. Sometimes it affects the whole population. The only sign visible to the eye is an enlarged lymph node above the udder. At home is extremely rare. You can identify using the reagent "Kenotest" or when you pass the milk for bacteriological examination in the laboratory.
2. Serous. With this form of mastitis, only one fraction of the udder is affected. It is very rare that inflammation affects several at once. Occurs with injuries or improper milking.
3. Catarrhal. It occurs with traumatic milking of the nipple, when the infection passes upward from the hole into the depths. A characteristic symptom of this type is blockage of the nipple opening with curdled exudate. Nodosity appears on the udder.
4. Fibronous. It develops as a result of complications in the catarrhal form, in the event of infection transition from purulent pericarditis or endometritis. Often accompanied by a complete lack of milk, the presence of fibrin in it.
5. Purulent. With this form of the disease, abscesses and phlegmon are formed on the udder. The temperature at the site of inflammation is greatly increased, after a breakthrough of the abscess, a fistula forms, with pressure on which a lot of pus is released. Milk has a bitter taste and a reddish tint.
Treatment of mastitis with antibiotics
Before using antibiotics, it is necessary to determine exactly what type of infection caused the inflammatory process. To do this, conduct research on the microflora of milk in a veterinary laboratory. The specialist will select the necessary medications and their possible combinations. The owner can carry out antibiotic treatment for mastitis at home on his own.
Medicines are administered to animals in three main ways. The easiest way is considered intramuscular injection. Such administration of antibiotics is used for mastitis with general infectious intoxication. Strong drugs are prescribed: Nitox or Bitsilin-5.
During intramammary injection, the suspension is introduced directly into the udder itself. Solutions for sale in ready-made tube syringes are sold. For example, antibiotics for mastitis such as Hamaret or Mastisan are effective. The main requirement before introducing the suspension into the udder is to completely free it from the milk filling it.
The following method of drug administration requires some training and is considered very effective. The antibiotic for mastitis in cows in this case is administered when a novocaine blockade is placed above the udder area.
Preparations for the treatment of mastitis
What antibiotics will help treat such a dangerous disease? A set of medicines that can help the animal is prescribed only by a veterinarian. After a laboratory study of milk, a bacterium is detected that has led to inflammation. Depending on the type of microbes, the following antibiotics are prescribed for mastitis in cows:
1. "Maximax" - a drug in the syringe dispenser. Used to introduce inside the tank. It has a good antimicrobial effect in relation to staphylococci, streptococci, protein, corynebacteria, pathogenic anaerobes, etc.
2. "Benstrep" - contained in a glass bottle. It has a synergistic effect of two components in its composition. These are benzylpenicillin procaine and dihydrostreptomycin sulfate. They complement each other and enhance the antimicrobial effect on gram-positive bacteria.
3. "Penmicin" - in its composition also has benzylpenicillin procaine and neomycin sulfate. In contact, these two substances enhance the effect of the antibiotic for mastitis, affecting gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. However, the drug does not affect viruses and fungal infections.
4. "Dorin" is an active antimicrobial drug. It affects the microorganisms of the exudate of the udder. During the experiment, scientists found that with mastitis, treatment with the Dorin antibiotic takes about 2 days; first give a dose of 10 ml, and on the second day - 5 ml. Fast, efficient and inexpensive.
When are antibiotics used?
In the acute form of the disease, treatment of mastitis in cows with antibiotics is prescribed when the temperature of the animal rises. The drugs "Masticin", "Mastisan", "Penersin" are injected with a catheter into the affected area of the udder. Treatment is carried out for 3 or 4 days, however, milk is suitable for food only 5 days after the end of treatment. There are a number of powerful antibiotics that are excreted from the body of the cow for a whole month. It is necessary to consult a veterinarian and carefully read the instructions for use.
With a chronic purulent form of mastitis, antibiotic treatment does not always bring the expected effect. With the development of atrophy of the parenchyma, the milk ducts are overgrown with connective tissue, cannot be restored, and they also provoke the spread of infection further to the entire body of the udder.
Complex treatment
It is necessary to cure mastitis in cows with antibiotics in combination with additional active actions. Their work is based on the elimination of infection. After this, it is necessary to restore the animal’s immune system. In the acute form of the disease, in addition to antibiotics, other methods are used. Concomitant treatment of mastitis is the introduction of a liquid solution of streptocide into a vein, an intravenous infusion of a 1% solution of streptocide, 2-5% ichthyol, or 1: 5000 furatsilina.
In severe forms of mastitis, along with antibiotics, 40% glucose solution, 10% solution of calcium chloride or calcium gluconate 100-150 ml are injected intravenously. Another 0.25% solution of novocaine based on saline is added at the rate of 0.5-1 ml per kilogram of animal body weight.
Also additionally make applications with anixide, valeter. It is possible to use ichthyol or camphor ointments. The physical methods of additional therapy include the use of cold at the beginning. On the 3-5th day, the doctor prescribes paraffin or ozocerite warming compresses. You can also warm with an infrared lamp.
Udder massage
With mastitis, massage of the udder and all the nipples is very important. Each time before milking, you need to wipe the udder with warm water and gently massage each nipple in turn, pushing it up. With fibrous and serous mastitis, while there is no pain during milking, it is necessary to carry out the procedure 2 times a day, starting from the bottom. With catarrhal, on the contrary, from above. With a hemorrhagic form, massage can not be done.
Prevention of mastitis in cows
To prevent animals from suffering from mastitis, owners must comply with sanitary hygiene standards. Keep the burenok clean, give out until the end, on the nipples do not leave a single drop of milk. It is better to disinfect the nipples after milking in a 1% solution of iodine chloride.
Before you stop milking the cow, you need to limit the succulent feed. Reduce the amount of milking gradually. First, several days, 1 time, then every other day. When milk is dispensed no more than half a liter, milking can be stopped.
Advice! During dead wood, carry out a routine check for mastitis. It’s better to prevent the disease than to treat it later!