In cows and calves, as in humans, coughing can be a symptom of respiratory disease. These illnesses can be minor, such as a cold, or serious, such as pneumonia. To find out the reasons, establish a diagnosis and select treatment, you need to contact a veterinarian, but the livestock breeder himself can help the animal if he knows what to do if the calf has snot. Let's look at some cases, the symptoms of which diseases may be snot and the treatment regimen.
Causes of a runny nose in a calf
A runny nose in cattle can occur for several reasons, often it is an allergy to substances, infections, respiratory and other diseases, or this symptom is caused by errors in livestock management.
Allergy
The most common form of allergy in cows is food. This is the reaction of the animal’s body to any substance in the feed, to which the calf’s body responds with an allergic reaction. The manifestation of allergies can be varied, snot is a frequent and unmistakable sign. Allergy snot is liquid, transparent, and odorless.
In acute cases of allergies, treatment is prescribed - intramuscular administration of antihistamines and corticosteroids, antiseptics and vitamins. During treatment, the calf should be kept separate from other animals. In order to prevent allergies in the future, you need to determine what caused the allergy and exclude this product from the animal’s diet.
Respiratory diseases
Respiratory diseases in calves, accompanied by a runny nose, develop in the cold season, in winter or spring. The reason is sudden changes in air temperature, humidity, accumulation of gases due to infrequent ventilation, and decreased immunity of calves due to hypovitaminosis. In summer, diseases can occur due to overheating and humidity.
From respiratory diseases in Bronchopneumonia is more common in calves, which ranks 2nd after diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This disease affects the bronchi and lungs. Pathology can occur in acute, subacute and chronic forms. Without treatment, the consequences of the disease are serious damage to the lungs and heart.
Infectious diseases
Infectious lesions of the lungs of calves are caused by viruses, resulting in the development of rhinotracheitis, parainfluenza and similar diseases.As a result of infections, the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract are affected. Against this background, protective functions are reduced, bacteria and fungi affect the lower parts of the respiratory system.
Cows in the household can suffer from tuberculosis, the appearance of which in the herd is facilitated by poor feeding and keeping in a dark, damp calf barn. Symptoms of tuberculosis are changes in mood and behavior, reluctance to eat, depression. The animal breathes through its mouth, you can see the release of exudate from the nostrils, then a cough appears, initially dry and sharp, then turns into wet and soft. Sick animals require mandatory treatment with antibiotics, which can only be prescribed by a veterinarian.
Lumpy dermatitis
This is an infectious disease of cattle caused by a virus. Symptoms include fever, swelling of the subcutaneous tissue, formation of skin nodules, damage to the eyes and mucous membranes of the digestive tract and respiratory system. The virus is transmitted among cows through the bites of blood-sucking insects such as flies, mosquitoes, and mosquitoes. To prevent nodular dermatitis, vaccination is carried out, immunity lasts 1 year.
Treatment of the disease is symptomatic; if suspicious signs appear, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.
Violation of content rules
The occurrence of such a symptom as a runny nose in calves is facilitated by the absence or lack of walks, sunlight, high humidity, and drafts. As well as low or, conversely, high temperature in the room, as a result of which the activity of the immune system decreases.Improper feeding, hypovitaminosis, lack of proteins, irregular cleaning and disinfection also lead to such results.
Diagnosis of diseases
If a runny nose is detected in calves, you should not rely on the fact that it will go away on its own and the animal will recover. If measures are not taken, the intensification of the disease can lead to a slowdown in development, and in case of complications, to the death of the animal.
You cannot treat a calf with self-prescribed drugs. Only a veterinarian can make the correct diagnosis and select treatment.
What to do if a cow has snot
Before the veterinarian arrives, you must immediately remove the calf or cow from other animals so as not to expose the herd to the risk of infection. Folk remedies can help: decoctions of thyme and coltsfoot. Decoctions normalize the production of mucus in the bronchi, strengthen the body, and destroy pathogenic bacteria. You can use warm compresses, rubbing, and inhalations.
But folk remedies alone are not always able to completely solve the problem, so the main treatment should be prescribed by a veterinarian. How long the calf will have to be treated depends on the severity of the disease and the animal’s body’s ability to resist the disease. Complex treatment is usually prescribed using several antibacterial and antiviral drugs.
Prevention measures
To prevent animals from catching colds, you need to create the necessary conditions for them: keep the cows in a warm, dry and thoroughly ventilated room. It should be free of drafts and dust. The barn should be cleaned daily, bedding changed, and aired. At least 2 times a year, in the spring, before the start of the grazing season, and in the fall, after the end, disinfect the entire premises and equipment.
Young animals should not be allowed to become hypothermic, especially after they have been standing in a warm room or after transportation. Also, you should not give the calf cold water if the animal is hot after a walk.
To strengthen the immunity of cattle, you need to walk the cow and calf every day to give them the opportunity to move, breathe fresh air, and get sunbathing. Attention must be paid to the diet, selecting feed so that the components meet the physiological needs and age of the cows. The diet should contain a sufficient amount of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
The causative agents of some diseases can be transmitted through milk from the mother to the calf, therefore, if a cow is sick, you need to monitor the condition of the young animals more closely than usual. Or, if possible, feed the calf with the milk of another animal until the cow recovers.
Snot in calves can be a sign of serious illness that requires immediate treatment. This may be a cold, which the animal can cope with on its own after some time, but often it is a sign of serious respiratory pathologies, which without treatment lead to deterioration in health or death of the young.
