Many farmers periodically encounter various diseases in cattle. These pathologies provoke a decrease in productivity, and sometimes even lead to the death of animals. One of the most common disorders is the development of demodicosis in cattle. It is also often called scabies. This pathology causes serious discomfort in animals and can lead to complications.
Causes of the disease
Demodicosis spreads quickly among animals. The causative agent of the pathology is the demodex mite.It provokes damage to the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of the cow. The size of the pest is only 0.3 millimeters. Its body is worm-shaped and is divided into a cephalothorax and abdomen. Infection with demodicosis occurs from sick individuals, through farmer's clothing or dirty tools. If symptoms of pathology appear in at least one animal, it must be immediately isolated.
It is important to systematically inspect the entire herd. It is recommended to examine calves along with adult animals. This should be done starting from 3 months. In some situations, the infection has a mild course. However, its symptoms are not visible.
Signs and symptoms of the disease
When infected with pathology, the following symptoms are observed:
- the appearance of small bumps on the skin;
- hair loss in the area of the tick bite;
- discharge of a grayish-white liquid when pressing on the tubercle.
If you are infested with ticks, it is important to immediately contact a veterinarian who can carry out all the necessary research.
Methods for diagnosing the disease
Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, at the first symptoms, you should contact a veterinarian. When identifying characteristic bumps on the skin, it is recommended to conduct a microscopic examination.
If there is a scab in the nodular formation, it is recommended to pull it out with tweezers and examine it using a microscope. If there is no scab, it is worth taking a sample of the contents of the mound and examining it too.
If it was not possible to detect demodicosis using microscopic examination, then it is worth plucking the hair in the area where mites are most common.Then apply 2 drops of Vaseline oil to a clean surface, fold the skin into a fold and squeeze out the ticks with the blunt part of a scalpel. The scrapings and hairs should then be examined under a microscope.
How to treat demodicosis in cattle
It is possible to cope with demodicosis using folk remedies and veterinary drugs. However, therapy should be started only after the diagnosis is confirmed. In this case, treatment must be selected individually, taking into account the state of health and the severity of skin damage.
Anti-scabies drugs
To treat cows and eliminate subcutaneous mites, the following products should be used:
- "Dicresyl." To eliminate pathology, an emulsion with a concentration of 0.75% is used. 2-4 liters of acaricide are required per animal. It is worth treating cattle every 6 days.
- "Ivermek". The composition is administered by injection once. For 50 kilograms of weight, 1 milliliter of the substance is used.
- "Sevin." A suspension with a concentration of 0.75-1% is used for external treatment of calves older than 3 months and adults. 1 procedure requires 1-3 liters of liquid.
- "Acrodex". The product is used for aerosol treatment of animals. The course of therapy includes 4 treatments with an interval of 5-7 days.
In addition to basic therapy, medications are prescribed to strengthen the immune system and general health of animals.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies also help to cope with demodicosis. To begin with, it is recommended to wash the animal well. To soften the crusts that have formed on the affected parts of the skin, it is worth wiping them with a soap solution containing Creolin.
After a day, it is recommended to wash the cow with a solution made on the basis of ash alkali. This will help increase the effectiveness of therapy.
Processing of premises and equipment
It is important to consider that ticks can live separately from the animal. That is why it is so important to pay attention to the treatment of the room in which the cows live. It is worth cleaning the pen of waste products every day. Washing feeders and drinkers is of no small importance. In this case, it is imperative to use disinfectants and pour boiling water over the containers. If necessary, the stall should be washed using antiseptic preparations. Farmers who may also carry ticks are advised to wash their hands thoroughly after contact with animals. It is important to use antibacterial soap.
Preventive measures
All new individuals that enter the farm should be inspected for the presence of ticks. After a new animal appears in the herd, it is recommended to place it in a stall or a separate pen for a certain time. After the incubation period is completed, as a preventive measure it is worth using a weak solution of Cypermethrin to treat the cow.
With the arrival of warmer weather, it is necessary to examine all individuals for the presence of the first symptoms of pathology. It is imperative to carry out general cleaning of the premises in which cows are kept. Every day it is worth removing feces and, if necessary, washing the cows.
Preventive treatment of the walking area and cleaning tools is of no small importance. It is recommended to wash your hands after contact with animals. If the stall becomes dirty, it should be cleaned using antibacterial substances.
The development of demodicosis in cattle is considered a fairly common pathology that can lead to negative health consequences. If measures are not taken in time, there is a risk of slowing the development of animals and reducing their productivity.Therefore, at the first symptoms of a disorder, you should contact a veterinarian.
