Endometritis is a disease that brings a lot of concern to the farmer. With endometritis, the middle layer of the cow's uterine wall becomes inflamed, which leads to possible infertility and even death of the animal. Treatment of endometritis in cows includes symptomatic and antibacterial therapy and lasts at least 2 weeks. The prognosis for the disease is cautious, with a high risk of possible complications.
The main causes of endometritis in cows
Endometritis is caused by bacteria of the genus Escherichia and Trueperella, which are normally found in the body in the intestines and on the surface of the skin, and are considered opportunistic. When bacteria enter a sterile uterus, they cause severe inflammation, affecting the inner layer of the wall - the endometrium.
Bacteria can enter the uterus in various ways - due to improper sterilization of gynecological instruments, violation of calving technique, artificial insemination, vaginal and rectal examination. Endometritis can provoke concomitant diseases of the genitourinary system. Old or sick cows, or those who received poor nutrition during pregnancy and childbirth, are especially susceptible to pathology.
Types of disease
There are several types of the disease. The most common is myometritis - inflammation of the muscular lining of the uterine wall. Doctors call perimeter a threatening pathology - inflammation of the mucous membrane and surrounding tissues. The mucous membrane is very sensitive to the actions of pathogenic factors and is poorly restored, and this can also cause inflammation of nearby organs.
Purulent-catarrhal endometritis is distinguished by characteristic vaginal discharge - yellow, brown or brown in color, with abundant mucus. Acute metritis appears immediately after childbirth, characteristic signs can be noticed the very next day. Fibrous endometritis has another name - chronic endometriosis. The sensitive mucous membrane is gradually replaced by coarse fibrinous tissue, due to which the cow's fertility sharply decreases.
Main symptoms
At first glance, you can tell about the animal’s poor health and oppression. The cow stands in the corner, does not touch the hay or water, and breathes heavily. There is no chewing gum. The disease may be accompanied by sudden weight loss. Milk stops being produced or is produced in reduced quantities. Characterized by mucus discharge from the vagina. Depending on the type of endometritis, mucus can be of different colors - from transparent to brown, reddish. If the mucus collects in flakes and squeaks on the fingers, then this is a sure sign of incipient fibrous endometritis.
On rectal examination, an increase in local and general temperature is clearly felt; the uterus may be enlarged in size.
The cow stands in an unnatural position, as if she is about to begin the process of urination. The animal may react aggressively to people and moan in pain.
Diagnostics
To diagnose endometritis, external clinical examination, medical history, vaginal and rectal examinations are used. Additionally, cultures of pathological material are taken to determine the exact type of pathogen and carry out appropriate treatment. Sometimes a complete blood count may be required.
It is important to diagnose the disease at an early stage. Delayed initiation of treatment can have a detrimental effect on the cow’s reproductive system and lead to infertility. This approach causes huge economic losses for the farm, so all animals must be examined daily by a veterinarian or service personnel.
Treatment regimen for endometritis in cows
Treatment of endometritis includes the use of antibiotics as the main component of therapy. Antimicrobial drugs successfully cope with Escherichia and other microorganisms, returning the uterus to natural sterility.But this also destroys the vaginal microflora, which maintains a normal acid balance for the passage of sperm. Therefore, after treatment with antibiotics, cows are unsuitable for insemination for 2-3 months.
Antimicrobial therapy
Antimicrobial drugs in this case are represented by antibiotics intended for gram-negative bacteria. In Europe, Ceftiofur and Cephapirin have been used for a long time. The substances are well tolerated by the cow’s body and do not harm the animal.
Antibiotics are diluted in a sterile solution and administered intrauterinely. The drugs can be given even to a lactating cow, and the milk is not disposed of, but fed to calves. The approach is considered economical and effective, especially for small farms.
Prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that stimulate the production of the corpus luteum, have also become widespread. The cow comes into heat faster and recovers from a serious illness. Already a month after the onset of the disease, the animal can be considered fully recovered. The drugs "Estrophan" and "Luteostenol" combine antibiotics and prostaglandins and bring a double effect for recovery.
Antiseptic treatment
For antiseptic treatment of the uterus, the drug “Sepranol”, which is widely used in veterinary medicine, has proven itself well. "Sepranol" is diluted in sterile water or saline and administered intrauterinely using a catheter. To prevent the recurrence of the disease, you can use Uteroton, which destroys repeated foci of bacterial growth. The medicine acts immediately and almost does not affect the kidneys and liver.
You can treat a cow with propranolol, which is contained in several drugs, both domestic and foreign.The course of therapy lasts 3-4 weeks and, at least for the same amount of time, animal meat and milk should not be consumed. It is allowed to feed the products to carnivorous animals, and in the last stages of treatment - to give milk to calves in the form of cottage cheese.
Preventive actions
Prevention of endometritis consists of strict adherence to the technique of artificial insemination, calving and vaginal examination. It is unacceptable to use dirty or unsterile instruments, take one speculum for several cows, or give birth in an inappropriate room. Long before calving, the cow is transferred to a special birthing box, which is treated daily with disinfectants. The same applies to postpartum rooms. In advanced farms, special quartz lamps are used for sterilization.
Before starting, the cows’ diet must be adjusted, provided with a sufficient amount of nutrients, and additional vitamins and minerals are introduced. In the warm season, it is advisable to organize a walk and provide a sufficient amount of green food and vegetables.
