Standing (paresis) is a disease when an animal cannot stand on its own. This is due to a decrease in calcium in the blood, which causes weakening of the motor functions of the musculoskeletal system. Postpartum paresis is common among cows and accounts for approximately 10% of those calving. In order to know how to properly raise a cow after lying down without a winch, you need to understand the reasons for this phenomenon.
Reasons for deposition
Pregnancy and childbirth affect the animal's body. Stagnation begins both a few days or weeks before birth and after. In cows preparing to give birth in the summer, prenatal laying is a rare occurrence. Basically, cows that are ready to calve at the end of winter are subject to prenatal laying. If a cow lies low before giving birth, then most likely she will not get back on her feet after calving.
Delay before childbirth is due to several reasons:
- unbalanced and insufficient feeding during pregnancy;
- lack of walks;
- insufficient space that limits the animal’s activity;
- smooth, sloping floor;
- crowded conditions with poor ventilation and sanitation;
- a large fruit that compresses the nerve plexuses;
- inflammatory diseases: arthritis and myositis;
- hypothermia of the body.
It happens that a cow spent her entire pregnancy on her feet, but after calving she cannot stand for a long time. This phenomenon is called postpartum retention, the causes of which are:
- hypocalcemia;
- fracture of the pelvic bones during childbirth;
- injury in the first hours, when the cow does not understand what is happening to her and tries to get up, injuring herself and damaging ligaments;
- tearing of soft tissue fibers;
- pinched nerves;
- compression of the sciatic and obturator nerves (pinching);
- difficult childbirth;
- unqualified assistance during the delivery of a large calf.
If a cow does not get up after giving birth, but looks healthy and takes food, then this is due to a weakening of the musculoskeletal system.
Symptoms of the problem
There are two types of staleness in pregnant cows:
- gradual – signs appear in stages: unsteady gait, staggering, the back of the body “drags” when walking, difficulty getting up, legs give way. The animal gets up less often, and then doesn’t get up at all, and doesn’t respond to commands;
- sharp - the cow slipped on the slippery floor and fell. At first he makes attempts to get up, but then stops doing so.
Symptoms of staleness:
- body temperature within 36.5-39.0 °C;
- pulse – 40 beats per minute;
- breathing is calm;
- the digestive system is normal;
- sensitivity of body parts is preserved;
- the genitourinary organs function without interruption.
Long laying before calving will lead to bedsores, if there is no proper hygienic care, and problems with the digestive system.
Diagnostic methods
To diagnose the causes of deposits, two primary examination methods are used: visual inspection and physical examination.
The initial examination includes:
- general behavior of the animal;
- presence of appetite;
- pay attention to breathing: deep and smooth or difficult with wheezing;
- skin assessment;
- examination of the abdominal cavity, genitourinary organs, perineum;
- palpation.
After the examination, the veterinarian will confirm or deny the fact of traumatic deposits. If there is no serious injury, the cow will begin to rise in 3-14 days.
If a cow does not rise after two weeks, then this is the result of serious health problems. The veterinarian will conduct an examination, make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment for the diagnosed disease. As a rule, storage begins due to hypocalcemia (decreased calcium levels, changes in the level of phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D3 in the blood).
Depending on the level of calcium drop in the blood, the form of hypocalcemia varies:
- subclinical – mild muscle hypothymia occurs, which does not manifest itself in the musculoskeletal system;
- light – the animal walks with difficulty, staggers;
- medium - the cow falls down and cannot get up on her own;
- severe - completely without movement, does not respond to stimuli.
Before starting treatment, blood should be taken for biochemical analysis. Based on the test results, a treatment regimen is determined.
Methods for curing postpartum congestion
For laying down without complications, a number of complex measures are used aimed at independently raising the cow to her feet.
Intravenous and intramuscular injections
Treatment for paresis should be carried out after consulting a veterinarian, who will prescribe a treatment regimen.
For moderate deposits, the following treatment is recommended:
- 20 ml of caffeine is injected subcutaneously behind the shoulder blade.
- Calcium chloride 10% and calcium gluconate 20% or the complex drug “Brovaglyukin”, which contains calcium gluconate, magnesium, phosphorus and choline, are infused intravenously. The dose is calculated as 10 ml for every 10 kg of weight.
- If there is a lack of glucose in the blood, inject 40% glucose into a vein in a volume of 400 ml.
- Next, the injection drug “Katozal” (analogous “Phos-Bevit”) is administered, which is indicated for postpartum congestion and hypocalcemia at a dosage of 25 ml.
Preparations must be warmed to room temperature before use. After such a set of measures, 90% of cows rise within an hour after the procedures. In severe cases of retention, antibiotics are prescribed. Before treating your pet, you must consult a veterinarian.
Turn over and lift slightly
If an animal lies motionless for a long time and hygienic care measures are not followed, bedsores will appear. The death of soft tissue occurs due to poor circulation and physical pressure. To avoid necrosis, the cow is turned over at least 3 times a day. You can lift the cow using ropes. You need to circle the rope or rope around the lower part of the body.
Comfortable conditions of detention
A sick cow needs to be provided with comfortable conditions and be provided with soft, clean bedding. The room should be well ventilated with fresh air, dry and warm.
Rub the back to improve blood circulation
To improve blood circulation, rub the back of the body with camphor oil or 2% mustard alcohol. Camphor oil has the following beneficial properties:
- eliminates nervous tension in muscles;
- creates an anti-inflammatory effect;
- has an antiseptic effect;
- nourishes the skin and improves tissue healing;
- has an analgesic effect.
The action of mustard alcohol is aimed at relieving the inflammatory process of connective tissue.
Compresses are applied in the morning and evening to the sacrum area; to do this, the cow needs to be slightly elevated.
How to prevent such problems
To prevent relapses, so that the cow does not fall ill again, feed tricalcium phosphate is introduced into the diet, 200 g per day - 100 g in the morning and in the evening for a month. The drug "Catozal" is administered for 3 days. The cow needs to be provided with good living conditions; food and drink cannot be limited.
In most cases, if a cow has paresis once, then during subsequent births this phenomenon will repeat. Older individuals tend to lie low. If a cow has had several postpartum paresis, then prenatal ones are likely to occur in the future. During this period, the animal needs to receive veterinary care.
