Symptoms and treatment of postpartum paresis in a cow, what to do for prevention

Poor living conditions and improper feeding can lead to the development of certain diseases in cows. Among them is postpartum paresis, which is otherwise called coma of milk cows. This is a paralytic pathology, which is accompanied by paresis of the digestive organs and limbs. In the absence of timely treatment for postpartum paresis, the cow has serious consequences.

General information about the disease

Postpartum paresis is a serious disease of cows, sheep, goats and, less commonly, pigs, which is expressed in paralysis of the pharynx, tongue, intestines and legs, ending in coma and death. The disease makes itself felt immediately after childbirth, and in very rare cases – after a week or a month. In some animals, paralysis is recorded after each birth.

If assistance is not provided or treatment is not timely, coma in dairy cows leads to death after 1-3 days (sometimes a little more). Therefore, therapy must be started in the first two days from the onset of the disease. The prognosis in such cases is almost always favorable - on the second or third day the symptoms of the disease disappear.

The pathology develops as a result of metabolic disorders, the main one of which is an imbalance of calcium and magnesium in the blood. The body of a pregnant cow loses some of the substance in favor of the fetus. During lactation this problem only gets worse. A decrease in calcium levels, in turn, leads to inhibition of the central nervous system. This is also facilitated by severe pain during childbirth.

Causes of paresis in cows

Maternity paresis after calving in cattle is caused by the following factors:

1. Unbalanced nutrition of the cow, namely lack of phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D.
2. Excess protein.
3. Imbalance of calcium and magnesium in the cow's body.
4. Deviations in the functioning of the endocrine system.
5. Lack of physical activity.
6. Keeping a cow in a cold room for a long time.

The exact causes of the pathology cannot be established. These factors may contribute to the onset of the disease, but are not its direct causes.

Based on the results of many years of observations, it was possible to identify animals that are at risk:

• fattened cows, whose diet includes large amounts of protein and concentrates;
• cows, whose age is 5-8 years;
• cows with high productivity rates.

Symptoms of pathology

The first signs of a mild disease are as follows:

• refusal to eat;
• passive behavior;
• depressed or excited state;
• instability when moving;
• lack of sensitivity to pain;
• tremor;
• the appearance of a rash on the udder;
• decrease in body temperature.

Subsequently, the cow cannot stand up, as her legs have given out due to weakness. One of the main signs of paresis is the special position in which the cow’s body is: the head is turned to one side (or lies on the chest), the neck is curved, the limbs are tucked under the stomach. Other symptoms are as follows:

• the cow sticks out its tongue, profuse salivation occurs;
• the cow stops urinating and defecating;
• swallowing dysfunction;
• decreased breathing rate, hoarseness;
• decreased amount or complete absence of milk;
• tympany;
• if the disease occurs during labor, the calf’s exit from the body slows down (the muscles of the uterus stop contracting).

What to do to treat postpartum paresis in cattle

There are several ways to help a sick animal. The main methods of therapy are as follows:

• drug treatment;
• special therapeutic measures (milk infusion, air injection).

Drug treatment

Veterinary medicine offers an effective way to provide first aid. A sick animal is injected intravenously with a 10% solution of calcium chloride and a 40% solution of glucose in the amount of 200-400 milliliters and 200-250 milliliters, respectively. A 20 percent solution of sodium benzoate (15-20 milliliters) is also injected under the skin.In addition, it is recommended to give an intramuscular injection of a 25 percent solution of magnesium sulfate in an amount of 40 milliliters, as well as vitamin D2.

Traditional treatment

There are also alternative treatments:

1. Schmidt method. The problem is solved by pumping air into the udder of sick animals through the nipples. For this, an Evers device or a standard car or bicycle pump is used. In the second case, a catheter is required. To prevent infection, a cotton wool is inserted into the hose, which acts as a filter. Before starting therapy, the heifer is placed on its side. Next, the udder is freed from milk, and the nipples are disinfected. Then a catheter is connected and air is pumped in. You need to start with the two lower lobes, and after inflating the four lobes, the procedure is carried out again in the same sequence. Pumping is done gradually until the skin on the udder is smoothed. Like a soccer ball, the udder should make a distinctive sound when tapped. At the end of the procedure, massage the tissues near the nipples to prevent air from escaping due to the contraction of the sphincter. If this does not help, the nipples should be covered with tape or a bandage for no more than two hours. Pulling with thread or rope is strictly prohibited, as such an action will provoke tissue necrosis. Improvement should occur within half an hour. If this is not observed, the procedure is repeated after 6-8 hours.
2. Pouring milk. Using a Janet syringe and a catheter, 600-2000 milliliters of fresh or heated milk are poured into the udder.The advantage of this method over the previous one is that there is no risk of destruction of the alveoli or the development of tissue necrosis. In addition, recovery occurs faster, and milk production does not decrease in the future. Milk is introduced into one of the four lobes of the udder. If the procedure does not help, milk is poured into the same portion again in the same amount, and the remaining quarters are filled with air.

In case of a complicated course of the disease, when the cow is unable to empty her intestines and bladder, urine and feces are removed using massage.

Possible complications

Lack of proper treatment leads to the development of tympany. Pathology is rumen swelling due to strong gas formation. The problem is eliminated by piercing the scar and introducing a 5 percent alcohol solution in a volume of 400 milliliters into its cavity.

Also, as a result of paresis, acute secondary pneumonia may develop due to aspiration of water or food.

Prevention measures

To prevent pathology, it is necessary to follow a number of preventive measures, which include:

1. Changing the cow's diet during the prenatal period. Grass and concentrates are removed from the daily menu.
2. You cannot walk your pet in hot weather.
3. Elimination of drafts. The room must be arranged so that the cow is not blown through.
4. When lactation decreases, as well as during dry periods, the amount of concentrates in the cow’s menu should be limited (maximum - 3 kilograms if there are 8 kilograms of hay in the diet).
5. When there is a week left before giving birth, the cow is given an injection of glucose and vitamin D
6. If there are optimal weather conditions, the cow should be walked regularly.
7. The animal must be given mineral supplements.
8. You can't overfeed a cow.
9. It is recommended to add premixes to the feed.
10. After calving, the animal is given a special energy drink.
11. Timely vaccination of pregnant cows.

In a word, preventive measures come down to compliance with the rules for keeping and feeding the cow. Postpartum paresis in cows is a dangerous disease that, if treatment is delayed or absent, leads to the death of the animal. Most often, the pathology occurs in older cows, as well as in highly productive dairy cows. In young individuals, paresis is practically not observed. The main factor that determines the development of pathology is poor nutrition and non-compliance with the rules of keeping livestock.