From the health of the reproductive and urinary system cattle depends on the reproduction of the herd And milk productivity of cows. In order not to miss the problem, you need to monitor the condition of the queens and calves after calving. Let's look at why a calf's urine is red, what diseases cows can suffer from after calving, and what to do to help the animals.
Why and what to do if calves have bloody urine
Urine becomes red in hematuria - red blood cells are released into the urine, which normally should not be there.Hematuria is most often observed in cows after 1-2 calvings and in calves 4-5 months old. In calves, the cause of the development of the disorder may be drinking a large volume of water at one time or drinking cold or hot water. The kidneys cannot cope with the load and their functioning is disrupted. The treatment is simple - give calves water at normal temperature, often and in small portions.
However, sometimes hematuria in calves can be a sign of piroplasmosis; an infection can be distinguished from a violation of the watering regime by the behavior of the animal - if it is active, eats well, the temperature is normal, it is healthy. With piroplasmosis, the calf or adult animal is depressed, does not eat and moves little. A veterinarian must diagnose and treat piroplasmosis.
In cows that have given birth, hematuria is also a sign of pathologies of the kidneys and urinary tract. Diseases can be a complication and consequence of infectious diseases of the reproductive organs, in particular the uterus.
Subinvolution of the uterus
This is one of the complications in the postpartum period when the uterus is delayed in returning to its normal size that it was before pregnancy. Bleeding is a symptom of pathology, and blood is released from the uterus, and not from the urinary tract. But it may seem that the cow is peeing bloody urine, since the discharge is mixed with the urine.
The cause of uterine subinvolution may be infection. Treatment is antibacterial therapy that eliminates inflammation. The pathology is typical only for cows that have given birth, and is not the cause of the problem if the calf pees blood.
Endometritis
Inflammation of the inner layer of the uterus is primarily a postpartum complication, but it can also develop as a consequence of infection from other genitourinary organs. Endometritis in a cow can occur due to complicated childbirth, delayed placenta, stillbirth of a calf, or multiple births.
The cause of inflammation can be poor hygiene during the calving process, as well as improper nutrition before and after childbirth.
Several types of endometritis are recorded in cattle: catarrhal, purulent-catarrhal and acute fibrous. The disease is acute and subacute. Antibiotics and hormone-like substances are used for treatment.
Chronic endometritis
Chronic inflammation of the uterus may not manifest symptoms, that is, it may be latent. Temporarily it may manifest as complications in the form of cycle disturbances, ovarian dysfunction and inability to conceive, and signs of intoxication. Chronic endometritis can be a consequence of inflammation in the vagina, decreased immunity; the infection enters the body of livestock due to non-compliance with the rules of care, when cows in stalls lie on dirty bedding.
Urine with blood in it in cows with endometritis may appear if the infection has entered not only the uterus, but also the urinary tract and kidneys, and inflammation has arisen in them. The offspring - a bull or a heifer - do not suffer; the reasons for the appearance of red urine must be sought elsewhere.
Hidden endometritis
This is a form of endometritis that occurs latently, without symptoms, so it is difficult to detect. It is usually diagnosed in animals after several unsuccessful inseminations in a row. Endometritis negatively affects reproductive function, as well as the quality of dairy products.There is less milk, its taste and composition deteriorate. However, milk does not affect the calf's ability to pee.
Vestibulitis
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the vaginal vestibule occurs in several forms. In acute diphtheria vestibulitis, a brown liquid mixed with blood and pieces of mucous is released from the affected organ. The animal's temperature is elevated, there is no or decreased appetite, and the animal is in a depressed state.
Thus, blood in vestibulitis is not in the urine, but gets there from the vagina.
Prevention measures
To ensure that the calf's urine is not red, but of a normal color, you need to feed and water it properly. A calf can drink a lot of water at a time, but you should not let it drink as much as it wants. It is recommended to give him water more often than 3 times a day, but little by little, in portions of 3-4 liters. The water temperature should be moderate.
You should not feed him red beets, which can also turn his urine dark. If, after canceling the diet with red-colored vegetables or normalizing the watering regime, the problem does not disappear, then you need to look for another reason. Blood in the urine may indicate the development of piroplasmosis.
As for dairy cows, diseases of internal organs, inflammation of the reproductive and urinary organs must be prevented by maintaining cleanliness in the barn, especially where cows with calves stand. After all, the infection enters the body of healthy animals from the outside. When animals stand and lie on clean bedding, they are less likely to become infected.
Red urine is a sign of kidney problems. The reason may be improper feeding or watering of calves, or an infectious disease of the internal organs of cows. In any case, blood in the urine is a reason to pay attention to the health of the animal and begin treatment as quickly as possible.
