Mammary gland disease (mastitis) in small cattle is widespread. As a rule, mastitis appears in sheep a month and a half after lambing. The damage from the disease is expressed in a decrease in milk, meat, and wool productivity of animals. If treatment is not started promptly, mastitis can lead to the death of lambs and females. To accurately make a diagnosis, a clinical examination of the mammary glands of the uterus and laboratory testing of milk are required.
Causes of the disease
The peak of mastitis usually occurs in May-July.The causes of the disease can be divided into two groups:
- infectious – mastitis is caused by microorganisms (mainly staphylococci, streptococci) that enter the body through the nipple canal due to injuries to the mammary glands and nipples. The appearance of infections is facilitated by dirty bedding, unwashed hands of the milkmaid, dirty water used to wash the udder;
- non-infectious - the causes of mastitis are udder injuries (injections, bruises), cracked nipples, hypothermia, chemical factors (treating the udder with special means).
Massive diseases of sheep with mastitis are provoked by difficult weather conditions (sharp cold weather, prolonged rains). If the lambs die, there is a possibility that the ewe will stop lactation, which can also cause mastitis.
Types and symptoms
The disease in ewes is predominantly acute. Several forms of the disease are observed:
- Catarrhal mastitis is characterized by decreased appetite, increased breathing, pulse, and increased body temperature. The milk takes on a watery appearance, with bluish or yellowish tints. If treatment is not started in time, mastitis becomes hemorrhagic;
- with serous mastitis, there is a lack of appetite, the animal moves poorly (lameness on the hind legs may appear), females do not allow lambs to approach the udder. Without the provision of medicinal assistance, within a day mastitis turns into a purulent-catarrhal form;
- purulent catarrhal mastitis is manifested by a lack of appetite, high body temperature, and an increase in the size of the udder. The animal mainly lies down; there is lameness when walking.
The most severe course is hemorrhagic mastitis, leading to gangrene of the udder and even death of the animal. Symptoms of the disease: the inflamed part of the udder swells, the skin becomes red-violet.The milk contains pinkish or red flakes. The ewe usually dies after 2-4 days.
Diagnosis of mastitis
Examination of sheep begins with an assessment of the general condition: pulse, body temperature are measured, and respiration is assessed. To make a diagnosis, the udder is carefully felt. During a visual examination, the appearance of the udder, the shape, color of the skin and the presence of skin diseases are assessed, and traces of damage or injury are identified.
How to treat mastitis in sheep
The danger of mastitis lies in provoking irreversible processes in tissues. Early diagnosis and timely treatment significantly increase the effectiveness of treatment and shorten recovery time.
Medications
To treat sick animals, antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics, sulfonamides) are mainly used. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the nuances of each treatment method:
- intramuscular injection of norsulfazole three times a day. Once a day, penicillin and streptomycin are injected into the affected lobe of the udder through the nipple. The disadvantages of this method are that administering medications is labor-intensive and requires manipulation several times a day;
- They practice intramuscular administration of bicillin-3, which has a prolonged action. The main disadvantage of treatment is that sometimes there is poor effectiveness;
- A common method is to rub tylosin-based ointments into the diseased part of the udder. The negative side of the treatment is that it is labor intensive (the animal must first be restrained and then the ointment must be patiently rubbed into the nipples).
A good result is observed with complex treatment, when injections of various medications are combined, rubbing ointments into the udder or nipples.It is also advisable to use physiotherapy - warm compresses, UV lamp irradiation, udder massage.
Traditional methods
Treatment at home for latent mastitis in sheep is possible in several ways. Medicinal herbs, fresh and baked vegetables, and dairy products are used. Popular options:
- a cabbage leaf and a grated carrot cake are applied to the affected area of the udder. Vegetables eliminate pain, relieve swelling and eliminate inflammation;
- vodka compresses are used to combat abscesses;
- grated beets mixed with honey are applied to the cracks. Keep the mixture in the cold, and treatment continues for 14-20 days;
- A kind of ointment for the treatment of injuries, purulent inflammations, and swelling is made from lard. Dried calendula is added to the melted fat;
- A popular recipe is with baked onions. Milk and kombucha are added to the mashed onion pulp. The mixture of components is used in the form of a compress with antibacterial properties.
The advantage of traditional medicine recipes is the absence of harm to the animal’s body. But it must be borne in mind that infectious mastitis cannot be cured using these methods.
Possible danger
Individuals with chronic or purulent mastitis should not be left on the farm, since the disease can drag on for a long period. In this case, the infection will spread among healthy sheep.
It should also be taken into account that in case of recovery from infectious mastitis, the milk productivity of sheep is practically not restored.
We must not forget that during the period of treatment of sheep, milk should not be consumed, since it will contain not only an infection, but also antibiotics. This kind of milk cannot be given to lambs. Therefore, during the period of treatment, the cubs are not allowed near the uterus.
Preventive actions
First of all, prevention should be aimed at preventing the occurrence of diseases. Common measures:
- compliance with the standards of keeping and feeding animals, caring for them;
- for ewes, special boxes are fenced off, where there are places for newborn lambs;
- sick sheep must be isolated in separate rooms, which are regularly disinfected;
- maintaining milking hygiene.
Sick animals that cannot be treated are discarded. Also, ewes that have contracted mastitis several times during the lactation period should not be abandoned. To prevent severe forms of mastitis from developing, treatment begins when the first signs appear. The main goals of the prevention and treatment of mastitis are the creation of living conditions for animals aimed at increasing the body’s protective abilities. It is also important to eliminate the causes that contribute to the occurrence of infections. It is recommended to regularly examine ewes so as not to miss dangerous symptoms.
