Diseased or Injured Cattle Management
Written protocols should be in place and reviewed annually with your veterinarian and employees to ensure that certain procedures are carried out appropriately.
Goal:
To provide treatment to assist the recovery of animals suffering from disease or injury
How to assess:
Review the diseased animal protocol to confirm that the following information is included and that appropriate criteria are being met:
National Dairy FARM Program
- Identify prognosis of disease
- Segregate sick/injured animal and provide prompt medical care
- Provide access to clean water and food at all time
- Written identification and treatment protocols must be available for common diseases, including:
- Mastitis
- Evaluate milk from each quarter
- If only flakes are present, treatment may not be necessary
- If temperature is over 101.5°F, milk is abnormal, and/or the quarter is hard, antibiotic therapy and other treatment may be necessary, as recommended by VOR
- Evaluate milk from each quarter
- Metritis
- Routinely monitor fresh cows for foul-smelling, watery vaginal discharge with systemic signs of being ill, with or without a fever, up to 10 days post-calving
- Treat with antibiotic prescribed by VOR
- Voluntary waiting period before attempting to breed
- Milk fever
- Identify if the cow is non-ambulatory, up but unsteady, or abnormally lethargic, typically soon after calving
- Treat with VOR-recommended product labeled for hypocalcemia treatment
- Ketosis
- Identify if early-lactation cow is showing signs of weight loss, depression, reduced feed intake, slight dehydration, and reduced rumen function
- Determine ketone body level through urine, milk, or blood test
- If levels are elevated, follow VOR-prescribed treatment to reestablish glycemic balance and reduces ketone body concentrations (e.g. dextrose solution, propylene glycol)
- Displaced abomasum
- Identify if the cow has a lack of appetite, decreased milk production, and decrease in rumen motility that leads to pinging when the abdomen is pinged
- Treatment protocol will be determined by trained employee or VOR:
- Rolling the cow 180 degrees or,
- Surgery
- Pneumonia
- Identify if the cow has increased respiratory rate, fever, and potential decreased appetite
- Treat with VOR-prescribed antibiotics
- Infectious diarrhea
- Identify if cow/calf has abnormal manure, reduced appetite, and dehydration
- Treat with appropriate electrolytes, buffers, and, if needed, VOR-prescribed antibiotics
- Retained placenta
- Identify if placenta has not been expelled from cow after calving
- VOR or trained employee will palpate reproductive tract to encourage expulsion of placenta
- Hormone therapy may also be used in addition to VOR-prescribed antibiotic use to reduce the risk of infection
- Dystocia
- Administer local anesthesia, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and/or sedatives, as recommended by VOR
- If a cow has had a difficult calving that may have required assistance, seek the advice of the VOR for further treatment recommendations
- Mastitis
- Protocols for pain management in all age classes should be available
- Post-treatment monitor animals to determine recovery or if additional treatment is required
- Record all treatments in individual animal treatment records