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Vet Voice - Toxic mastitis: Saving cows takes time
STOCK VETS VOICE
A healthy cow drinks up to 50l/session, and sick cows also need hydration, but how do you make them drink? Make sure you have an oral fluid pump and have been trained how to use it.
Toxic mastitis – saving cows takes time
Be prepared to act quickly and give focused attention to sick cows, advises Lisa Whitfield.
Most people who have owned mastitis causing her illness you need to cattle will have seen a cow make a decision – do I have the time sick with toxic mastitis. available over the next few days to treat This is the cow which is sad, this cow properly? If the answer is no, then slow and “moribund”, with one or more ending her suffering immediately is the quarters severely affected by clinical humane choice. mastitis. What is proper treatment and
If you are lucky, you will how much time does it take? find them before they are Toxic mastitis cases are down cows – look out for the usually caused by one of two cow that is not maintaining common bacteria – E coli or her position in the herd, Staph aureus. Other mastitisparticularly when they are being causing bacteria can cause a cow shifted. Lisa Whitfield to become sick, but the profoundly
Many toxic mastitis cows are sick cows are usually either of the already down when they are first noticed. above mentioned two. Leaving these cows to see if they survive is Differentiating the two bacteria by not an option. Get some help – call your looking at the cow is challenging – they vet! often present with the same clinical
As soon as you know that it is toxic symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Severe dehydration, elevated or depressed temperature, off feed and off milk – all of these are common symptoms with either bacteria.
When it comes down to it, when you first discover that it is mastitis that is causing the cow to be gravely sick, it
doesn’t actually matter which bacteria is causing it. It is, however, useful in helping make a decision about whether to persevere with therapy or not – Staph aureus is much harder to cure, is able to be spread to other cows, and in the particular case of black mastitis, animal welfare should be thoughtfully considered.
An aseptically collected milk sample should be cultured to identify the causative bacteria.
In order to save a toxic mastitis cow, the symptoms she is presenting with need to be addressed rapidly.
SEVERE DEHYDRATION Severe dehydration usually results in a cow having sunken eyes. Toxic mastitis causes profound dehydration, which is ongoing over a number of days.
Therefore addressing dehydration is not just a one-off task but should be performed as often as required. In my experience this is often two or three times in the first 24 hours, then one or two times a day until the cow is back to health – often three days later.
Addressing profound dehydration does not just mean keeping a bucket of water with the cow.
Most cows do not want to drink. Instead we must administer fluids to her, which in cattle is done most easily using a stomach pump. Every dairy farm should have this lifesaving piece of equipment on hand and have training in how to use it properly.
The volume of fluids required depends on the size of the cow and the level of dehydration – for a 350kg Jersey cow you would expect to administer 30 litres per session. For a 700kg Friesian cow it is likely to be 45 to 50l each time she is being hydrated.
Additives to oral fluids should include quality adult cow electrolytes (not calf electrolytes) and may include a daily dose of calcium and magnesium, and propylene glycol.
HIGH OR LOW TEMPERATURE A cow with a fever will usually not feel like eating, so addressing fever is important in order for a cow to feel like feeding.
Use non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to bring down a fever, and remember that the toxemia will often last for a few days so more than one dose may be required.
Low body temperature is addressed with a cow cover or blanket, hay to eat, shelter and warm fluids.
OFF FEED First address any underlying fever and ensure dehydration is fully addressed over the course of the illness. Provide whatever good quality feed she will eat, bearing in mind not to overdo it on concentrates.
Consider how much a cow needs to eat in order to maintain herself and her lactation – few cows will meet this while they are toxic, but if fever and dehydration are fully addressed a cow will be feeling as good as she can and is more likely to want to eat in the first place.
ANTIBIOTICS There is a lot of controversy around antibiotics use and which one to use in these cases.
Needless to say, your veterinarian will provide you with what they feel is the best drug for the job. Veterinarians are advised to review the literature if they wish to gain further insight into this subject.
LIFTING Having addressed dehydration and fever first, a toxic cow may need to be supported to stand. This is likely to be required more often than just once.
Toxic cows that are down may need to be lifted twice or more per day; however, an assessment should be made to see whether she is even capable of this to start with.
For a cow that can stand, the longer she can stand on her own the less chance of her experiencing secondary problems from being down for too long.
With a cow that is unable to stand despite all efforts being made to address her symptoms, consideration should be given to her welfare.
TIME COMMITMENT Considering all of the above requirements in therapy, you need to be prepared to spend at least 30 minutes, twice a day, caring for a toxic mastitis cow.
Your time budget is tight at certain times
Sunken eyes in an adult cow usually indicates severe dehydration.
Essential equipment includes an oral fluid pump, and good quality adult cow electrolytes.
of the year, so if you cannot see yourself managing this, seriously consider the cow’s welfare.
Your vet may have a technician available who can help take some of the ongoing treatment burden off you – it doesn’t hurt to enquire about this option.
• Lisa Whitfield – Production Animal Veterinarian, Palmerston North.
