Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 62, Issue 5, 15 May 1941, Page 347

Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

I' - Discussions on First-Aid Measures j : • - \ ' ___ ■ ' ■ E

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Coughing In Animals (Horses)

WHEN considering the significance of coughing in animals it is necessary to deal with each class of animal separately to obtain a true picture of the possible cause of the complaint. Coughing is a symptom which may affect all animals at one stage or other. .It may be taken as evidence of worms in young animals, or as evidence of more serious diseased conditions in older animals. Its true value as an indication of the possible existence of disease in an animal must be gauged when the general appearance and condition of the affected animal is taken into full consideration.

Coughing in the horse may be taken as evidence of some irritation in the throat, windpipe, or chest cavity. In cases of strangles or influenza in horses, coughing is frequently an early symptom. The coughing in the early stages is frequently due to inflammation of the larynx, and is known as laryngitis, or sore throat. There is considerable difficulty in' swallowing, and fluid may be returned through the nostrils. Frequently, there is some discharge from one or both nostrils. The discharge is thin and watery at first, but later becomes thick and purulent.

Treatment

If the irritation is confined to the throat, local treatment may be all that is required, but if , the .animal is affected with influenza or strangles, there is a general systemic upset and' careful feeding and nursing will be necessary in addition to any local treatment decided upon. In influenza and strangles the affected animal will be completely off its feed. The temperature will be raised, and all the mucous membranes will be reddened and congested. Influenza is sometimes described as . pink-eye because of the

injected appearance of the eye membranes. If strangles is developing there is tenderness and swelling of the glands under the jaw and in the region of the throat. The discharge from the nose is marked in the case of strangles, and, later, abscesses form under the jaw. In cases of influenza, swelling of the legs below the knee and hock frequently takes place, or even swellings on parts of the body, . particularly about the sheath or along, the abdomen. With this description of symptoms it should be possible to decide the type of disease one is dealing with, even though the first and main symptom started as a cough.

If satisfied that a simple pharyngitis or laryngitis exists, the treatment will consist mainly of local treatment to the throat and head. The best form of treatment will depend on the circumstances. The rubbing in of some embrocation to the throat and glands may be considered, or the application of antiphlogistic poultices, together with the. administration of some cough medicine. Potassium chlorate made up into an electuary, or powder, with molasses is frequently used, the electuary being placed on the back of the tongue at regular intervals. On the other hand, loz. of potassium chlorate may be dissolved in the pail of drinking water.

Veterinary Aid In all instances where strangles or influenza appear to be developing it is advisable to obtain the assistance of the veterinary surgeon. In these cases it will be necessary, in addition to local treatment, to maintain the 'strength of the animal by providing cover and shelter, together with sloppy, easily swallowed and easily digested food. Tonics and stimulants may be necessary, as well as surgical measures to deal with the abscesses in strangles cases. Isolation of the affected animal from all other horses on the farm is most important, as both influenza and strangles are highly contagious. In the absence of veterinary assistance good nursing and feeding are the main essentials. Bran mashes or oaten meal drinks are frequently relished by sick horses. The addition of , a tablespoonful of salt may induce thirst so , that fluid : or semi-solid foods may be taken more readily. ' Soft green feed may be relished when oats or chaff would be refused. Boiled carrots or swedes may form the basis of a mash for sick, horses.

The drenching of medicine or even foodstuffs, such as milk and eggs or gruel, should not be undertaken ’ in any case of throat or lung, troubles except under veterinary supervision. It may do, and frequently does, more harm than good. Forced feeding in such cases is frequently overdone in an endeavour' to maintain the strength of the affected animal. Strict Cleanliness All food not consumed .at one meal should be removed, and strict cleanliness over the feeding should be maintained. All discharges should be frequently cleaned up and removed. If the affected horse is out in the open, shelter from prevailing winds, together .with suitable covering, is necessary; otherwise a good loose box with plenty of fresh air should be provided. The fresh air treatment is important in all cases of throat trouble, where there is a possibility of complications affecting the lungs. . It must be remembered that coughing, is frequently seen in horses affected with the well-known condition of

broken wind. This is a chronic condition which gradually develops in some animals, and is due to a breakdown in' the elastic texture of the lung itself. The condition is characterised by “heaves,” or a, double flank action. The disease is chronic, and should be easily distinguished from that of any of the previously described diseases. Frequently, affected horses on grass do not' cough much and do not show any symptoms, but when these animals are put on to dry feed, such as chaff, the coughing and the flank action are much increased. The coughing becomes more marked when the animal is put to work. There is no cure for this condition. The symptoms may ; be alleviated by avoiding all dusty chaff'and by spraying even good chaff with molasses in water. If possible,, green' feed should form part of the daily ration for affected horses. No. treatment can be recommended, for the condition. , (To be continued.),

Results of Long-term Pion To Eliminate Contagious Abortion from a Herd

THAT infection of a herd by contagious abortion (bacillus Bang) plays a large part in the causation of intractable forms of breeding trouble, as distinct from delayed conception, is evident when the disease processes set up and the mechanism of fertilisation and nutrition of the embryo are considered. Furthermore, experience bears out this contention. Farmers interested in this matter would do well to make, .themselves familiar with the details ( of the above-mentioned facts if only as a protection from “quacks” bent on selling alleged cures for a condition which to date is incurable in the individual animal and only allows of control in or elimination from a herd. The known facts and the most satisfactory methods of control are described in a pamphlet issued; by the Department of Agriculture, from which any further advice, is obtainable. The experiences of an owner who set out some years ago to bring the condition under control are of interest. The object in this case was the elimination of infection over a period of years.

In 1930 blood tests were taken of all cows and in-calf heifers to ' determine the state of infection. The farm was divided, and part of the area was reserved for the clean animals and the remainder for the infected ones. z The shed and holding yards- were divided in half, and a separate' water supply provided for each side. Blood tests of clean cows and heifers have' been carried out since then, at first once yearly, but during the last six years twice a year. It was realised that this entailed a very high degree of watchfulness on the part of the management, and a better method would have been the retention of the unaffected cows on one farm and the reactors on another, but this was not possible.

Negative equals unaffected with contagious abortion. Positive equals affected with contagious abortion. With regard to the occasional slip on the clean side, no difficulty is experienced in getting these animals into calf again, while' on the infected side great trouble is experienced in this matter and some are permanently sterile.

Answers to Correspondents

Trouble with Animals “MAPUA” (NELSON):— Please oblige by answering the following questions through the “Journal.” . - . (1) Where can the 5 lb. bags cobalt salt mixture be obtained? They were mentioned in an article on “Licks” last year. ' * (2) How can . cracks be repaired in old concrete tanks, dip, etc.?

The difficulties involved are well illustrated by ' the following: — Of 16 heifers tested.in 1934, 9 reacted and 7 were negative. i Of 15 heifers tested in 1939, 1 reacted and 14 were negative. One of the heifers on the clean side slipped, but was left because at the next blood test following immediately on the slip she was returned as negative. ' There may be a latent period between the actual abortion and the time at which a reaction is shown by the blood, and if the heifer had been retested within a month or so, not much harm would have been done; unfortunately she was left to the next general- test seven or eight ' months later. The result was: Of 15 heifers tested in 1940, 5 , reacted;. Another difficulty was to prevent infection when the clean animals resumed a part of the farm grazed by the • affected animals as these fell off in. numbers. Whatever the difficulties, the beneficial results on the breeding, efficiency of the herd are undoubted. Figures taken at the start of the scheme and at intervening times later show: —

(3) For a self-sucking cow, are rings in nose effective? I think three are used. (4) Relates to a horse belonging to a neighbour which suffers with a skin complaint. When not working for some time he shows no sign of it, but after

two hours’ work in the collar, directly he gets a bit hot, little lumps come up around the shoulder and spread along the neck and back, and if he can get a tree to rub on, he does so until he makes himself very sore.

LIVESTOCK DIVISION:—

(1) Cobaltised salt is obtainable from offices of Department of Agriculture at Wellington (District Office), Gisborne, Hastings, Hamilton (Ruakura), New Plymouth, Masterton, and Wairoa, at 2s per 5 lb. bag and Is postage, cash with order.

(2) Repairing of cracks in old concrete tanks or dips may be difficult. It is suggested that if the interior surfaces be chipped with a shorthandled pick or cold chisel for, say,

2 feet on each side of the crack and well clear of ends, and the surface well wetted and plastered with a good strong cement plaster, the leak may be checked. (3) Rings in the nose' are usually effective in checking self-sucking in the cow; use a good-sized bull ring in the nose and two more the same size or a little larger attached to it, one below the other. Another device is a halter with 3 inch spikes projecting through the nose band, which should be fairly broad. (4) The condition in the horse may be a form of nettlerash. You might try thorough washing of the shoulder area with soap and water, followed by white lotion sufficiently long before horse is first worked after a spell to allow skin to dry. Repeat the white lotion after each working period. It is made by dissolving lead acetate 1 part, zinc sulphate t part, and water 20 to 30 parts.

Trimming Cow's Feet

“JOE” (MURCHISON):— Would you please advise me either by post or through the “Journal” if I can cut a cow’s hooves in the same way as one would do a horse? One of my animals has grown very long hooves which overlap and have the general effect of causing the cow to hobble about. They also form a trap to germs, as this cow contracted footrot last season, and, now that she is

cured, I am anxious that the trouble should not recur. LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— The long hooves may be shortened in the same manner as a horse’s foot by using a pair of blacksmith’s cutters and then finishing off with a rasp. It is advisable to , rest the foot on a block of wood when shortening the toes, and care should be taken that only the extra growth of horn is removed.

Litters Born Dead

A.L.B. (HAWERA):— I would be much obliged if . you would give me the necessary information through the “Journal” concerning my sows. They have been running on a 10-acre grass paddock and have farrowed within the last month, and half, sometimes the whole of the litter, have been born dead. The sows were in good condition and apparently healthy. One had 11 pigs, five of which were dead; another had seven, all of which were dead, and the latest sow to farrow had 11, five dead. If

you could advise me any way on this matter I would be very gratified. LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— There is no doubt that the great majority of such cases with some or all of the farrow born dead is due to defective feeding of the sow before farrowing. This period includes the total period from weaning previous litter. A recent experiment quoted by Doyle, Veterinarian at Indiana Agricultural Experimental Station, showed that where sows were fed a good quality animal protein during gestation, the deaths within first week were 11 per cent.; when only grain and minerals were fed it was 44 per cent. One has seen similar occurrences where pregnant sows had run on dry pasture during pregnancy. In a few instances the mortality may be due to mineral deficiency alone—usually deficiency of phosphate. In your case you say sows were on pasture. This in itself is not sufficient to supply the complete requirements of the sow: while she has to provide for the . needs of the unborn litter. Towards the end of pregnancy these are heavy and diverse. <

The feeding of pregnant sows was well dealt with in an article by C. E. Ballinger, Research Officer, in Animal Nutrition in this “Journal” for May, 1940, which is well worth your study. The indication there was that good feeding during the first six weeks of pregnancy was probably the most satisfactory and economical method. It would, of course, be a mistake to bring the sow in just a week before farrowing and stuff her with concentrates, as this would do more harm than good. I should suggest that in future you adopt a system of feeding the sows with concentrate after weaning until they regain condition. What quantities of concentrate are fed and how long during pregnancy the feeding. is continued would depend on the amount of pasture or other food available. The concentrate should undoubtedly include a good percentage of meatmeal. A protein (meat-meal) supplement would also be very necessary where winter'farrowing sows had roots as a main part of their pre-farrowing ■feed.

Advisory Service on Veterinary Matters.

Farmers are invited to submit inquiries connected with the health of their stock, and the replies will be published under this heading.

1930 of J 24 negative cows, 2 were carried over empty, No cows slipped. carried over, empty, No cows slipped. |41 positive „ 7 „ „ 7 „ „ » 6 „ » „ 6 „ 1934 of j27 negative cows, 2 „ cows, 2 „ i ,, r „ „ •• 1 (39 positive „ 7 . „ „ 7 „ 1 >, : „ 5 „ „ ,, „ 5 1940 of J33 negative cows, None ,, cows, None ,, „ ■ ' 1 ■ „ „ „ 1 (24 positive „ 9 „ „ 9 » » „ 7 „ .. „ ' „ » » 7