Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 64, Issue 4, 15 April 1942, Page 263

Veterinary Notes for the Farmer

Blindness in Sheep (Ophthalmia)

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OUTBREAKS of blindness in sheep are seen from time to time, due to the formation of a grey film on the anterior surface of the eyeball. The disease may occur at any time of the year, but probably it is most frequently seen during the autumn months. Although dust from the roads or some other form of irritation of the eyes is probably the exciting cause of the trouble, it has been shown experimentally that the infection may be spread from an affected eye to the eye of . a sound sheep through the medium of the infected eye discharge. The disease may therefore spread rapidly through a flock unless suitable control measures are taken to deal .with the . original cases. . Probably,' flies are a factor in the spread of the infection from the affected to the healthy sheep. ' In the first place, it is necessary to examine all the sheep carefully in the affected paddock. All those showing any symptoms, even in the early stages, should' be segregated and removed from the non-affected sheep to a suitable level paddock for treatment. The symptoms to be looked for are discharge from the eyes, a reddening of the lining membranes of the eye known as conjunctivitis, and the various stages of film formation on the anterior surface of the eyeball. Any sheep showing these symptoms should be segregated and isolated from the sound, healthy sheep. A level paddock free from logs .and drains will be most suitable in order to prevent

losses from further injuries ' when ’.' dealing with partially or totally blind animals. -.-• - The treatment of affected sheep consist s of instilling into the eyes a few drops of a suitable eye lotion..- The sheep’s head should be held to one side, and a few drops of the . selected lotion placed on the surface of the eyeball. If only a ■ small number are to be treated, an eye dropper or foun-. tain pen filler may suit the purpose. If, however, a large number are affected, a small clean oil-can will be found very, serviceable. - Treatment of the affected eyes should be Carried out daily until the film clears up and .

the inflammation leaves the membranes of the eye. . ■ , A SUI a e lotion or thq eyes o s .® e p . may be Prepared by your emis , through tre use of six grains f ' t “ ph * e ° f zmc to loz. of distilled va e 1 * , e same ’ s reng , an eye 0 I ° n P, , nira e 0 S 1 ver may e P re ' erie ~ y soxn ® owners. per en /’, so u 10 \* - 0 igyro will also be ound very beneficial for treating the a . ec e eyes Occasionally, calves are found atfected, 'in which case the same treatmerit will be found to give satisfactory results. .

Ringworm in Cattle

ONE of the skin diseases frequently encountered among our domestic animals is that known as ringworm. Although the disease may attack man or any of the domestic animals, it is most commonly seen among cattle, the condition being most prevalent among young stock, such as calves and yearlings, and in cattle in poor condition. Ringworm is a contagious disease. Animals become infected by direct contact with others suffering from ' the disease or indirectly from contaminated shelters, bedding, or posts against

which infected animals have rubbed themselves. The spread among animals is gradual, but it is much more rapid if a number are confined in a single pen. ' . In affected animals patches Qf various sizes may make their • appearance on any part of the skin. The most common area for the lesions to develop is on the skin around the' eyes and ears, and similar patches are frequently seen on the skip f of , the . neck. The surface of the skin on these patches is greyish in colour, and ; presents. a dry, scaly, appearance? , The cause of ringworm is a variety of fungi which lodges round the hair roots, the hairs becoming brittle and breaking ■ off. ■ The irritation brought about by this parasite produces a thickened and wrinkled condition of the skin and affected areas.

Many remedies . are used .' in ; the treatment of ringworm, but before any of these are applied the skin, should be thoroughly washed' with warm water, soap, and washing soda, and the scabs scraped- off. This is done with the object of allowing the dressing to' come in contact with the causal organism. After removal of the scabs each patch should be dressed with tincture of iodine, applied with a stiff brush, making sure that every patch is thoroughly dressed; the treatment should be repeated twice further at intervals of five days. Immediately after handling animals affected with ringworm or dressing the skin the attendant should thoroughly wash and disinfect his hands, being careful that he does not touch any other part of his skin before this has been done; if this precaution is not carried out there is a considerable risk that he may contract the disease. z

Weights on Milking Cups.

F.S. (PAPAKURA):— Could you please advise me about using weights on the cups during ..the milking of tough cows or long milkers. I have been advised that this method ruins -the udders, but I have used this method for many' years now and know many others who do the same, and I have had no trouble. •' I might state that the cups are changed while still warm. When I first came to this position nearly half the herd of 40 cows were suffering severely from black pox and thank you for the advice from your “Journal”which we cleared most cases, in about five weeks, using the 3 per cent, solution of salycylic acid in glycerine. ANIMAL RESEARCH DIVISION:— The practice of using ’ weights - on the cups towards the end of milking is fairly common, especially in herds where stripping has been abandoned. There is no doubt that in some cows this causes milk to flow again after it has stopped. Providing the weights are not too heavy, they do not appear to cause any injury to the udder, but it is doubtful if the practice has much to commend it where stripping is being practised. 1 >

Husk or Hoose in Calves

rpHE symptoms of coughing ,in calves at this time of the year is almost always characteristic of the condition known as husk or hoose, or sometimes lungworm disease. In calves the coughing gradually becomes more marked towards the end of summer and during the autumn and early winter months. If the calves have been grazing, on low-lying pastures or. the season is a rainy one, many calves will show coughing symptoms. The well-developed cough is characteristic of worms in the bronchial tubes and lungs. The affected animals stand with the head outstretched, and during the attack of coughing the tongue frequently protrudes from the mouth. The coughing is due to the irritation set up by the worms in the lung tubes, and is really an attempt to dislodge the irritating offenders. A species of small, thread-like worm is the cause of the trouble. Calf

paddocks are liable to ' harbour the parasite, so that a change of paddock is one of the first essentials in treatment. Although many well-fed calves overcome the worm trouble through a change of pasture and some supplementary feeding, there is . a danger of a severe check in growth or even deaths if affected calves are neglected. A form of parasitic broncho-pneumonia may set in, which frequently proves fatal. The treatment of husk or lungworm in calves is not always easy, especially in badly-infested calves in poor condition. Many and varied treatments have ‘ been tried from time to time, including fumigation and inhalation of medicine.: Drenches containing active worm medicine have been given, and injections into the wind-pipe are sometimes given. It is a fatal mistake to depend, upon medicinal treatment in badly-infested calves. The location of

the worms makes it difficult to attack them in such a way as to cause their death and expulsion.. In the first place, the animal’s strength must be maintained and any loss of condition must be built up. Good feeding is therefore the first

mil — —'■« I II MB—KN—MN—MM—MM— MH- MW«— essential.. The affected animals, must be prevented from picking up more worms from the pastures and watering places, and a change' of pasture to a dry, well-drained area is essential. Supplementary feeding on ensilage, hay, or even crushed oats and linseed may be. necessary .for- very weak ani-

mals. Drenching with any of the recognised worm medicines should be resorted to in order to reduce the worms in the alimentary canal. In this way, the general health of the animal inbuilt up to the stage where it is enabled to throw off . the effects of the lungworm. Many owners try the inhalation of ether or chloroform vapour in addition to drenching, but the underlying principle of ; successful treatment'must include good feeding, and management of the affected or ; susceptible animals.

Answers to Correspondents

Discharge from Cow

A.M. (NORSEWGOD) : * On November 5 I had a cow (about fifth calver) calved. She had not been wintered too well, and I think she came in ' about a month before time. She did not clean properly. I inserted two antiseptic pessaries, but the biggest part of the cleanings came away. At different - times she passes a lot of custard-coloured material. A few days ago I noticed her discharging some lead-looking fluid, so I swabbed her out with some Stockholm tar, and when I was doing this she passed fully a cupful of this fluid. ,1 was rather surprised, ' because I thought it was time she had cleaned up. Could you tell me what is the cause of ..her. discharging . so much of this’ fluid? Of course, I have not allowed her to go to the bull, which I suppose is a wise thing. ■ ' \ . Could you please advise what is the best treatment to give her? She is in good milking condition and is milking well. What. I would particularly like to know is, would this discharge being - dropped about the paddocks be likely to cause abortion, and what is the cause of. her discharging, so much of this liquid? /'■ * -■' X LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— ' / Without having a blood sample from this' cow tested it is not possible to say whether the premature calving and retention of afterbirth were due to abortion infection . or, as you sus-t pect, to poor wintering. Undoubtedly,... poor wintering may often be responsible for retained afterbirth. In -any. case, the , abortion germs are not now likely to be present in the discharge, though they would be exceedingly numerous in the first week or two, ifthis were a case of infectious abortion,

and even now would be present elseL? ft ■ P where in/, the 'system,/for instance in the udder. The retention of afterbirth has led to secondary infection being set up within the uterus, the lining ’of which is probably chronically inflamed. You are'wise to keep her from breeding till the discharge has finally ceased. The trouble may ’ result in permanent sterility. ' Treatment which you yourself could carry out is not very satisfactory, but you would probably assist Nature by douching out, say, once a week with about a gallon of weak solution of one teaspoonful stock iodine and one level tablespoonful common salt to the gal-. lon of water, which should be as warm as you can comfortably bear the hand in, and by feeding well, and making a mineral lick available.

Udder Trouble in Cows “RAGWORT REX” (CAMBRIDGE):— I would be greatly obliged if you could advise me regarding a certain udder trouble among dairy cows. The symptoms are as follows: — The 'udder shows but little swelling or heat, but an opening comes in the front of the udder just at the point where the division meets the wall of the belly. It discharges an evil-smelling pus, apparently continuously, until the end of the season. When the cow is dry the “abscess” heals up. /*-- I notice that all my heifers come in with cow pox, but- this other trouble occurs only among,.the older cows, and any cow affected by it never gets a hard quarter ,or bad milk. ,It almost seems as if.the trouble gets out via the “abscess.”// LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— The affected part as described should be- .thoroughly cleaned and all hard scabs removed. The following powder should then be blown on to the wound at each milking,.,reducing the application to once daily .as the discharge lessens: , - 7 -, ? . Permanganate : of potash, 1 dram. Boracic acid, 2 ounces. Animal charcoal, 2 drams. - 'There is no connection whatsoever between the' incidence of this trouble and mammitis. ■ z ■ \ ■

Warts on Heifer

F.M. (MATAMATA):—

I am writing to see if you can advise me. We have a heifer (two years) whose head is a mass of warts, and one eye is so heavy the lid has closed. We - have been putting raw castor oil on regularly for two months, and it does not seem -to be, improving. Is there . any other treatment you would suggest?. The heifer ■is in very good condition.

LIVESTOCK DIVISION:

Warts, when numerous and affecting an animal as described, should not be interfered with in any way. Experience indicates that they will disappear of their own' accord after . a -variable period of time. >; If the ' eyelids are closed 'to the . extent that the ordinary “tedrs” cannot freely escape and any signs of - inflammation are present, the eyelids should ,be opened and the eye gently syringed (use a rubber syringe) twice daily with a warm solution of salt and water . (one teaspoonful of salt to / one pint. of water). If this should not be sufficient to keep the eye in a healthy . . condition, . a little yellow oxide of mercury ointment may be placed in the eye each evening.

"Trembles" in Pigs.

E.M. (NORTH AUCKLAND): Could you advise as to cause and treatment of pigs four weeks old, not yet drinking; staggering about as though unable to see, jumping up in the air when one tries to catch 'them, and later dying. The pigs have good sleeping quarters, and are not penned, being on free range all the time. LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— The ' condition affecting your piglets is known as “trembles.” The exact

cause of this condition is hot known, and although there is a tendency to ascribe it to some hereditary factor, this' is by no means established. Cases are recorded where sows having affected litter were again bred to the same boar and produced normal litters. It is absolutely essential to the production of healthy piglets that the sow receives an ample, well-balanced diet during pregnancy. ' <

Infection of Pigs. EP.C. (KUMEU):— ,Could- you please explain to me the reason for the following symptoms. Pigs, three to' four months old, well done, go off feed and start panting. The panting continues, and the pigs become pot-bellied, thin, and . eventually die. There is no cough or cold. It looks like, congestion of some form to me. ■ ■ •'’ \■’ - . -./ ; .My lay-out is new, the up-to-date houses are draught-proof, and the pad-; docks are clean, fresh rye and clover. LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— < ' ? The symptoms . shown by your pigs may result from either of two infections, namely, (1) bacillus suipestifer, (2) pasteurellosis. .

' (1) Is essentially ‘ a dirt disease, and where hygienic conditions are ' poor may ; cause. a heavy ’ mortality. ' Occasionally, it may appear where pigs are ■ kept under good and clean conditions, but here, however, the deaths are few in number. (2) Is sometimes called infectious pneumonia. The cause is an, organism which becomes active mainly as the result of some sudden lowering of vitality, such as may result from exposure at sales, transport, irregular feeding, and changes of diet. \ Consequently, this disease is' more likely to appear ten- to fourteen days following the introduction of new pigs: To determine which, infection is present, specimens of lungs, liver/.', and kidney should be sent for /examination to the Superintendent, Animal Research Station, Wallaceville, Wellington, a covering letter being sent at the same time. .■■ Affected pigs should be separated from the rest so that they will be undisturbed, provided with bedding, , and allowed a diet of whole-milk, molasses, and lime water. It is advisable, also, to remove the apparently healthy pigs to a clean, run. . ; '/'■>'■'

-Illi—Hit—— ttM— UH—Hill —llli— niI—UM—HM—HM—MO—.IN—H 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.