How to treat demodicosis in cattle
Bovine demodicosis is a skin disease that occurs due to the attacks of the demodex mite. Demodectic mange in cows can affect the entire skin if not treated. With an advanced stage of the disease, several thousand parasites can be on the body of an animal. They multiply and attack the sebaceous glands. The full tick cycle lasts about 30 days, during which time it goes through all stages from an egg to a nymph.
Demodectic cattle
Basically, a tick that infects the skin settles on the back or shoulder blades of the cow. Cattle can contract this disease at any time of the year, but it mostly happens in the summer. Also, demodicosis most often attacks young individuals, since they still have poorly developed immunity, which cannot withstand parasitic ticks. You can see how rashes look in case of demodicosis in cows in a photo or video.
Infection of cows with demodicosis
A tick can enter the animal world every day if there are sick individuals in the herd. In cattle, infection occurs through relatives, this is the most common option. If there is at least one infected individual in the herd, the disease will cover the entire population. Also, infection can occur through farmers' clothing and equipment. After working with an infected individual, clothes should be disinfected, since even not very close contact with a healthy animal can infect a cow.
Work equipment, feeder and bedding should be regularly cleaned and changed. The entire room should be disinfected, since demodex parasites can be found on any objects. If there is at least one infected individual in the herd, it must be quarantined for a while and kept in another stall. Demodecosis spoils the skin of cows, the disease needs to be treated in the early stages.
Symptoms of demodicosis in cows
- Small bumps appear on the skin of the animal.
- Hair may fall out at the site of the Demodex tick bite.
- If you press on such a tubercle, a whitish liquid will begin to stand out from under the skin.
Sometimes the symptoms of demodicosis can be different, for example, redness of the skin, but they mainly occur in pigs and other animals. It is recommended that the herd be inspected daily for any changes. If even minor signs of illness are found, you need to invite a veterinarian for further examination. A specialist will conduct tests and take analyzes from the cattle. Self-medication is not worth it, since you need to make sure that this is exactly demodicosis. Even if you have already treated your herd for a similar disease, you should not use the same drugs to treat other individuals. Each animal has an individual organism and what suits one may not suit others.
Treatment of demodicosis in cattle
Demodectic mange in cows and its treatment should be carried out at the first symptoms of the disease. If treated before the disease has spread throughout the body, a rash from parasite mites will not be able to attack the entire skin of the animal. Some farmers try to soften rough skin breakouts with warm soapy water and creolin.It is necessary to rub the problem areas of the skin with mite bumps with soapy water.
A day after applying the soap solution, the same places must be treated with a solution of ash lye. If the lesions on the skin are quite dense and cannot be softened in any way, a body brush should be used. Basically, processing is carried out throughout the month with an interval of 4 days. After working with an animal diagnosed with demodicosis, work clothes should be disinfected. All manipulations with animals must be done with gloves.
After applying the medicinal solution, the cow should be monitored so that she does not lick the medication.
Comprehensive treatment
Treatment must be carried out only in a complex. Your veterinarian may prescribe a drug such as ivermectin. It is administered subcutaneously according to the prescribed dose. The dosage is prescribed by the veterinarian based on the weight of the cow and the stage of demodicosis. The veterinarian may additionally prescribe a suspension of sevin to the main drugs. At the initial stages of infection, Akrodex aerosol is most often prescribed. With this aerosol, the skin affected by demodex is treated, and the disease passes. In addition to the main treatment, drugs are also prescribed to strengthen the immune system and the general condition of cattle.
Sometimes a specialist will prescribe a course of vitamins or supplements. To prevent the animals from getting sick, it is necessary to draw up a balanced diet. Also, you should not feed cows with bad or spoiled feed, not only the cow's body suffers from this, but also the immunity. You should make it a rule to inspect the herd every day, as well as monitor changes in behavior and mood of the cows. Many diseases are manifested at the initial stage precisely by a change in mood or a decrease in milk yield. If you properly care for cattle, problems in keeping such animals should not arise.