FAQ ON FARM ANIMAL PRACTICES
MISCELLANEOUS
Q.1 :
There is serious problem of ticks in our animals. How to control it.
A :
Apply Butox/Taktic/Cypermethrin @ 3ml/liter of water over the body of affected animals. The same solution should be sprayed in the animal premises. Avoid spraying the medicine in mangers. Animal should not lick the medicine during application.
Q.2 :
There is problem of blood in milk recently after parturition. What is the treatment for it ?
A :
Some time it is physiological and automatically resolves within few days. Milk sample can also be sent to the mastitis lab. In the department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine for cultural sensitivity examination.
Q.3 :
My buffalo is suffering from diarrhea from last two months. Initially diarrhea was intermittent. Milk yield and appetite is normal.
A :
Get the dung sample tested for worms and a disease known as “Johne’s disease”. If the report shows Johne’s disease, isolate the animal so that feeding and watering of the animals is not with other animals.
Q.4 :
There is problem of diarrhea in calves at our farm. What should be done to control/minimize it ?
A :
New born calf should be fed first milk “colostrum” within 6-12 hour after birth @ 10% of the body weight of the calf. Calves should be kept in comfortable environment. Clean the calf shed daily with Chlorasol disinfectant or any other suitable disinfectant. Diarrheic calves should be kept separate from healthy calves. Diarrheic calves should be treated with parenteral/oral fluids, antibiotics, herbal antidiarrheals under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Q.5 :
Milk yield of the cow has been reduced for the past few days. How to increase it?
A :
First of all send the milk sample to Vety Hospital for diagnosis of infection in the udder. After that deworm the animal with broad spectrum dewormers like albendazole, fenbendazole, ivermectin to make the animal free from endoparasites in consultation with the Veterinarian. Provide good quality feed including green fodder, concentrate and mineral mixture as per the milk yield of the animal.
VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY
Q.1 :
What should be done if an animal has consumed a poisonous substance?
A :
If an animal is suspected of consuming something poisonous, local veterinarian should be contacted/consulted immediately. Samples can be submitted in the lab by qualified veterinarians only.
Q.2 :
Which are the potentially harmful substances that can poison the animals?
A :
Medicines including pain killers, cold and flu preparations and antidepressants.
Insecticides such as flea and tick preparations and insect baits. Some species of animals can be particularly sensitive to certain types of insecticides, so it is vital to follow label instructions exactly.
Common household cleaners such as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants that may cause gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the skin, eyes or respiratory tract.
Q.3 :
What information should be collected while investigating a toxicity case?
A :
During toxicological investigations, the following information can be of utmost help:
The number of animals in a herd/group that may have been exposed.
The number of animals exhibiting toxicity symptoms or lethality.
The species/breed of affected animals along with their age, sex and pregnancy status.
The clinical signs exhibited by the animals viz. body temperature, color of stool, blood and urine, physical condition and neurological symptoms.
History of feeding patterns of the animal along with any previous ailments.
Circumstantial evidence should also be obtained for ruling out any malicious causes of poisoning.
Q.4 :
What are the symptoms/signs of nitrate toxicity in cattle?
A :
In acute nitrate poisoning, the cattle are often observed to be normal one day and dead the next day. This occurs within 30 minutes to 4 hours of ingestion of plants high in nitrates. Initial signs include salivation followed by frequent urination. These are followed by difficult breathing, increased respiratory rate and dark brown or “chocolate” colored blood and mucous membranes. The animals become weak and reluctant to move and may exhibit convulsions before death. Exposed pregnant cattle usually abort soon after recovering.
Q.5 :
What are the main causes of nitrate toxicosis?
A :
The most important cause of nitrate/nitrite toxicity is the presence of high levels of nitrates (or nitrites) in the feed or water. These compounds are converted to nitrites in the rumen of cattle, which are absorbed across the rumen wall into the blood stream. The nitrite in blood reacts with hemoglobin to form a compound, methemoglobin, which lacks the oxygen-carrying capacity. Thus, the animal dies because of oxygen deficit to the vital organs of the body.
Q.6 :
Where do the nitrates come from?
A :
Nitrates are concentrated in water sources from fertilizer run-offs, decaying organic matter, animal wastes or other sources of nitrogen. The nitrates are generally higher after periods of excess runoff after fertilization or after heavy rainfalls. Occasionally, deep, drilled wells can have high levels of nitrates. In addition, certain weeds such as Johnson grass and nightshade are also high in nitrates. Almost any crop can have high nitrate levels however, Sudan grass hay and oat hay are more likely to have levels of nitrates that are potentially toxic.
Q.7 :
When is the nitrate toxicity suspected?
A :
Nitrate toxicity problem should be suspected in cases of acute animal death after a recent change in feeding practices (oat hay, Sudan grass hay, etc), change in water supply, moving from one field to another, etc. However, differential diagnosis should be done ruling out other common causes of acute death in cattle, such as red water disease, anaplasmosis and other toxicities. For confirmation of nitrate toxicity, rumen samples, feed samples as well as water samples are routinely analyzed.
Q.8 :
What is the treatment of nitrate toxicity?
A :
The animal should be provided veterinary aid immediately. The antidote for nitrate toxicity is methylene blue, a chemical that restores the hemoglobin content of blood. However, the efficacy of this antidote is higher if administered in the early stages of toxicosis. The survival rate is indirectly proportional to the time spent in seeking veterinary aid.
Q.9 :
How can nitrate toxicity be prevented?
A :
Under normal circumstance, animals usually do not consume weeds high in nitrate content. These weeds are taken up by animals only during periods of drought or due to lack of quality forage. Therefore, thorough testing of feed and water is essential in drought and high-risk areas. In addition, animals should be exposed to these forages gradually over a period of time.
Q.10 :
What are the main routes of exposure to pesticides in animals?
A :
Animals can be exposed to pesticides either by absorption through the skin or eyes (dermally), through the mouth (orally) or through the lungs (inhalation).
Q.11 :
Which are the most commonly used insecticides?
A :
Pesticide poisoning cases usually involve either organophosphate or carbamate insecticides. Some commonly used organophosphate and carbamate insecticides are enlisted below: Organophosphates Carbamates Malathion Sevin Parathion Carbaryl Chlorpyrifos Carbofuran Monocrotophos Triazophos Fenamiphos
Q.12 :
What are some common signs associated with organophosphate or carbamate insecticide poisoning?
A :
Mild exposures:
fatigue, dizziness, loss of appetite, diarrhea
blurred vision associated with excessive lacrimation
contracted eye pupils
excessive sweating and salivation
slow heart beat (< 50 per minute)
rippling of surface muscles just under the skin.
Moderately severe: all the signs found in mild poisonings, but in addition, the animal:
is unable to walk;
exhibits marked constriction of the pupils (pinpoint pupils);
exhibits muscle twitching;
has involuntary urination and bowel movement.
Severe poisonings are indicated by incontinence, unconsciousness and seizures. The order in which these symptoms appear may vary, depending on how contact is made with the insecticide. If the product is swallowed, stomach and other abdominal manifestations commonly appear first; if it is absorbed through the skin, gastric and respiratory symptoms tend to appear at the same time.
Q.13 :
Which pyrethroid insecticides are commonly used in agriculture and Veterinary Practices?
A :
Some of the commonly used pyrethroid insecticides are:
Allethrin Cyfluthrin
Cypermethrin Deltamethrin
Esfenvalerate Fenvalerate
Flucythrinate Fluvalinate
Permethrin Resmethrin
Tetramethrin Tralomethrin
Q.14 :
What should be done in a suspected case of pesticide poisoning in animals?
A :
A veterinarian should be immediately consulted and the following information should be made available:
Trade name of the pesticide ingested/inhaled.
Estimated amount of toxin ingested.
Time lapsed since the ingestion of poison
Signs of toxicity produced – vomition, salivation, convulsions etc.
Gross observations – such as color of gums, respiratory rate, heart rate, body temperature.
Q.15 :
What is the need to mix whole blood tubes or separate the serum immediately after collection?
A :
The EDTA or heparin added in whole blood tubes to prevent blood clotting does not automatically blend with the blood, so unmixed samples will still clot. During cold weather or if packed in ice, clots in serum tubes will hemolyze, thus altering test results.
Q.16 :
Which are the plants that are toxic to animals and shouldn’t be kept around the house?
A :
The common plants which are poisonous to animals are:
Lantana
Oleander/ Kaner
Lilies
Castor Bean
Marijuana
Kalanchoe
Sago Palm
Amaryllis
Tulip
Datura
Azalea/ Rhododendron
Chrysanthemum
Q.17 :
What are the most common food hazards for the pets?
A :
The following foods should never be given to pet animals:
Alcoholic beverages
Chocolate (all forms)
Coffee (all forms)
Fatty foods
Nuts, Moldy or spoiled foods
Onions, onion powder
Raisins and grapes
Salt, Yeast dough, Garlic
Products sweetened with xylitol
Reference-On Request
