Cattle Diseases

Cattle Diseases

Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre

This section is under construction. Some diseases have been completed.

Diseases of Cattle

Here we describe various cattle diseases (ox diseases, bovine diseases), with reference to acupuncture, herbal treatment, homeopathic treatment, chiropractic manipulation etc., where appropriate. This section also applies to buffalo diseases.

We invite and accept referrals for complementary and alternative medicine treatments and farm programmes.

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Acetonaemia Actinobacillosis Actinomycosis Arthritis Back & Neck Problems

Big Bale Eye Bloat Blood in Milk Bovine Mastitis Bluetongue

Brucellosis BSE BVD Calf Diphtheria Calf Pneumonia

Calf Scour Calving Problems Cow Mastitis Diarrhoea Digital Dermatitis

Dystocia Foot & Mouth - FMD Foot Rot Foul-in-the-Foot Heel Dermatitis

IBR Infertility Johne’s Disease Joint ill Keratoconjunctivitis

Ketosis Lameness Laminitis Listeriosis Low

Luer Lumpy Jaw Lungworm Mastitis in Cows Metritis

Milk Let-Down Navel Ill New Forest Eye Pneumonia Prolapse

Ringworm Rotavirus Scour Septic Arthritis Silage Eye

Traumatic Reticulitis Tuberculosis - T.B. Warts Wooden Tongue

ACTINOBACILLOSIS

See 'Wooden Tongue'.

ACTINOMYCOSIS

See 'Lumpy Jaw'.

ARTHRITIS

Arthritis is inflammation of a joint or joints. It can result from injury to or strain of a joint. If there is bacterial infection involved, it is known as septic arthritis.

Septic arthritis can occur as a result of joint injury, if the joint capsule is damaged, or as a sequel to foot rot (foul in the foot).

Generalised arthritis can occur in milking cows, as a result of mineral imbalances, particularly calcium and phosphorus.

As in all species, treatment can present a challenge, with efforts achieving variable success. Acupuncture and homeopathy can be very beneficial. Common homeopathic medicines that have been used with success, depending upon signs and symptoms shown, are: Bryonia, Calc. phos., Causticum, Rhododendron, Rhus tox., Ruta grav. Septic arthritis (and osteomyelitis) can be successfully treated but is a specialist area.

BACK & NECK PROBLEMS

It may come as a surprise to some readers, to learn that cows and calves can suffer back problems. It is an unfortunate fact that the ‘unit value’ of cattle is too low to encourage the sort of individual attention that chiropractic manipulation demands, on most commercial farms. The result is that the treatment is not usually given to them. In pedigree herds, however, where ‘unit value’ is much higher, such attention can and is given to cattle.

The AVMC attends several herds, providing manipulation to cows and calves who walk badly, hunch their backs, suffer weak hind limb action or sustain injury. The ‘show’ potential of such animals, whereby a pedigree herd is able to advertise its stock, is otherwise severely reduced. The beneficial effect in posture and outlook is almost immediately visible, in those that require this attention.

Acupuncture may also be needed, in some cases. It provides rapid pain relief and can stimulate regeneration of damaged nerves, e.g. after calving injury.

BIG BALE EYE

See 'Listeriosis'

BLOAT

Chronic calf bloat is often the result of feeding unsuitable concentrate food or powdered milk rather than cow's milk. In either case, homeopathic Nux vomica may help dramatically, pending attention to diet as promptly as practical.

At grass, cattle can develop 'frothy bloat'. A thick layer of peanut oil of the surface of the drinking water can act as an effective temporary preventive. Providing plenty of fibre in the diet, to supplement spring grazing, is also important. As a treatment, homeopathic Colchicum will usually provide rapid relief from frothy bloat.

The book - The Homeopathic Treatment of Beef & Dairy Cattle - C. Day - Beaconsfield Publ., gives greater detail.

The AVMC can supply more information on request.

BLOOD IN MILK

High-yielding milking cows can secrete bloodstained milk or can suffer a large scale bleed, in which case the milk appears almost totally bloody. This is not only a sign of trouble in the udder, which could lead to mastitis, it is also of economic importance, since such milk cannot be sold.

Homeopathic medicines can be very useful in this situation. Farm clients of the AVMC are rarely unable to control this problem promptly, when it arises, since they are well-versed in the use of homeopathic medicines in emergencies.

Any one of several different homeopathic medicines may be needed, depending on the situation, upon the cow and upon the appearance of the milk and the bleeding. One can never do harm, however, with homeopathic Arnica, if in doubt. It may help to a significant extent, even if not the correct remedy.

The book - The Homeopathic Treatment of Beef & Dairy Cattle - C. Day - Beaconsfield Publ., gives greater detail.

The AVMC can supply more information on request.

BLUETONGUE

This is a notifiable disease of ruminants and therefore of cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, buffalo, reindeer and wild deer. It came to the UK in September 2007, possibly as a result of climate change. It is a viral disease borne by biting midges and appears to have spread from Northern Europe.

Although it is possible that cattle can show no signs of illness, usual signs in cattle are: fever, nasal discharge, swelling of the head and neck, conjunctivitis (runny eyes), swelling and ulceration of the mouth, swollen teats, languidness and drooling of saliva.

Sheep are the most susceptible and can die of the disease.

The disease signs that typify this condition suggest that it should be responsive to homeopathy (homeopathic treatment) and to homeopathic preventive methods (homeoprophylaxis). However, as this is a notifiable disease, if the AVMC were to treat cases we would need specific permission from DEFRA.

BRUCELLOSIS

This is a notifiable disease and, therefore, the AVMC does not provide treatment or prevention for Brucellosis, unless special dispensation were to be offered by DEFRA.

BSE - BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY

This is a notifiable disease and, therefore, the AVMC does not provide treatment or prevention for BSE, unless special dispensation were to be offered by DEFRA. We would anyway be very cautious about preparing a nosode (by potentisation) from a prion.

It is a source of deep regret that this disease ever took hold on the UK cattle population, with an unquantifiable risk to the human population. MAFF refused to listen to any advice offered by practising veterinary surgeons (including AVMC), in the early days of the outbreak, which would almost certainly have resulted in rapid control. In particular, the warnings of the possibility of 'vertical spread' were ignored. The outbreak itself and its subsequent severity were due to unwise feeding practices and lack of will to apply proper controls, including inadequate compensation for animals taken by MAFF.

BVD - BOVINE VIRUS DIARRHOEA

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CALF DIPHTHERIA

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CALVING PROBLEMS - DYSTOCIA

DIGITAL DERMATITIS

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FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE - FMD

This is a notifiable disease and, therefore, the AVMC does not provide treatment or prevention for FMD, unless special dispensation were to be offered by DEFRA. In the 2001 outbreak, the AVMC offered MAFF research, treatment and prevention help, free of charge. This involved telephone calls and faxes on an almost daily basis. All were ignored.

We have a dedicated page for this disease (click), updated December 2007.

FOUL-IN-THE-FOOT (LOW - LUER - FOOT ROT)

The disease is characterised by a foul-smelling, necrotic lesion between the claws of the hoof. It is potentially serious, if neglected for a few days, in that infection can enter the deeper structures of the foot and even the digital joints*. The bacterium usually associated with this condition is Fusiformis necrophorum but more than one type of bacteria is likely to be involved.

The early sign is acute-onset lameness and sometimes an affected foot can be held in the air.

Treatment with homeopathy is usually very effective. The earlier the disease is caught, the quicker the resolution. In early cases, injection of homeopathic medicines for two consecutive days has been sufficient.

It is triggered by injury to the soft tissues in the cleft of the foot. Even a scratch may suffice. Stones in mud can be a potent cause. Lime is a very effective way of reducing infection in poached areas around water troughs, for instance. Lime application to deep straw bedding can also be an effective way to reduce cases in housed cattle.

It is prevalent in barley-fed intensive beef cattle.

*Such a septic arthritis can be very difficult to treat with antibiotics and the claw is often amputated as a result. Happily, we have never needed to amputate a claw, when using homeopathy.

HEEL DERMATITIS

This section is in preparation. However, we can state that homeopathic treatment is usually a very rapid and effective way to deal with cases. It can also act in a preventive capacity.

We have a policy of ongoing improvement, augmentation and updating, so that our website is constantly changing. We hope you have enjoyed what you have seen so far and found it helpful, so that you will revisit us soon, to see the latest developments. Put the home page in your 'bookmarks'/'favourites', for ease of revisiting.

Why not take a few moments to send us your comments and feedback, along with requests for new pages, to let us know what we have done well and to help our policy of constant improvement?

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IBR

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INFERTILITY

This section is in preparation. However, we can state that homeopathic treatment is usually a very rapid and effective way to deal with cases.

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JOHNE’S DISEASE

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JOINT ILL

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KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS - KERATO-CONJUNCTIVITIS

See 'New Forest Eye' and 'Listeriosis'.

KETOSIS - ACETONAEMIA

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LAMENESS

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LAMINITIS

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LISTERIOSIS

Listeriosis is the name given to diseases associated with the organism Listeria. In cattle, it either manifests as kerato-conjunctivitis (‘big bale eye’ or ‘silage eye’), or as a head-tilt, owing to an infection in the VIIIth cranial nerve or inflammation of the meninges or the brain itself.

The nervous form is generally quite resistant to antibiotics but cases treated homeopathically have usually responded well, if caught in the earlier stages. Later stage cases can respond but the percentage success rate falls. The eye form (which looks not unlike New Forest Eye) usually responds extremely well, whether to homeopathic treatment or prevention.

The book - The Homeopathic Treatment of Beef & Dairy Cattle - C. Day - Beaconsfield Publ., gives greater detail.

The AVMC can supply more information on request.

LUMPY JAW
Actinomycosis

This condition is a chronic suppurative condition, characterised by a swelling of the lower or, more rarely, the upper jaw, oozing yellow, watery pus. It is associated with the organism Actinomyces.

It is very refractory to conventional antibiotic treatment. The traditional, near-fatal dose of intravenous sodium iodide was moderately effective but fell from favour, as it was a very severe treatment.

Homeopathic prescribing, according to the individual animal and the signs shown, is usually very effective.

The book - The Homeopathic Treatment of Beef & Dairy Cattle - C. Day - Beaconsfield Publ., gives greater detail.

The AVMC can supply more information on request.

LUNGWORM

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MASTITIS

This is the biggest single cause of ill health in cows and the biggest drain on farm resources. Inevitably, everyone who wishes to use homeopathy on the farm goes straight to this problem as the one to overcome.

Generally speaking, mastitis can occur for two main reasons. One is infection from cow to cow. The other is infection via the environment (e.g. collecting yards or bedding. The former usually occurs during milking.

The book - The Homeopathic Treatment of Beef & Dairy Cattle - C. Day - Beaconsfield Publ., gives detail of management and environmental factors that can affect the rate of infection in a dairy farm. It also lists a great many possible control measures that can be instituted, to reduce the infection rate.

The research page gives detail of a clinical trial, in which the preventive effect of mastitis nosode was tested in a real-life situation.

Homeopathic medicine can be used to treat individual cases, once the farm team has the necessary experience and understanding of the method. This takes time to acquire, so we do not advise that mastitis should be the first place to start using homeopathy for individual cow treatment.

The AVMC provides a service to farmers, whereby a single visit by Mr Day is offered, in conjunction with the farm vet if possible, a report is supplied and a treatment and management plan is devised. Medicines can then be supplied, if required.

METRITIS

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MILK LET-DOWN

This section is in preparation. However, we can state that homeopathic treatment is usually a very rapid and effective way to deal with cases.

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NAVEL ILL

This section is in preparation. However, we can state that homeopathic treatment is usually a very rapid and effective way to deal with cases.

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NEW FOREST EYE

This section is in preparation. However, we can state that homeopathic treatment is usually a very rapid, cheap and effective way to deal with cases. It can also work very well in prevention.

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PNEUMONIA

Calf pneumonia can be a scourge of cattle farms. It can cause a lot of work, catching animals for treatment, and it can result in unthrifty or even dead calves. Ill calves are clearly often quite distressed while affected and may never fully recover, under normal conditions.

Vaccines are available, against some of the infective agents that are known to be involved. They may or may not be effective, depending upon the particular problem.

Homeopathic medication is often very effective, both in treatment and in prevention. A little medicine can be put in the drinking water, daily, which is a fuss-free method that obviates the need for catching and handling individual animals. Thai reduces labour costs, workload and what can be dangerous stress on the calves.

Different medicines may be needed, depending upon the clinical signs and circumstances. Common ones that have been used in past cases are: Aconitum, Ammonium carbonicum, Antimonium tartaricum, Arsenicum, Bryonia, Calcarea phosphorica, Cuprum aceticum, Drosera, Lycopodium, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Sulphur and Tuberculinum bovinum.

The book - The Homeopathic Treatment of Beef & Dairy Cattle - C. Day - Beaconsfield Publ., gives further detail.

The AVMC can supply more information on request.

PROLAPSE

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RINGWORM

This troublesome condition affects mostly calves and is infectious to humans (i.e. it is a zoonosis). It can be very prevalent in some years.

The conventional treatment is an expensive in-feed antibiotic, or, if individual handling is practical, there is a topical treatment.

Homeopathic medication can be put in the drinking water and is described by farmers as simple, effective and cheap.

The AVMC can supply medication, via the usual farm veterinary surgeon, upon request and upon supply of the necessary information, that will lead us to the correct prescription.

The book - The Homeopathic Treatment of Beef & Dairy Cattle - C. Day - Beaconsfield Publ., gives greater detail.

The nutrition of the cattle is of central importance in control, as is immune status. At the AVMC, we are able to specify nutritional supplementation, to correct trace mineral and vitamin deficiencies, as long as we are given a full breakdown of current diets. Tests can be specified for factors that can render the immune system less effective.

The AVMC can supply more information on request.

ROTAVIRUS

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SCOUR - DIARRHOEA

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SILAGE EYE

See 'Listeriosis'.

TRAUMATIC RETICULITIS

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TUBERCULOSIS - TB

This is a notifiable disease and, therefore, the AVMC does not provide treatment or prevention for Tuberculosis, unless special dispensation were to be offered by DEFRA.

The recent return of this disease as a serious threat has possibly arisen from a multiplicity of factors. Possibilities are that the 'new' tuberculin that is used in the tests makes the test less effective. This new material came on the scene in the late 1970s and we had cause to doubt its capabilities quite early on. The testing techniques may need tightening. Nutrition can play a part. The AVMC has discussed all this in depth with MAFF, before the days of DEFRA and before the resurgence of the disease in cattle.

The blood test that is in use at present appears yet to have to prove itself as a reliable indicator.

WARTS - BOVINE PAPILLOMATOSIS

This condition can vary from simple ‘eyesore’ status to being of such importance that it can wreck a group of down-calving heifers. We have seen a bunch of warts the size of a laundry basket, hanging down from a heifer’s belly. Some groups of heifers can be very badly affected on their teats, making milking virtually impossible when they calve.

While there is no effective conventional treatment known to date, homeopathic treatment has proved very successful in most herds treated to date, medication having been given via the drinking water.

A traditional treatment that was available decades ago was an Antimony compound. This fell out of favour in the UK, with the march of modern patent medicines and because of fear of toxicity but it is still marketed and is 'the drug of choice' in India, for the treatment of warts.

The book - The Homeopathic Treatment of Beef & Dairy Cattle - C. Day - Beaconsfield Publ., gives greater detail.

The AVMC can supply more information on request.

WOODEN TONGUE
(Actinobacillosis)

In this condition, the tongue becomes very swollen and hard. This can be of such a degree that the cow cannot shut her mouth. It is one of the reasons for excessive salivation in cattle. Lymph nodes may also be affected.

The organism with which it is mostly associated is Actinobacillus. It is very resistant to antibiotic treatment. The traditional treatment of near-fatal doses of sodium iodide, given intravenously, was the best we had on offer, working better than the more modern antibiotics, until we used homeopathy for this condition. Homeopathic medication has been very successful in all cases treated to date.

The book - The Homeopathic Treatment of Beef & Dairy Cattle - C. Day - Beaconsfield Publ., gives greater detail.

The AVMC can supply more information on request.

ACTINOBACILLOSIS

ACTINOMYCOSIS

ARTHRITIS

BACK & NECK PROBLEMS

BIG BALE EYE

BLOAT

BLOOD IN MILK

BLUETONGUE

BRUCELLOSIS

BSE - BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY

BVD - BOVINE VIRUS DIARRHOEA

CALF DIPHTHERIA

CALVING PROBLEMS - DYSTOCIA

DIGITAL DERMATITIS

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE - FMD

FOUL-IN-THE-FOOT (LOW - LUER - FOOT ROT)

HEEL DERMATITIS

IBR

INFERTILITY

JOHNE’S DISEASE

JOINT ILL

KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS - KERATO-CONJUNCTIVITIS

KETOSIS - ACETONAEMIA

LAMENESS

LAMINITIS

LISTERIOSIS

LUMPY JAW Actinomycosis

LUNGWORM

MASTITIS

METRITIS

MILK LET-DOWN

NAVEL ILL

NEW FOREST EYE

PNEUMONIA

PROLAPSE

RINGWORM

ROTAVIRUS

SCOUR - DIARRHOEA

SILAGE EYE

TRAUMATIC RETICULITIS

TUBERCULOSIS - TB

WARTS - BOVINE PAPILLOMATOSIS

WOODEN TONGUE (Actinobacillosis)

LUMPY JAW
Actinomycosis

WOODEN TONGUE
(Actinobacillosis)