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Learn about causes of diseases in animals from germs to environmental factors, and how to prevent them through sanitation, vaccination, and parasite control. Vital signs and symptoms guide in early detection for prompt treatment.
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Animal Health Chapter #5
What Causes Disease? • Germs: bacteria, viruses, protozoa • Parasites: worms, insects • Infestations: external parasites • Infectious: internal disease • Injury: handling, facilities • Inherited Genes • Poor Nutrition: easiest to correct • toxic materials in plants, nitrogen content • chemicals for insect control
Disease • Infectious Disease: spread by contact • Confinement Systems: disease easily spread • Animal Waste: host for germs • Soil Born Disease: live in soil • hog diseases • anthrax: bury animals deep, cover with lime or burn • feline distemper • do NOT drag dead animals • alternate pastures
Disease • From water & feed: chemical residues, waste • From air: germs, chemicals, mosquitos host disease • Diseases divided according to how rapid they progress: Acute: rapid progression (cholera, bloat, mastitis) all generally have a rapid increase in body temperature Chronic: last a long time (cancer), costly to fight Some are localized: mastitis, pink eye
Vital Signs • Pulse: high under left foreflank or over jawbone • Respiration: rate of breathing • Temperature: most reliable & constant • taken rectally • rise of 3 deg F is considered serious • Symptoms: not eat, isoalte self, lack alertness, nucous discharge, droopy, lowered head, swelling, bleeding, abnormal bowel movements, worms in feces, unusual walk, abnormal behavior
Disease Prevention • Sanitation: most important • Vaccination: build up antibodies to fight disease • Some diseases (tetanus) animals can’t be saved once they show signs • separate from herd • humanely kill and dispose of
Parasite Control • Some parasites may be passed to humans • trichina, bladder worms • Worming usually done in spring • Insectisides: apply manually or cattle rub • Tick: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in humans • Sanitation: remove waste, disinfect floors & walls, remove dead animals, insect & rodent control, repair equipment, proper bedding • Hog house: steam clean & disinfect • Pile manure to kill germs (heat)