Common causes of pruritus in cats.

Cats like any other animal do get itchy but unlike dogs the response of cats to various allergens varies so also does the type and site of of the lesions. The basis of diagnosis of pruritus in cats will lean much more on history, and lesion sites . A complete and detailed history of the cat's activities,disease-record,food,medication grooming,frequency of walks,nature of environment and basically the behavioral pattern. The history can reveal if the cat's pruritus is seasonal or not, if seasonal there is no need to perform a food trial but if the pruritus is not seasonal, you need to perform a food trial. Cats with allergies dont show pododermaitis as dogs would, rather cats showing pododermatitis have an underlying case caused by Pemphigus foliaceus. Age of the cat is also a factor in diagnosing the cause of the itch, kitten rarely have atopy and cats older than 6 months with pruritus usually have an underlying fungi or parasitic infection. Cats are sensitive to bites and stings especially mosquito bites,with hypersensitivity in some cases resulting in dermatitis in the paws,ears and nares. History of cats with hypersensitivity to mosquito bites is important to prevent misdiagnosis. The picture shows a cat with hypersensitivity to mosquito bites. Common causes of pruritus in cats are 1) food allergy; this can occur at any age,so do not rule out this in an old cat.If the itching is seasonal you dont need a food trial but if not seasonal you will need a food trial.A change of diet for about 12 weeks will resolve it. 2) parasites; cats that go outdoors a lot are prone to flea allergies,this is the most common cause of pruritus in cats with a lot of outdoor activities. The pruritus is usually on the dorsal and lumbar region. Keep the cats in doors,use topical flea control and clean the environment using flea control measures. 3)Pemphigus foliaceus this is an autoimmune disorder with lesions in nail-beds,nipples and ears.

WSU veterinary professor named to National Academy of Inventors.

Katrina Mealey developed test for potentially fatal gene mutation in dogs.Washington State University professor Katrina L. Mealey, DVM, PhD, has been elected a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors—a prestigious group of scientists that includes 27 Nobel laureates. She discovered the MDR1 gene mutation and is the inventor of a subsequent genetic test for the mutation. Knowing a dog has the mutation can prevent it from being given potentially fatally toxic medications. Mealey also launched the Program in Individualized Medicine (PrIMe) at WSU, a coordinated research effort that optimizes drug therapy for individual veterinary patients. The academy cited Mealey for demonstrating “a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.”

Improving cattle health and milk yield with cow mattress.

Dairy business is very lucrative but poor management practices can result in losses due to low milk production, death ,mastitis and lameness. The key to a success farm operation is the comfort of the cows as the more comfortable they are the higher the milk yield and productivity.The health status of cows are also important as only healthy,genetically proven breeds and properly fed cows can produce calves and hence milk. A dairy farm where the genetics,nutrition and medication are excellent then the comfort of the cows is next priority. Cows are made comfortable and produce more milk when placed on cow mattresses.The mattress are made from recycled tyres and are of various sizes which are treated with anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agents that make them safe for the animals. They have a special texture pattern that ensures cows do not slip or fall, even when wet .The tyres provide more comfort than hay straw or cemented floor,the mattress also prevents repeated falling or slipping on the bare floor thus preventing lameness which can result to culling the cow. Mastitis is the biggest problem encountered by dairy farmers,the inflammation of the udder has been linked to infectious agents in the farm arising mainly from contamination of teats with with dirt,fecal matter and urine.The introduction of cow mattress prevents mastitis as the cow shed is clean and cows are laying on clean rubber mats that are easy to wash and clean. The mattress offer long term comfort by giving cows maximum time for resting and relaxing and this time allows them to undergo natural body processes such as increased blood supply to the teats and the udder. This guarantees a higher milk yield and healthier animals that increase the profits. These mattresses can also be used in horses to prevent lameness resulting from repeated falling in the stables. Heat stress is also another common factor resulting in poor milk yield due to reduced productivity as a result of poor feed intake.The installation of water sprinklers in the cow shed will go a long way to cool the animal down . The incorporation of yeast in feed as well as increasing energy density of feed coupled with serving cool fresh water at all times.

Factors affecting colostrum quality and utilization in calves.

There are factors that determine if newborn calves are getting enough colostrum and this also depends on the cow and the quality of the colostrum. Calves that does not receive an adequate amount of high quality colostrum immediately after calving may then be subject to an increased risk of morbidity and decreased growth rate and lifetime milk production. The following factors are to be considered when attempting to achieve maximum benefits from colostrum and hence improve health and performance of calves; 1) feeding method: Leaving calves to nurse from their mothers can cause extreme problems with colostrum and immunoglobulin consumption. Approximately 25-40% of calves that nurse from the dam do not consume an adequate amount of high quality colostrum because calves tend to drink small quantities after birth. This inadequate consumption allows bacteria to enter and multiply in the intestine, causing mortality that may lead to death. Calves do not want to consume the recommended amount of colostrum right after birth because they do not usually have a strong drive to nurse, or because the calf might not physically be able to consume colostrum because of the birthing process resulting in internal bruising to the organs or broken bones. When this occurs, esophageal feeders can be used to ensure calves receive an appropriate amount of quality colostrum. It is recommended that calves be removed from their dam no longer than two hours after parturition when fed via bottle or esophageal feeder. Feeding calves with the use of an esophageal feeder or 'tube' can damage the oral tract so carry out procedure with care. 2) cleanliness: this refers to the absence of bacteria in colostrum. This can be ensured by carry out these practices ; Thoroughly wash your hands before milking the cow. • Prepare the udder as you would before milking by cleaning. • Milk into a clean, sanitized bucket. • Do not feed colostrum from known infected cows. • Do not pool raw colostrum. • Feed calves using only clean, sanitized bottles or buckets and nipples. • Do not let colostrum sit at room temperature; feed it, refrigerate it or freeze it within one hour of collection. 3) cow's health status: the health of the cow is very important as pathogen exposure is crucial in regards to dam health and colostrum quality. Cows that have been exposed to higher amounts of pathogens are more likely to have higher immunoglobulin levels. Pathogen exposure and age are highly correlated due to the fact that older cows tend to be exposed to a greater number of pathogens. However, there is also a risk in feeding calves raw maternal colostrum because pathogen exposure occurring before calves have developed immunity can affect mortality and morbidity. Mycoplasma spp, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella spp are infectious agents that can cause scours and septicemia in calves by being shed from the udder or by mishandling and storing raw colostrum.

How to stop heat stress in cattle using yeast and antioxidants.

Heat stress is a growing issue for high producing cattle but rumen specific live yeast and antioxidants can counteract the effects of this problem. Heat stress can cost dairy or beef farmers a large amount of money, due to production losses in milk and growth. 

 In dairy cows, the first short-term impact of heat stress is the reduction of milk yield ,about 10 to 35% reduction is usually recorded and acidosis risks are also increased. While in beef, fattening cattle are the most sensitive to heat stress with consequences such as increased acidosis risks and the reduction of feed intake, especially lower fiber consumption, which translates into lower growth performance and behavioral changes as producers often see less calm but more nervous animals. 

 A study shows that fattening heifers in the shade had a 100 g/day increase in average daily weight gain, as compared to those with no shade, due to higher feed intake in the shade. Moreover, these animals were less stressed and showed less carcass defaults such as dark meat. 

 The Long term consequences can arise on animal health, immune function or reproduction, especially as heat stress generally increases the production of free radicals, leading to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress in dairy cows can lead to increased mastitis frequency and higher somatic cell counts in milk. It can also cause decreased fertility, increased embryo mortality, post-partum retained placenta and early calving, with consequences on the calves’ live weight, mortality and health. Rumen specific live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae I-1077, considered as a rumen modifier, can help alleviate the impact of heat stress. In particular, its ability to help stabilize rumen pH and enhance fiber degradation in the rumen is particularly adapted to respond to heat stress challenges. Several trials showed good results in both dairy and beef cows. 

 Trials with a nutritional supplement , an antioxidant combination containing organic selenium, and a natural primary antioxidant source showed that the animal’s total antioxidant status (TAS) is improved, translating into: reduced somatic cell count in milk by 40-60%, a sign of enhanced immunity (also shown on dairy goats) and improved meat quality parameters in cattle. 

 There are other nutritional recommendations that can help combat heat-stress in cattle ,these are:1) Increase the energy density of the diet. 2) Add more starch or added fat to the diet as fat is not fermented in the rumen, hence does not release heat during digestion. 3) Mineral electrolytes balance must be maintained as excessive sudation, or panting, leads to losses of sodium and potassium. 4) Provide clean fresh water at all times but most especially after milking. 

 source Dairy Global.

Colostrum and piglet health.

Piglets are the seed of the farm,thus next generation depends on the health status of these piglets. Piglets are the seed capital of any farm,as they have it all in them to become full value pigs or great replacement gilts. The breeding of high numbers of healthy piglets ensures a sound financial future and continuity of farm but it takes a lot of work to ensure the piglets are healthy. The piglets are very vulnerable to diseases,changes in temperature,and other environmental conditions thus making them the weakest link on the farm. Piglets must be properly taken care of from day one until they are weaned. The first line of action is to ensure the piglets are clean and kept warm,this must be followed by ensuring colostrum is given so as to confer immunity on piglets through to weaning . Piglets are born without any immune protection and it takes a couple of weeks before they can build their own active immunity. The only way to protect them in these critical weeks is through passive immunity supplied by the sow. Colostrum is the first milk secreted,and a sufficient colostrum intake in the first hours after birth is one of the most important success factors for pig performance. Colostrum does not only provide the vital energy and proteins essential for the piglets to start suckling and to grow, it is also enriched with the maternal antibodies (immunoglobulins) which provide passive immunity. Naturally, maternal antibodies are built when a sow gets infected with a pathogen. A safer and more consistent way to induce maternal antibodies is by sow vaccination. Colostrum intake depends on the amount of colostrum produced by the sow and the ability of the piglet to suckle as colostrum excretion starts shortly before parturition and ends about 24 hours after farrowing. The first 6 hours are critical, and after 24 hours the gut closes not allowing the immunoglobulins to be absorbed. In contrast to milk yield, colostrum yield is not related to litter size, so the larger the litter the lower the amount of colostrum per pig . A study revealed that up to one third of the sows do not produce enough colostrum to cover the needs of all their piglets. Genetic factors have an influence on the potential of sows to produce colostrum and during gestation and around farrowing you can ensure that the sows can exploit that potential to a maximum. Sows with heavy litters at birth with little weight variation usually have a high colostrum yield. A good body condition of the sow during gestation and at farrowing will reduce within-litter variation in birth weight and prevents metabolic disorders which may cause mastitis and can lead to a reduced colostrum yield. Proper feeding from day 85 upwards is more relevant than in mid gestation as in late gestation new mammary tissue is produced and the piglet’s birth weight is established. The benefits of colostrum

Benefits of supplementing poultry diet with hatchery waste.

A recent research published in PlosOne shows that supplementing poultry diets with hatchery waste is beneficial to the birds as it enhances growth performance and confers immunity . The study has examined the effect of hatchery eggshell membranes (HESM) as a short term feed supplement on growth performance and immunity of chickens under bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged conditions. Eggshells are a significant part of hatchery waste which consist of calcium carbonate crust, membranes, and proteins and peptides of embryonic origins along with other entrapped contaminants including microbes. The researchers of the University of Arkansas hypothesized that using this product as a nutritional additive in poultry diet may confer better immunity to the chickens in the paradigm of mammalian milk that enhances immunity. Three studies were conducted to find the effect of HESM supplement on post hatch chickens. In the first study, the chickens were fed either a control diet or diets containing 0.5% whey protein or HESM as supplement and evaluated at 5 weeks of age using growth, hematology, clinical chemistry, plasma immunoglobulins, and corticosterone as variables. The second and third studies were done to compare the effects of LPS on control and HESM fed birds at 5 weeks of age following at 4 and 24 h of treatment where the HESM was also sterilised with ethanol to deplete bacterial factors. HESM supplement caused weight gain in 2 experiments and decreased blood corticosterone concentrations. While LPS caused a significant loss in body weight at 24 h following its administration, the HESM supplemented birds showed significantly less body weight loss compared with the control fed birds. The result shows that post-hatch supplementation of HESM improve performance, modulate immunity, and increase resistance of chickens to endotoxin.