Goat polio.

Goat polio also referred to as polioencephalomalcia in goats is as a result of vitamin B1 deficiency usually occurs when goat is fed high level of grain and low roughage diet.The goats have uncoordinated movements,muscle tremors and rigidity. There is circling, staggering and apparent blindness, diarrhoea and a star gazing stance which is characteristic sign of the condition. Goat polio if untreated could result in death within 24-72 hours with convulsions and fever characteristic of fatal stage. The conditions can be treated by vitamin B1 injection alongside penicillin with plenty of water to drink.

Backyard Birds Culled After Bird Flu Outbreak in Wales.

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales has confirmed Avian Influenza H5N8 in a backyard flock of chickens and ducks on a premises near Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire. Prior to confirmation it was decided to cull the birds on strong suspicion of disease. A 3 km Protection Zone and 10 km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around the infected premises, to limit the risk of the disease spreading and as part of the wider surveillance and disease control measures. The prevention zone across all of Wales, which requires all keepers of poultry and other captive birds to keep their birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate, and protect them from wild birds, still remains in place, as does the temporary suspension on gatherings of poultry.

Deworming in ruminants and parasite resistance.

Deworming farm animals is part of preventive protocol to ensure the animals are healthy but years of overuse and abuse of dewormers is a major concern because of the development of resistance by worms, lice and blowflies to many of the chemicals used to control them. Farmers administer dewormers to their livestock to enhance growth and productivity, but with continued use, parasites have grown increasingly resistant to many of these drugs, forcing farmers to seek out alternative drugs or rely on their own concoctions for parasite control. Farmers are seeking out herbal interventions alongside rotating dewormers to beat the resistant parasite. A change in management practices such as prompt clearing of fecal material which is the source of eggs of the parasite as there is a constant infection and reinfection especially when animals are grazing in areas with high fecal material,but if grazing area is rotated allowing time for new grasses to grow it will limit contact with fecal matter and hence parasite eggs. Deworming animals based on the fecal tests carried out to determine the types of parasites present and worm load will prevent blind-deworming using drugs not specific for herd. This fecal analysis will also provide a template for a proper deworming routine. The mixing of young and older animals should be prevented as the younger ones are highly susceptible to infections and are a constant source of infection as in primary infection in young grazing animals during their first exposure. An ideal parasite monitoring schedules and non-chemical strategies such as nutrition, genetics and pasture management will help ensure health and productivity. The environment must be clean with fecal matter away from stalls to prevent flystrike which is caused by blowflies attracted to smelly, warm, moist environments such as feces build ups sweaty, moist skin folds and open wounds.

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.