Unit 27: Animal Health

Section 8: Animal Sciences

Terms to KnowPage 552

Signs of Good and Poor HealthGood:

Contented animalAlertShiny hair coat, bright eyes and pink membranesNormal body discharges

PoorRough hair coat, glassy eyesStaying alone with head downDifficulty walkingAbnormal feces, discolored urineTemperature, labored breathingRapid pulse

Healthful Environments for AnimalsSanitation

Use of clean equipment and medical devicesHousing

Clean, free from cold draftsMaintain proper temperature for the conditionsLoose housing materials, like nails and tin, are a hazard

Handling ManureManure should not accumulate in areas where animals

frequently visit or stayManure harbors diseases and parasites and attracts

flies which spread diseaseWet, poorly drained, manure soiled feedlots reduce the

rate of gain and can cause foot and leg problems

Healthful Environments for AnimalsControlling pests

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”Disinfect, clean and get rid of pests

IsolationKeep new animals separateKeep infected animals separate

Pasture RotationRotating pastures breaks the life cycle of

most parasites because they do not have contact with the host animal

Animal Diseases and Parasites

DiseasesContagious vs. Noncontagious

Isolation from other animalsprevent human transferContagious diseases are mostly caused by bacteria and virusesNoncontagious may be caused by nutrient deficiencies or nutrient excess,

poisonous plants, poisonous animals, open wounds or foreign materialSymptoms

Pour growth, reduced productionNot eatingRough, dry hair Discharge from eyes or noseCoughing, gaspingTremblingUnusual bowel movementsSores or woundsSwellingAbortionOdd walking movements

Animal Diseases and ParasitesInternal Parasites External Parasites

Flukes, roundworms, protozoa

Spread by contact with discharge from infested animals or secondary hosts

Flies, ticks, lice, mites and fleas

Spread by physical contact

Symptoms: poor growth, weight loss, coughing, gagging, anemia, reduced production, reduced reproduction, diarrhea, bloody feces, worms in the feces, swelling under neck, poor stamina, hair loss, mange, or visible parasite.

Preventing and TreatingKnow practical vet skills

Birthing, castration ,vaccination, treating for lice or mites, minor cut repair, mastitis treatment, etc…

Keep medicine for minor ailments on hand

Administering DrugsREAD THE LABEL!How long will the drug remain in the animal’s

system?Can cause contaminated milk or meatRead the label to see how long it will take the drug

to get out of the system

Preventing and TreatingPILLS POWDERSRestrain the animal

and lift it’s headPlace pill as far

back on the tongue as possible or use a balling gun

Massage the throat until the animals swallows

Usually mixed with feed or water

May need to withhold food or water so that they animal will want to eat—especially if the powder changes the taste of the feed

Preventing and TreatingPASTE LIQUIDSNormally used for

treating horses for worms

Paste is placed on the back of the horse’s tongue with a caulking gun and the horse is forced to swallow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFrsBQWwepE

Drenching is the process of administering fairly large amounts of liquids to an animal

Injection is the process of administering drugs by needle or syringeIntravenousIntramuscularSubcutaneousIntradermalIntraruminalIntraperitoneal

Preventing and TreatingINFUSION DIPPINGA sterile cannula

(blunt needle) is inserted into the opening of the teat and the drug is forced into the teat canal

A rancher would literally dip an animal in a vat of medicated water or force them to swim through it.

Used to treat external parasites

Preventing and TreatingTAKING TEMPERATURE

PULSE AND RESPIRATION

Usually temperature is taken in the rectum, the last organ in the digestive tract

Be gentle! It’s not pleasant!

Hold your ear to the animals chest and count the number of heartbeats in 1 minute (if you don’t have a stethoscope)

Count the number of breaths an animal takes in 1 minute to determine rate of respiration

Preventing and TreatingRESTRAINING ANIMALS VACCINATIONTool: head gates,

squeeze chutes, halters, twitches, nose leads, and casting harnesses

Used to immunize an animal against a specific disease

Usually part of a normal vet visit or service

Preventing and TreatingFEED ADDITIVES

MEDICATION WITHDRAWAL

Used to control the incidence of low level infection in growing animals

Must follow manufacturer's recommendations to avoid contaminating product to be consumed by humans

Drugs that are used to medicate food animals must be withdrawn before the animals can be used for human consumption.

Usually takes several days

Can cause severe allergic reactions or build up tolerances if withdrawal rules are not followed