What to do if a cow has a fever of 40 degrees

We humans often catch colds and have fevers. In fact, there are diseases in the animal world as well. For example, cows can also have fevers. However, the normal body temperature of cows is different from that of humans. The normal body temperature of cows is usually higher than 38.5 degrees. The normal body temperature of calves is a little higher. When the temperature exceeds the normal body temperature, it is considered a fever. So what should we do when a cow has a fever of over 40 degrees? What factors may cause a cow to have a fever?

1. What are the causes of fever in cattle?

The normal body temperature of adult cattle is 38.5-39.5℃, and that of calves is 38.5-39.8℃. Anything beyond this range is considered a fever, which is called pyrexia in veterinary medicine.

Fever is a systemic adaptive reaction characterized by a rise in temperature and a disorder of the body's temperature regulation center caused by the stimulation of a pyrogen in homeothermic animals.

The causes of fever are as follows:

1. Bacterial infection source;

2. Leukocyte pyrogen;

3. Protein pyrogen;

4. Drug-induced pyrogen;

5. Hormonal pyrogens;

6. Damage to the central nervous system.

2. There are several types of fever in cattle:

1. Persistent fever: After the body temperature rises to a certain level, it can be maintained for several days, and the fluctuation range between day and night does not exceed 1°C, such as lobar pneumonia.

2. Remittent fever: The body temperature rises for a long time, the temperature fluctuation between day and night exceeds 1°C, and the body temperature does not reach the normal level, such as catarrhal pneumonia, suppurative pneumonia, sepsis, etc.

3. Intermittent fever: Fever and afebrile periods alternate regularly, that is, the body temperature rises for a period of time and then returns to normal temperature, and then rises again. Sometimes the fever occurs once a day or every two or three days. It is mainly seen in blood protozoan diseases.

4. Relapsing fever: Similar to intermittent fever, there is a longer interval between different fever periods, which is common in chronic equine infectious anemia.

3. What to do if a cow has a fever

1. Drink plenty of water

After the sick cows have a fever, they consume a lot of nutrients, have dry mouth and tongue, and lose appetite, leading to anorexia. Therefore, the water supply should be met, otherwise the condition will be aggravated. Drink more water to replenish body fluids and promote the excretion of intestinal toxins. It is better to add an appropriate amount of sugar and salt to the drinking water.

2. Get plenty of rest

The cowshed should be kept clean, hygienic and quiet, allowing sick cows to rest more and reduce their muscle activity to reduce physical energy consumption and heat energy generation. Do not disturb sick cows when they are sleeping. Good deep sleep can significantly enhance the cow's immunity and improve resistance.

3. Apply cold compresses more often

When the sick cow's body temperature is too high, in addition to taking medicine, you can use ice water or cold water to cool the head. The effect will be better if you combine it with brushing the cow's body. The cold water should be changed every 5 minutes or so to protect the normal functions of the sick cow's brain cells and hypothalamic temperature regulation center and prevent loss of the ability to regulate body temperature. However, this method should not be used on sick cows with cold stomach or chills.

4. Feed more

After sick cows have a high fever and reduce their food intake, they should be fed more palatable, easily digestible, nutritious and salty feed, and more green fodder to meet the nutritional needs of sick animals and enhance their disease resistance. If necessary, feed gastrointestinal regulating drugs to enhance appetite. Once the sick cow's feed intake increases, it means that its condition has improved significantly.