20 Common Diseases of Dairy Animals and Their Treatment Guide – PART 1

🔶 Introduction

This article is Part–1 of the series “20 Common Diseases in Dairy Animals and Treatment Protocols.” This part covers 7 conditions. In Part–2, you will read detailed, doctor-level treatment guidance for FMD, LSD, Pneumonia, Calf Diarrhea, Acidosis, Heat Stress, and parasitic diseases.

In a tropical country like India, the pattern of diseases in cows and buffaloes keeps changing with season, management, nutrition, lactation stage, pre-/post-partum stress, and parasite load. The objective of this handbook is to provide a field veterinary doctor with a well-organized, single-place reference for pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis hints, differential diagnosis, investigations, and treatment protocols.

Where needed, short clinical case examples have also been included to strengthen practical field understanding.

⭐ Normal Physiological Values

Cow
Temperature: 100.0 – 102.5°F
Pulse: 48 – 84/min
Respiration: 26 – 50/min
Rumen movements: 1–3/2 min

Buffalo
Temperature: 99.0 – 102.2°F
Pulse: 40 – 70/min
Respiration: 25 – 40/min
Rumen: 1–2/2 min

Calves
Temperature: 101.0 – 103.0°F
Pulse: 80 – 120/min
Respiration: 30 – 60/min

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⭐ DISEASE–1: Fever (Pyrexia)

1) Etiology

– Viral infections (FMD, LSD, HS, BQ, IBR)
– Bacterial (Pneumonia, Mastitis)
– Parasitic (Babesia, Anaplasma, Theileria)
– Heat stress
– Toxemia

2) Pathogenesis

During infection or inflammation, pyrogens raise the hypothalamic set-point, and the body increases temperature as a defense response.

3) Clinical Signs

Cow
Temperature: 102.5–105°F
Warm ears, dry muzzle
Reduced rumen motility
Drop in milk yield

Buffalo
Temperature: 102–104.8°F
Buffaloes may appear calm even with fever, but appetite drops rapidly

Calves
103–104.5°F, rapid breathing, weakness

4) Diagnosis Hints

– Rectal temperature
– Pulse and respiration rate
– Rumen motility
– Look for the infection focus (lungs, udder, uterus)
– CBC: neutrophilia / anemia

5) Differential Diagnosis

– FMD
– LSD
– Pneumonia
– HS/BQ
– Tick fever

6) Treatment Protocol

A) Temperature control
Meloxicam @0.5 mg/kg IM/SC OD (2–3 days)
OR
Flunixin meglumine @1.1 mg/kg IV/IM (2 days)

B) Infection control
Oxytetracycline LA @20 mg/kg IM (every 72 hrs × 2 doses)
OR
Enrofloxacin @5 mg/kg IM/IV OD (3–5 days)

C) Fluids
ORS 5–10 L/day PO
Dehydrated cases → DNS/NS IV 3–5 L

D) Parasitic fever
Imidocarb dipropionate @2 mg/kg IM (single dose)

7) Precautions

– Use flunixin cautiously in pregnant animals
– In viral fever, antibiotics are indicated only for secondary bacterial infection

▶ Clinical Case Example

Case: HF cross, Temp 104.8°F, rumen 0/2 min → CBC shows anemia + parasite →
Diagnosis: Anaplasmosis →
Treatment: Imidocarb + Meloxicam + Hematinics

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⭐ DISEASE–2: Bloat

1) Types

– Frothy bloat
– Free-gas bloat

2) Causes

– Legume-rich fodder
– Sudden diet change
– Esophageal obstruction
– Rumen motility failure

3) Clinical Signs

– Left flank distension
– Difficulty breathing
– Frequent sitting and getting up
– Life-threatening emergency

4) Diagnosis

– Left flank distension
– Ping/drum sound
– In emergencies, needle puncture may help identify the type of gas/bloat

5) Treatment Protocol

Frothy bloat
Simethicone 150–200 ml PO
Yeast culture / rumenotorics

Free-gas bloat
– Stomach tube
– Walking
– In obstruction: oil 200–300 ml
– Severe: trocarization

Antibiotic (if rumenitis suspected)
Oxytetracycline 5–10 mg/kg IM × 3 days

▶ Case Example

Frothy bloat after legume grazing → stomach tube + antifoaming agent → rumen stabilizers → recovery.

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⭐ DISEASE–3: Indigestion / Rumen Stasis

1) Pathogenesis

When rumen microflora balance is disturbed, fermentation slows down and rumen motility decreases.

2) Clinical Signs

– Reduced appetite
– Decreased rumen sounds
– Mild fever may be present
– Dullness

3) Diagnosis

– Rumen fluid pH
– Motility assessment
– Feed history

4) Treatment Protocol

Rumenotorics: 100–150 ml PO BID
Yeast: 25–50 g PO
B-complex IM
ORS 4–6 L/day
Metronidazole 10–20 mg/kg PO × 3 days (if rumenitis)

▶ Case Example

Spoiled feed intake → rumenotorics + ORS → improvement within 24 hours.

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⭐ DISEASE–4: Ketosis

1) Causes

– Early lactation
– High milk yield
– Negative energy balance

2) Pathogenesis

Increased fat metabolism raises ketone bodies → appetite decreases → milk yield drops.

3) Clinical Signs

– Reduced appetite
– Drop in milk yield
– Acetone smell
– Nervous signs (sometimes)

4) Diagnosis

– Ketone strip test
– BCS score
– Rumen motility ↓

5) Treatment Protocol

Propylene glycol 250–300 ml PO BID × 3–5 days
Dextrose 25% 300–500 ml IV
B-complex + liver tonics

▶ Case Example

HF cow, 10 days post-calving → milk drop → urine ketone ++ → PG + B-complex → recovery.

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⭐ DISEASE–5: Milk Fever (Hypocalcemia)

1) Clinical Signs

Stage–1: tremors, restlessness
Stage–2: unable to stand, cold ears
Stage–3: lateral recumbency, coma

2) Treatment Protocol

Calcium borogluconate 450 ml slow IV (12–15 min)
B-complex IM
Warm bedding + monitoring

▶ Case Example

Jersey cow, 8 hours post-calving → cold ears → IV calcium → stood within 1 hour.

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⭐ DISEASE–6: Mastitis

1) Pathogenesis

Pathogens enter through the teat canal → inflammation → SCC increases → milk quality deteriorates.

2) Clinical Signs

– Clots / flakes
– Hard, hot udder
– Pain
– Fever (sometimes)

3) Diagnosis

– CMT test
– Milk pH
– Udder palpation

4) Treatment Protocol

Intramammary: Cloxacillin / Amoxicillin tube BID × 3 days
Systemic: Enrofloxacin 5 mg/kg OR OTC LA 20 mg/kg IM
Pain: Meloxicam 0.5 mg/kg
Hot fomentation + stripping

▶ Case Example

CMT (++): intramammary therapy + udder hygiene → SCC reduced within 72 hours.

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⭐ DISEASE–7: Repeat Breeding / Infertility

1) Causes

– Silent heat
– Uterine infection
– Mineral deficiency
– Poor heat detection
– Incorrect AI timing

2) Diagnosis

– Rectal palpation
– Vaginal discharge
– Metritis evaluation
– BCS assessment

3) Treatment Protocol

Uterine infection: Ceftriaxone 10–20 mg/kg IM × 3–5 days
Minerals: Ca + P + Zn + Cu supplementation for 30–60 days
Improve heat detection

▶ Case Example

Repeat breeding for 3 cycles → discharge present → cephalosporin + uterine cleaning → pregnancy in the next cycle.

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🔶 Read in the Next Blog (Part–2)

In the next blog Part–2, you will read: Doctor-level detailed treatment of FMD, LSD, Pneumonia, Calf Diarrhea, Acidosis, Heat Stress, and parasitic diseases.

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Disclaimer: This article is written for educational and general information purposes only. The final decision regarding disease diagnosis, drug selection, dose, route, and duration must be made only by a registered veterinary doctor after direct examination of the animal. Please do not use any medicine without veterinary advice.