Common Animal Diseases and Early Detection Methods – An Essential Guide for Every Livestock Farmer

In an agrarian country like India, livestock farming is not just a source of income but the very foundation of life. A healthy animal provides milk, manure, urine, power, and offspring. However, livestock farmers often fail to identify diseases in time, leading to increased losses. In this article, we will learn about the major diseases affecting livestock, how to identify them early, and practical methods for prevention.

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🐮 1. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

This disease can spread to cows, buffaloes, goats, and pigs. This viral disease is highly contagious.

Early Symptoms:

• Water-filled blisters on the mouth, tongue, lips, nose, and hooves of the feet.
• Excessive salivation, loss of appetite.
• Swelling in the feet, pain while walking, sudden decrease in milk production.

Preventive Measures:

• Get the FMD vaccine administered every 6 months.
• Isolate the sick animal and do not share feed and water utensils.
• Wash the mouth with salt water and apply boric acid ointment to the sores.

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🐂 2. Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS)

This disease mainly spreads during the monsoon season and is more commonly seen in buffaloes.

Its causative bacterium is Pasteurella multocida.

Initial Symptoms:

• Swelling in the neck and throat, difficulty breathing.
• High fever (up to 106°F).
• The animal sits down and cannot get up easily.

Prevention:

• Get the HS vaccine administered every year before the rainy season.
• Keep the sick animal in a cool place and provide plenty of water.
• In case of suspicion, call a veterinarian immediately.

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🐃 3. Black Quarter (BQ)

This disease is caused by the bacterium Clostridium chauvoei. It is especially found in young cows and buffaloes.

Identifying Symptoms:

• Swelling in the leg or shoulder, a crackling sound when pressed.
• High fever, weakness, loss of appetite.
• Rapid death (within 24–48 hours).

Prevention:

• Get the BQ vaccine administered every year in May-June.
• Do not graze animals in muddy or dirty places during the rainy season.
• Do not leave the carcass of a sick animal in the open; bury it in the ground.

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🌡️ 4. Fever and Infectious Diseases

Animals can also get a general fever due to heat or infection. This sometimes indicates the beginning of a dangerous disease.

Symptoms:

• Refusal to eat, reduced water intake.
• Runny nose, dull eyes.
• Body feels warm or ears feel cold.

Diagnosis:

Take the temperature with a thermometer.

The normal temperature of cows and buffaloes is 101.5°F to 102.5°F.

Treatment:

• Continue giving water and electrolytes.
• Administer antibiotic or paracetamol injections as advised by the doctor.

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🐐 5. Bloat (Tympany)

Bloat occurs when gas accumulates in the animal's stomach. It can even cause sudden death in cows and buffaloes.

Initial Symptoms:

• Swelling visible on the left side of the abdomen.
• The animal stops sitting and standing, shows restlessness.
• No belching, difficulty breathing.

Immediate Measures:

• Keep the animal standing and walk it gently.
• Administer oil (mustard/groundnut) mixed with water orally.
• In severe cases, have a trocar puncture performed by a veterinarian.

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🐄 6. Milk Fever

This disease occurs especially in high-yielding cows immediately after calving.

A deficiency of calcium in the body is the main cause.

Symptoms:

• Inability to stand up a few hours after calving.
• Cold ears, dull eyes, body tremors.
• Weakness in the legs and frequent lying down.

Treatment and Prevention:

• Calcium borogluconate injection under the supervision of a veterinarian.
• Provide a balanced diet and mineral mixture before calving.
• Protect the animal from sudden cold or rain.

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🐜 7. Tick and Fly Infestation

This problem is more common in the summer. These are blood-sucking parasites that spread diseases in the body.

Signs of Identification:

• Small red rashes on the skin, itching.
• Reduced milk production, restlessness.
• Sometimes ticks are found attached near the ears or tail.

Control Measures:

• Spray with Icthyol or Deltamethrin every 15 days.
• Keep the cowshed clean and sunny.
• Brush the animal regularly.

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🧫 8. Internal Parasites

These cause slow damage and are often not noticeable.

Symptoms:

• Gradual weight loss.
• Hair appears dry and lifeless.
• Reduced milk production and decreased appetite.

Measures:

• Administer deworming medicine (Albendazole / Fenbendazole) every 6 months.
• Pay special attention during summer and rainy seasons.
• Prevent accumulation of dung and water.

Do not let it spread.

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🦠 9. Mastitis (Inflammation of the Udder)

This is the most common disease in dairy animals, caused by bacterial infection in the udder.

Symptoms:

• The udder becomes hot and hard.
• The milk appears watery or curdled.
• The animal does not allow milking due to pain.

Prevention:

• Clean the udder before and after milking.
• Perform iodine dipping on dry teats.
• Start antibiotic therapy immediately if infection occurs.

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🐃 10. Hemorrhoids or Urinary Problems

This disease is mostly seen during summer or dry seasons.

Water scarcity and a hot diet are the causes.

Symptoms:

• The animal gets up frequently to urinate but passes only small amounts.
• Sometimes there is blood in the urine.
• Walking with a hunched back.

Remedies:

• Provide sufficient water.
• Reduce the amount of salt, oilcake, or raw grains.
• Give medication to increase urine flow as advised by the veterinarian.

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🥛 11. Digestive Disorders and Constipation

Sudden changes in fodder or feeding dry, old fodder can cause digestive problems.

Identification:

• The animal lies down and gets up frequently.
• The dung is dry or hard, sometimes absent.
• Loss of appetite.

Remedies:

• Maintain a balance of green and dry fodder.
• Take the animal for a short walk twice a day.
• If needed, give an Ayurvedic tonic or laxative.

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💉 12. Vaccination Schedule for Disease Prevention

Disease	Vaccine	Time/Duration
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)	FMD Vaccine	Every 6 months
Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS)	HS Vaccine	Every year in May-June
Black Quarter (BQ)	BQ Vaccine	Every year in May-June
Brucellosis	Brucella Vaccine	To female calves aged 6–8 months
Rabies	Anti-Rabies Vaccine	Every year

Always get vaccinations done under the supervision of a trained veterinarian and record the dates.

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13. General Rules for Caring for Sick Animals

• Keep the sick animal in a separate enclosure.
• Provide feed and water in clean containers.
• Ensure proper shade and ventilation.
• Clean up dung and urine regularly.
• Administer the full dose of medicine as prescribed by the veterinarian.

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🧘‍♂️ 14. Home and Natural Remedies (Supportive Measures)

In some mild cases, home remedies can be helpful, but always consult a veterinarian in serious situations.

• For excessive salivation: Give coconut water or fennel decoction.
• For indigestion: 50 grams of carom seeds + jaggery in warm water.
• At the onset of bloat: Give mustard oil + water slowly.
• For fever: Tulsi and Giloy extract.

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🌍 15. Conclusion – Healthy Animals, Prosperous Farmers

Animal diseases not only cause economic losses but also affect the livelihood of the entire family. Therefore, it is essential for every livestock farmer to have knowledge of disease identification, vaccination, and hygiene. With timely identification and treatment, most diseases can be easily controlled.

Remember – “Animals don't speak, but their bodies definitely give signals.” Recognizing those signals is the mark of a successful livestock farmer.

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✍️ Author: Dr. Mukesh Swami (Veterinarian and Editor, Pashupalan.co.in)