BORDER VETERINA RY CLINIC NEWSLETTER combination of genetics and environmental influences including allergies to grasses etc, parasites (fleas/mites) and other contact irritants. These conditions are exacerbated by imbalances in the skin, particularly related to oil and moisture content, which reduce the skin s ability to act as a natural barrier against allergens and infection Staff News September 2012 There are several types of allergies, including atopy (allergy to pollens, dust mites etc in the air), contact allergies (grass and plants), flea bite hypersensitivity and less commonly, food allergies. We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Dr Josh Berryman to Border Vet Clinic. Josh, a Queenslander, completed his veterinary training at Townsville University in 2010. Upon graduation he accepted a position at Mt Isa where he honed his skills in companion animal medicine and surgery and equine medicine. He has a keen interest in cattle medicine and surgery and hopes to develop his skill set in these areas over the coming years. Being a Queenslander, Josh is an avid follower of Rugby League, but is willing to transfer his footy code allegiance to AFL. He has been warned though, choosing Collingwood to support is a sackable offence! Based in Kerang, and already looking into sporting opportunities, we have no doubt Josh will settle in well and make his mark in the community. We wish Josh the best and hope he enjoys his time at Border Vets. SMALL ANIMAL TALK Allergic Skin Disease Spring time is now upon us, and while we are all looking forward to some warm weather, this time of year also marks the beginning of allergic skin disease in many of our pets. Signs of skin disease: Contact allergy Itching Skin rashes Dry, scaly skin Smelly, greasy skin Hair loss Increased coat odour Breeds of dog prone to allergies: West Highland White Terrier German Shepherd Bull Terrier Pug Cocker Spaniel Labrador Golden Retriever During the spring and summer months, the amount of dogs suffering from itchy, dry skin is greatly increased. This is due to a
Ways to improve your pet s grooming routine: 1. Use a shampoo formulated for dogs Dogs have very different coat and skin from our own, thus they require different grooming products. Human products are too acidic for a dog s skin. 2. Use a gentle shampoo Choose a mild, sulphate free dog shampoo. Some dog shampoos contain harsh chemicals which may strip natural oils from the skin. Long term, this may dry out skin. This is particularly important for puppies, breeds prone to skin allergies and dogs with sensitive skin. 3. Use a good conditioner after bathing Using a conditioner after bathing is important to nourish and replenish the natural oils in the coat and skin. Conditioner also leaves the dog s coat soft and silky smooth. 4. Groom your dog daily Brushing daily will de-tangle knots, remove dirt and allergens, and improve ventilation to the skin. Daily brushing also allows for quality time between you and your pet. 6. Ensure your pet has a good flea control program. Many of the itchy dogs we see at the clinic suffer from flea allergies. A topical flea treatment such as Frontline from your veterinary clinic should be applied monthly. It is also important to frequently wash your pet s bedding and spray outdoor kennels with an appropriate insecticide. Mosquito allergies can also be a problem. Advantix is a mosquito and fly repellent in addition to controlling fleas. This product is also available at all of our clinics. Treatment of allergies Although the above grooming tips will help improve skin condition and appearance, some pets may require veterinary treatment. If your pet is suffering from a skin allergy, please make an appointment at your preferred clinic for a full health check and assessment with a vet. Dog & Cat Grooming 5. Supplement your pet s diet with Omega oils A diet rich in omega 3 & 6 oils, or supplementing their diet with oral omega fatty acid supplements also help keep your dog s skin healthy. Our Cohuna and Kerang clinics offer a complete dog and cat grooming service. The services offered include: A topical omega spot on can also help to replenish the skin. This is especially useful for cats, or dogs who are not easily/frequently bathed. Stripping Clipping Hydrobath & flea rinse Blow Dry Nail clip So, if your Rover needs a makeover or your cat needs a clean-up, call your preferred clinic to make an appointment!
DAIRY COW TALK Endometritis Getting cows back in calf is one of the greatest challenges facing dairy farmers today. Feed availability and condition score, milk production at the time of joining, the calving to joining interval, heat detection techniques and cow genetics are some of the variables influencing conception rates. If you believe that you are adequately addressing these issues and yet your herd fertility seems to be slipping, it might be worthwhile considering what effect endometritis (uterine infection) is having on your conception rates. In the past we have strongly recommended that cows with a high risk of developing endometritis should be vet checked at least 3 weeks prior to mating start date. High risk cows include those treated for metabolic disease (ie milk fever), required calving assistance or have had twins or a dead calf, retained afterbirth or have been induced to calve. A recent study conducted by Maffra Veterinary Clinic has shown these high risk animals represent the tip of the ice-berg and whilst endometritis is more commonly diagnosed in these animals, it represents less than 30% of all cases of endometritis in a herd. The study, undertaken to assess endometritis, looked at risk factors and diagnosis, when to treat and the costeffectiveness of the procedure. In summary, the results revealed a significant difference in reproductive performance between animals treated for endometritis and those left to selfcure. It also demonstrated costeffectiveness. So what can be done to reduce the level of endometritis in your herd? All cows should be examined ( Metrichecked ) 7 to 28 days post-calving. The discharge is scored 0 to 3, and animals positive for pus receive a treatment. To examine all cows at the appropriate time interval would usually require 2 or 3 farm visits during the calving and pre-joining period. If you would like more information on endometritis and metrichecking your herd please contact one of our vets. Bloat Pasture bloat is an over distension of the rumen with gases produced due to bacterial fermentation. The cause of so called frothy bloat is the production of stable foam which traps gases that are normally produced during rumen fermentation. In a healthy animal, these small gas bubbles merge together and form larger bubbles and free gas, which is eructated (burped up) by the cow. In a cow with bloat, the stable foam prevents elimination of gases, resulting in distension of the rumen and thus abdomen. There are many factors involved in the production of the stable foam, but risk factors include: Pasture type: Pasture with high legume content (clover or lucerne) A clover content of over 50% is considered dangerous, but levels below this have caused problems when new succulent growth is abundant.
Cow behaviour: Animals that are hungry prior to going onto a high risk pasture are more likely to develop bloat due to rapid engorgement. Treatment Prevention is the best method for treatment of bloat. However, if it does occur, IMMEDIATE action is required Early/mild cases Remove from pasture Oral treatment with anti-bloat preparation Moderately affected - may require veterinary attention Stomach tubing to relieve build-up of gas followed by drenching with bloat oil Severe cases Cow is grossly distended on both sides and has groaning, laboured respiration If animal has gone down, death is rapid and pressure needs to be immediately relieved Rapid relief may be achieved by stabbing the cow high on the LEFT flank using a trocar or guarded knife In extreme cases the hole may need to be extended with a knife to enable foam and rumen contents be removed from the grossly distended rumen (this will require stitching by a veterinarian). requires a combination of cow observation, the use of rumen modifying agents and good pasture management. Rumensin: Feeding rumensin is a key component in preventing bloat. Rumensin alters the microbial flora of the rumen in a manner which limits gas production and the formation of foam. Rumensin is readily mixed into pelleted feeds or included as an additive for grain mixes. Pasture management: Restrict pasture intake by limiting grazing time or strip grazing pasture Supply fibre (hay) to encourage chewing of cud and fill animals up prior to turning onto pasture Spray pasture daily with pasture oil Drench cows twice daily with antibloat preparations Add bloat oil to the water supply Use anti-bloat blocks or licks Use anti-bloat capsules Observe cows closely, if some are showing signs of bloat within a few hours of entering a paddock they should be removed from that pasture. For this reason, avoid grazing high risk pastures overnight when observation of the animals is difficult. Farmers should be aware that the above preventative measures will not guarantee that every animal will be protected from bloat. Careful observation of animals on high risk pastures is recommended. Prevention There is no one single method that is 100% effective against preventing bloat. It usually SEASONAL REMINDERS Calf vaccinations ALL calves should be vaccinated with 7 in 1 at 6 weeks and again at 3 months of age Check freshly calving cows for eye cancers Start thinking about vaccination against Pink Eye (Piliguard). The flies are coming!