Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued l Two types of “lines” in the body’s defense against disease organisms »External Defense –Skin, hair, feathers, fur, sweating, etc. –Mucous Membranes Nose, tearing in the eyes –Gut High acid which is difficult to pass through –Cell Wall Coated with Mucous and Cilia

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (365) Continued –Coughing up disease organisms which may have been swallowed –Urination »Internal Defense –White Blood Cells Help fight off infection –Lymphatic system Filters out pathogens –Liver Filters blood & detoxifies poisons

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued –Antibodies  Produced by body to fight off pathogens »If pathogens make it past both defense “Lines”, they will multiply, attach, and destroy body tissue »Some typical signs are: –Redness from increase blood to injured area –Swelling –Temperature change in body/injury area –Pain resulting

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued l Predisposing Conditions-ways in which the animal could become ill  Overworked  Harsh weather conditions  Long Shipping (Shipping Fever)  Weaning  Injury  Management practices (Docking, Castration, Branding, Tagging, Dehorning, etc.)

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued  Stagnant Water  Spoiled feeds & Poisonous Plants l Diseases Spread  Rubbing against each other  Rubbing against non-living things (fences, trucks, feeders, needles)  Infection from soil (tetanus, Blackleg)  Infection from H2O/feed (influenza, viral infections)

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued  Airborne infection (coughing, sneezing)  Infection from blood suckers (mosquitoes & Flies) l Good Management Practices Be alert of stress and strain on animals Provide clean,free from draft, disinfected area’s Plenty ventilation and sunlight Proper drainage of waste in barns, stalls, & holding area’s

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued No overcrowding Well balanced diet Diagnosis health problem and start treatments right away Buy disease-free stock from auctions Separate new animals from herd for period of time to be safe of diseases Have a set vaccination program

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued Careful on people visiting from other farms that may be carrying pathogens on clothes or shoes Dispose of dead animals immediately

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued  IMMUNITY-is the condition of being able to effectively combat infection.  Two different ways: –Antibodies which are produced by the body to fight diseases –Immunization (vaccination) usually made to fight a specific diseases

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued  Immunity or Resistance to Disease  Natural Immunity: protection an animal has when it is born –Inherited from parents  Acquired Immunity : antibodies from other animal or from exposure to the disease –Passive Immunity: transferring antibodies from an immunized to unimmunized animal l Last three weeks l Young get from Mothers, example milk within first 24 hours

Animal Ways of Fighting The Unseen Enemy (3057) Continued –Active Immunity: Direct contact with the disease that cause the body to produce antibodies to combat invasion l Antibodies can be made to fight off the disease during contracting or recovering