1. Animal Health
Chapter #5

2. What Causes Disease?
Germs: bacteria, viruses, protozoa from poor hygene
Parasites: worms, insects
Infestations: external parasites eg. lice, ticks
Infectious: internal disease
Injury: handling, facilities
Inherited Genes
Poor Nutrition: easiest to correct
toxic materials in plants, nitrogen content
underfed stock, lack of mineral supplements
Stress – lack of water, mental stress

3. Disease Infectious Disease: spread by contact
Confinement Systems: disease easily spread
Animal Waste: host for germs
Soil Born Disease: live in soil
footrot
facial eczema
staggers
alternate pastures

4. Disease From water & feed: chemical residues, waste
From air: germs, chemicals, fungal spores
Diseases divided according to how rapid they progress:
Acute: rapid progression (bloat, mastitis,footrot) all generally have a rapid increase in body temperature
Chronic: last a long time (cancer), costly to fight
Some are localized: mastitis, pink eye

5. Vital Signs Pulse: high under left foreflank or over jawbone
Respiration: rate of breathing
Temperature: most reliable & constant
taken rectally
rise of 3 deg F is considered serious
Symptoms: not eat, isoalte self, lack alertness, mucous discharge, droopy, lowered head, swelling, bleeding, abnormal bowel movements, worms in feces, unusual walk, abnormal behavior

6. Disease Prevention Maintain a healthy animal - good nutrition
- low stress
Sanitation: -
- bury dead stock in an offal pit
- clean teats during milking
- clean out pig and poultry enclosures
Vaccination: build up antibodies to fight disease
Drench, dip, crutch, check feet for footrot

7. Parasite Control Some parasites may be passed to humans
hydatids, bladder worms
Worming usually done in spring
Insectisides: apply insecticide dips by hand jetting or pour-ons
Sanitation: remove waste, disinfect floors & walls, remove dead animals, insect & rodent control, repair equipment, proper bedding
Pig houses: steam clean & disinfect
Pile manure to kill germs (heat)
Trap flies in drums to prevent flystrike