Hypothyroidism

 #Hypothyroidism:

🛑Hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone deficiency. It is diagnosed by clinical features such as lethargy, weight gain, obesity, haircoat changes, and low serum thyroid hormone concentrations

♦️What is a common symptom of hypothyroidism in animals?

Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid condition, is a relatively common endocrine disorder in dogs. It is less common in other species. Hypothyroidism causes the bodily functions to slow down. Clinical signs of the disorder include lethargy, weight gain, and haircoat and skin changes.

♦️What organs are affected by hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism can affect the heart and circulatory system in several ways. Lower production of thyroid hormone slows your heart rate. Hypothyroidism also makes the arteries less elastic, and blood pressure rises in order to circulate blood around the body.

♦️Types of Hypothyroidism

🛑Transient hypothyroidism: Abnormal thyroid hormone levels at birth caused by exposure to thyroid medication from the mother or by mother's antibodies. It usually goes away and does not need long-term treatment.

🛑Congenital hypothyroidism: Present at birth and found through newborn screening.

♦️What is the most common known cause of hypothyroidism.

Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. With this disease, your immune system attacks the thyroid. The thyroid becomes inflamed and can't make enough thyroid hormones.

  ♦️Symptoms of an underactive thyroid

🛑tiredness.

🛑being sensitive to cold.

🛑weight gain.

🛑constipation.

🛑depression.

🛑slow movements and thoughts.

🛑muscle aches and weakness.

🛑muscle cramps.

♦️How do you diagnose hypothyroidism?

🛑A blood test measuring your hormone levels is the only accurate way to find out whether there's a problem.

🛑The first blood test typically done to diagnose hypothyroidism measures the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood.

♦️What antibiotics treat thyroid?

First-line antibiotic choices to treat acute thyroiditis include parenteral penicillin or ampicillin. These drugs cover most of the gram-positive cocci and anaerobes that cause the disease.

♦️What is the drug of choice for hypothyroidism?

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is usually treated by taking daily hormone replacement tablets called levothyroxine. Levothyroxine replaces the thyroxine hormone, which your thyroid does not make enough of. You'll initially have regular blood tests until the correct dose of levothyroxine is reached.

♦️How long is treatment for hypothyroidism?

For most cases of mild to moderate hypothyroidism, a starting levothyroxine dosage of 50-75 µg/day will suffice. Clinical benefits begin in 3-5 days and level off after 4-6 weeks. Achieving a TSH level within the reference range may take several months because of delayed readaptation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

Share:

Read More

CHICKEN INFECTIOUS ANEMIA

🐣CHICKEN INFECTIOUS ANEMIA 🐓

(CIA; Chicken Anemia Virus; Chicken Anemia Agent; Blue Wing Disease)

🔴DEFINITION

Chicken infectious anemia (CIA)is a disease of young chickens characterized by aplastic anemia, generalized lymphoid atrophy,subcutaneous and intramuscular hemorrhage, and immunodepression.

🌍OCCURRENCE 

CIA is ubiquitous in all major chicken-producing countries  

in the world.

⭕️ETIOLOGY

1_CIAV is classified into genus Gyrovirus of the family Circoviridae. 

2_Viral particles are non enveloped and are environmentally very resistant. 

3_They have a diameter of approximately 25 nm and contain a single-stranded circular DNA genome[SSDNA].

4_Although viral isolates may differ at a molecular level antigenic or pathogenicity differences have not been reported.

🌏EPIDEMIOLOGY

1_All ages are susceptible to infection but clinical disease is typically seen only during the first 2 to 4 weeks. However, age resistance may be delayed by simultaneous infection with infectious bursal disease virus. 

2_The virus is spread both vertically and horizontally.

🔻The most important method of transmission is vertical  

from infected hens.

🔻Antibody-negative chicks are most susceptible to clinical disease.

🔻CIA virus also easily spreads via feces among birds in a population.

🟡CLINICAL SIGNS 

1_The only specific sign of CIAV infection is anemia characterized by hematocrit values ranging from 6 to 27 (normal hematocrit values are generally 29-35%).

2_Nonspecific clinical signs include

A_Depression

B_Pale tissues

C_Depressed weight gain

D_Secondary bacterial, mycotic, and viral infections.

3_Morbidity and mortality rates depend on various viral, host and environmental factors and concurrent infection with other agents. Uncomplicated CIA may only cause low mortality and poor performance. When complicated with other factors mortality can be 30% or even higher. 

4_Early infections with CIAV can interfere with vaccination against Marek’s disease or infectious bursal disease.

🟣LESIONS 

1_Marked thymic atrophy is the most consistent lesion.

2_Fatty yellowish bone marrow, particularly in the femur, is characteristic  

3_Bursal atrophy can also be seen in a small number of  

birds. 

4_Hemorrhages in the mucosa of the proventriculus,subcutis, and muscles may also be observed  

5_Secondary bacterial infections may occur and include gangrenous dermatitis or blue wing disease if the wings are affected 

6_Histologically, there is marked thymic lymphoid depletion and marked atrophy of all cell lines in the bone marrow 

🔻The bursal lymphoid follicles  

are mildly to severely depleted and spleen and other tissues with lymphoid aggregates are variably depleted.

🔻There may be histological evidence of secondary bacterial infections including gangrenous dermatitis.

🔬DIAGNOSIS 

1_A presumptive diagnosis is based upon clinical signs and gross lesions.

2_Isolation in cell cultures (MDCC-CU147 or MSB1) and identification of the virus from most tissues, buffy coat cells,and cloacal contents.

3_Serologic assays to detect antibodies such as the ELISA, virus neutralization test, and indirect immunofluorescence. 

4_PCR is the test of choice for identification of CIA virus in cell cultures and chicken tissues.

🔰CONTROL 

✅Best prevention is by immunization of breeder flocks prior to the onset of egg production (between 13-15 weeks of age but no closer to egg production than 4 weeks).

💊TREATMENT 

▪️No treatment is available.

🔄ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL 

🔸None reported.

Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

Share:

Read More

Poisoning in animals

 ⚠Poisoning in animals:

◻Poisons are substances that cause disturbances in animal body by chemical reaction or other activities , when vital organ of animal bod y absorbs a sufficient quantity of poison .

⭕Three Main Principles of treatment in cases of poisoning :

1- Removal of the residual poison from the alimentary tract or skin. 

2- Provision of chemical and physiological antidotes to the poison that has been absorbed 

3- Effective supportive care, nursing, and convalescent care. 

▶In farm animals

🔵Gastric lavage and emetics are of little or no practical value and the removal of residual poison from the alimentary tract depends largely upon the use of adsorbents and purgatives.

🔻The only effective adsorbent is activated charcoal. The dose rate is 1-3 g/kg BW

🔻A purgative is necessary to remove the combined adsorbent and poison;it can be administered simultaneously with the adsorbent. 

🔻The non-absorbable oil purgatives(e.g. mineral oil) are preferable in case of irritant  

poison

🔻Saline purgatives (sodium sulfate) are of value in the treatment of non-irritant poisons such as cyanogenetic glucosides. 

🧪Antidote are substances which oppose the effects of poisons without causing damage to body 

🔴Types of Antidotes 

1_Mechanical or physical antidote: 

🔹These substances prevents the absorption of poison by their presence eg:demulcents(fats, oils, milk, egg albumin) are used for corrosive and irritant poisoning

🔘Activated charcoal is used for strychnine and mineral poisoning. 

2_Chemical antidotes: 

🔹These substances neutralize the chemical action or oxidize the poison into nontoxic or insoluble form eg: Dilute acetic acid ,dilute alkali(milk of magnesia),tannin(strong tea),potassium permanganate 

3_Physiological or pharmacological antidotes 

🔹These produce action or effects opposite to that by poison eg:atropine and oximes for organophosphorous poison,naloxone for morphine, N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen

4_Chelating antidote : 

🔹These are substances which produce form chelates(non ionized complexes) with cations these are mostly used in heavy metal poisoning eg:

🔶EDTA is used in Arsenic,mercury,lead 

🔸BAL(dimercaptopropanol) is used in heavy metal poisons 

🔸Versenate is used in Arsenic,mercury and lead 

5_Universal Antidote:

🔹It is Given when unknown poison is ingested 

💊Composition:

(1)_Powdered charcoal 2 parts 

(2)_Magnesium oxide 1 part 

(3)_Tannic acid 1 part

Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

Share:

Read More

𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀

 ⚠𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀  ?

Ingestion of plastic materials by animals and it's signs:☟︎︎︎☟︎

▪️Ingestion of plastic materials may not result in immediate death, but there are several difficult symptoms seen in the victim animals.

These plastics are indigestible and therefore pile up in their stomachs (rumen for cattle) with time and get entangled with different materials, forming a hard cement-like ball.

After some time, the animal shows signs of being weak and tired then goes off feed and at times experiences bloat due to stomach blockage. The animal may also start drinking a lot of water.

What follows high amount of water intake may be diarrhoea because of blockage except in liquids. This animal’s condition gets poorer every day to an extent of showing extreme discomfort, and if no action is taken, the animal dies.

𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 📑

▪️There is no vaccination that will help keep your animal safe from ingesting plastic bags. Your animal will also not pass large plastic material through the waste.

Some are lucky though, to pass them out when consumed in smaller pieces. There are no drugs for destroying plastic bags while in the animals’ stomach.

Luckily, some people have successfully used laxatives like high quantities of mineral oils, given to the animal to help breakdown solid materials and smoothen plastic to increase chances of slippery passage. This on the other hand, could complicate diarrhea.

As such, a sure way to try and save the animal from death is surgery to remove the plastics plus other waste items from the stomach by the help of a veterinary surgeon.

Surgery, again, will cost you much money, just imagine doctors’ fees and the loss of the animal whether most valued in the farm or not. It can be this painful, just because of the plastics we ignore around the animals. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is better than cure, keep the animal surrounding free of plastics, be selective on where to gather your animals to forage and ensure mineral supplements are availed to the animals.

Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

Share:

Read More

Listeriosis

 🔴Listeriosis

🔻Listeriosis is a sporadic bacterial infection that affects a wide range of animals, including man and birds.

🔻It is principally caused by Listeria monocytogenes, and occasionally by L.ivanovii.

🔻The natural habitat is soil and the mammalian intestinal tract and vegetation and silage become contaminated with soil and/or feces.

🔻Humans acquire infection by consuming not well cooked animal products.

🟡Clinical Symptoms 

🔘The characteristic symptoms are

1_Encephalitis or Meningoencephalitis

2_Abortion in adult cattle

3_Perinatal mortality

4_Septicemia

5_Fever in neonatal ruminants.

☑️Animals with encephilitis propel themselves into corners, lean against stationary objects, or circle toward the affected side.

☑️Facial paralysis, and inability to control balance are also observed. 

🔴Listeria Infection causes of abortion in a cow

🟥At any stage of gestation 

🟦Sporadic abortion.

🟧The fetal liver is shrunken and gray and contains pinpoint microabscesses.

🟪Necrosis of the cotyledons and intercotyledonary area Culture of Listeria from fetus or placenta.

🔬Diagnosis 

1_Isolation of L.monocytogenes from brain🧠

2_Aborted placenta and fetus 3_Occasionally from the spinal fluid, nasal discharge,urine, feces, and milk of clinically ill ruminants.

💉Treatment and Prevention💉 

💉Supportive treatment

1_Fluid, electrolyte 

2_supplemental feeding for severe cases.

💊Drug treatment

⭕️First line

1_Procaine penicillin G,  IM or SC q 12 h for

Follow my page on Facebook Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

Share:

Read More

Bovine Anaplasmosis

 🔴Bovine Anaplasmosis

🔻Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne bacterial disease of ruminants caused by obligate intraerythrocytic parasites of the genus Anaplasma.

🔻Clinical bovine anaplasmosis is usually caused by Anaplasma marginale.

🔻Cattle are also infected with Anaplasma caudatum, which may result in severe disease, and Anaplasma centrale, which generally results in mild disease. 

🔻The tick vectors of anaplasmosis include

1_Boophilus.

2_Dermacentor.

3_Rhipicephalus.

4_Ixodes.

5_Hyalomma.

6_Argas.

7_Ornithodoros genera.

🟡Clinical Symptoms 

🔘Signs include

1_Fever.

2_Progressive anaemia.

3_Icterus.

4_Inapparent in endemic areas and young calves.

🔘Other signs  evident in the later stage include

1_Drop in milk production.

2_Inappetence.

3_Loss of coordination. 4_Breathlessness when exerted.

5_Rapid bounding pulse which are usually evident in the late 

stages.

6_Mucous membranes appear pale and then yellow. 

7_Pregnant cows may abort.

8_Calves are much more resistant to disease (though not infection) than older cattle.

🔬Diagnosis

🔘Microscopical examination of Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood films

⭕️Other tests include

1_Complement fixation test.

2_Card agglutination tests used for the diagnosis of anaplasmosis

💊Treatment and Prevention  

🔘Non-drug treatment

💉Supportive therapy may be necessary in dehydration or anaemic animals

💊Drug treatment 

1_Oxytetracycline (LA) 

Or 

2_Chloramphenicol  

Or  

3_Imidocarb dipropionate 

🛡Prevention 

✔️Tick control

🟥Management 

🔘Soft ticks 

🔻All niches and crevices in affected building should be  

sprayed with acaricides. 

🔘Hard ticks 

1_Control of one host-ticks:

🔻Acaricide spray or dip every 21 days however, to control all nymphs, treat every 12 days during tick season.

2_Control of two-host and three-ticks: 

🔻Weekly dipping during the tick season. 

🔘Other control options include:

🔻Cultivation of land, improved drainage, vaccines (recently developed)

Follow my page on Facebook Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

Share:

Read More

Poisonings in animals

 🔴Poisonings in animals🧪

🔻Poisons are substances that cause disturbances in animal body by chemical reaction or other activities , when vital organ of animal body absorbs a sufficient quantity of poison .

🟢Three Main Principles of treatment in cases of poisoning :

1- Removal of the residual poison from the alimentary tract or skin. 

2- Provision of chemical and physiological antidotes to the poison that has been absorbed 

3- Effective supportive care, nursing, and convalescent care. 

🛑In farm animals

🔻Gastric lavage and emetics are of little or no practical value and the removal of residual poison from the alimentary tract depends largely upon the use of adsorbents and purgatives.

🔻The only effective adsorbent is activated charcoal. The dose rate is 1-3 g/kg BW

🔻A purgative is necessary to remove the combined adsorbent and poison;it can be administered simultaneously with the adsorbent. 

🔻The non-absorbable oil purgatives(e.g. mineral oil) are preferable in case of irritant  

poison

🔻Saline purgatives (sodium sulfate) are of value in the treatment of non-irritant poisons such as cyanogenetic glucosides. 

🧪Antidote are substances which oppose the effects of poisons without causing damage to body 

🔴Types of Antidotes 

1_Mechanical or physical antidote: 

🔹These substances prevents the absorption of poison by their presence eg:demulcents(fats, oils, milk, egg albumin) are used for corrosive and irritant poisoning

🔘Activated charcoal is used for strychnine and mineral poisoning. 

2_Chemical antidotes: 

🔹These substances neutralize the chemical action or oxidize the poison into nontoxic or insoluble form eg: Dilute acetic acid ,dilute alkali(milk of magnesia),tannin(strong tea),potassium permanganate 

3_Physiological or pharmacological antidotes 

🔹These produce action or effects opposite to that by poison eg:atropine and oximes for organophosphorous poison,naloxone for morphine, N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen

4_Chelating antidote : 

🔹These are substances which produce form chelates(non ionized complexes) with cations these are mostly used in heavy metaul poisoning eg:

🔶EDTA is used in Arsenic,mercury,lead 

🔸BAL(dimercaptopropanol) is used in heavy metal poisons 

🔸Versenate is used in Arsenic,mercury and lead 

5_Universal Antidote:

🔹It is Given when unknown poison is ingested 

💊Composition:

(1)_Powdered charcoal 2 parts 

(2)_Magnesium oxide 1 part 

(3)_Tannic acid 1 part

Plz follow Dr Abuzar Ghaffari on Facebook 

Share:

Read More

Fatty liver syndrome is the accumulation of fat within the cow's liver

 Fatty liver syndrome is the accumulation of fat within the cow's liver.

Cause

Fatty liver occurs as a result of the cow breaking down too much fat for the liver to process properly. Fat mobilisation occurs as a result of negative energy balance. The broken down far is then converted back to fat in the liver to prevent them becoming toxic. Thus the liver becomes fat when the cow is losing condition, the more loss in condition the more fat in the liver.

Fatty liver can develop within 24 hours of an animal going off feed. This is typically around calving time.

Once it is deposited in the liver, the concentration of fat in the liver does not fall until the cow gets into positive energy balance, which can be over ten weeks after calving, particularly if the fatty liver is severe. Fat cows (Body Condition Score greater than 3.5) are much more prone to fatty liver.

Symptoms

Lower milk yields

Depressed appetite

Incidences of milk fever, ketosis, mastitis, retained fetal membranes etc

Reduced fertility

Blood tests will show elevated nonesterified fatty acid concentrations (NEFA) levels (free fatty acids) and increased ketones.

Treatment

Without treatment mortality can be as high as 25 per cent.

Besides longterm IV infusion of glucagon, there is no proven treatment for fatty liver.

Fatty liver is an important economic disease because cows that develop fatty liver are affected by multiple metabolic and infectious diseases; they reduce milk production, and are frequently culled.

Treatment

Without treatment mortality can be as high as 25 per cent.

Besides longterm IV infusion of glucagon, there is no proven treatment for fatty liver.

Fatty liver is an important economic disease because cows that develop fatty liver are affected by multiple metabolic and infectious diseases; they reduce milk production, and are frequently culled.

Prevention

Ensuring that cows are calving at the correct body condition would prevent the breakdown of fat and fatty liver. An ideal body condition score to calf would be between 2.5 to 3. Cows should be dried of at this score and weight maintained through the dry period.

Changing diets during this period should be avoided.

Glucose supplements can be given to overfat animals as preventative measure.

Minimising stress is important for prevention of fatty liver. Sudden changes in environment should be avoided. For example, changes in ration, housing, temperature, herdmates, etc may cause a reduction in feed intake and trigger catecholamine-mediated increases in fat mobilisation.

Keep following Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

Share:

Read More

Cow Parturition Indicators

 Cow Parturition Indicators:

***************************

How to know when a cow will calve?

Cow calving and knowing when your cow will calve is important because it can mean the difference between the life or death of your calf, cow or both. 

So therefore it is important to know what to look out for when your cow is about to give birth. Cows are very much like humans, all different with different problems.

Many people dream about the good life and homesteading and also would like to own a milking cow for cheese making. However, this also means that the cow has to be mated on a regular basis and she will eventually have her calf or sometimes calves if there are twins. When you are placed in a situation like this without having any knowledge of cow calving it can be a little overwhelming.

Hopefully, when your cow was mated you were present and know the month that the calf is expected. It is also hoped that your cow was mated with a bull of either the same cattle breed or size. You would have lots of problems if your Jersey cow had been mated with a large Hereford bull.

1.Calving and knowing the due date:

Knowing the month of the calf's due birth makes things a lot easier and if you are vigilant you will be able to follow the progress. One of the first signs of cow pregnancy will be the cow's increase in appetite and enlarging of the udder. 

The enlarging of the udder usually happens at 7 months. If you are still milking your cow, she should be dried off 6 weeks before the calving. If your cow is very small, it is even better to dry her off at 12 weeks before the calving to allow her to put on weight and take time to grow a little.

2.Calving and the week before:

In the last week of before cow calving there are obvious signs known. The abdomen is distended, milk veins under the stomach can easily be seen, often in a v-shape under the belly. 

The backside of the cow becomes loose and the udders start to swell. Also the ribs won't be that visible and increased feeding with a heavy dropped stomach are other signs.

3. 24 hours before calving:

Within 24 hours of cow calving the cow will move very slowly, dragging her back legs slightly or walking with a rolling gait. 

The ribs are also more evident now as the stomach has dropped. As much as two days before the calving process your cow will start looking for a quiet calving spot away from the rest of the cows or farm noise. So look out for this type of behavior in looking for that quiet bush or tall reeds to hide in.

4.Hours before calving:

Within the hours of cow calving the cow is acting strangely, often restless and a white transparent membrane is often seen weeping from the back passage. Within an hour or so of seeing this you will see the calf's hooves appearing. 

If the hooves are in the proper position they should be coming out together, one on top of the other and facing downwards. If the hooves are facing upwards this means trouble because it means that the calf is either upside down or back to front - both conditions need a vet.

5.During the calving:

During cow calving the cow will stand or lie down as often as she feels comfortable and her moving between these two positions is quite normal. 

As soon as her waters break she will sniff the area and start mooing as she believes that the calf is somehow there. 

However, when the contractions come thick and fast and she is ready to calve the cow will lie down and start pushing. 

With the hooves emerging first the head follows, and then the shoulders. Because this is the broadest part of the calf this is the most difficult for the cow and she may take her time during this process. 

Once the calf is finally out the cow will lick the calf vigorously getting rid of the membrane covering the calf.

Licking the calf is important in cow calving as it stimulates the calf's blood flow and it will also form an important bond between mum and baby. 

Mum will often moo and the calf will answer and try to stand on its wobbly legs. Within 20 minutes it will be up on its feed and start

Keep following Dr Abuzar Ghaffari 

Share:

Read More