Health Care, Common Diseases and First Aid of Farm Animals
Domain 9: Health Care, Common Diseases and First Aid of Farm Animals
This domain tests recognition of common diseases, vaccination and biosecurity, and safe first aid. Questions often give signs and ask for the likely disease or the immediate action.
Disease groups
- Viral: foot-and-mouth disease causes salivation, blisters on the mouth and feet, and lameness; it is notifiable. Vaccinate regularly.
- Bacterial: haemorrhagic septicaemia causes sudden fever and swelling of the neck and throat; black quarter causes a crepitating muscle swelling; anthrax causes sudden death with tarry blood; brucellosis causes abortion and infertility.
- Metabolic: milk fever from hypocalcaemia around calving, ketosis in early lactation, bloat and acidosis from feed.
- Mastitis: udder swelling and clots in milk; test with the California mastitis test and treat under veterinary advice.
- Parasites: ticks, lice, mange and roundworms; use approved acaricides and dewormers with withdrawal periods.
First aid principles
Restrain safely, check breathing and temperature, control bleeding, clean wounds, isolate the animal and call a veterinarian. Do not give human drugs or antibiotics without advice; record all treatments and observe milk withdrawal.
Worked example
A buffalo is bloated on the left flank, breathing fast, after a sudden feed of lush legumes. Reason: ruminal tympany. Immediate action: remove feed, walk the animal and call the veterinarian; trocarisation is a veterinary procedure, not routine farmer first aid. Do not drench with oil into a gas-filled rumen without advice.
Traps
Treating viral foot-and-mouth disease with antibiotics; confusing haemorrhagic septicaemia and black quarter swellings; and selling milk during a drug withdrawal period.