What’s Normal or Not — Detecting Signs of Illness in Cattle “An animal with a cocked tail
and maintaining that tail position — that hasn’t just defecated or uri- nated — may be another clue. If it’s a pregnant cow and she’s straining, this may indicate a dystocia. If it’s a stocker animal maybe it indicates an abdominal issue. Some infectious diseases or toxins can produce ab- normal posturing in tail carriage or the way they are standing, or position of head and neck. “Any sort of different, abnor-
mal or unexpected posturing of the body could be signs for certain things you might need to investi- gate,” Mays says. Lying down in an abnormal or
awkward position may mean a sore or dislocated leg, or an attempt to ease internal pain. An animal with pneumonia may lie on the breast- bone for easier breathing. A sick animal often lies with head tucked
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around toward the fl ank. This is also a normal sleeping position, but if the animal is not sleeping, the head-tucked-around position may mean she’s not feeling well. Lack of desire to get up when
approached is usually a clue she is sick, unless she is a pet and has total trust of people.
How does she move? An animal that feels good will
usually stretch with she fi rst gets up, and has an interest in her sur- roundings. She responds with cu- riosity to sounds, motion, etc. The healthy animal is alert and perky. She will also spend some time lick- ing herself. When traveling, she moves freely and easily, with en- ergy. By contrast, the sick animal may
be dull, with decreased interest in things around her (less response
to external stimuli) because she is more tuned in to her own internal misery. She may be standing with eyes closed and head drooping. If she was lying down, she gets up slowly or with effort, and may not stretch. She is usually too preoccu- pied with discomfort to lick herself. Movement may be slow and me-
thodical or pained. If you make her move, she will usually walk slowly rather than feeling energetic or frisky. Movement will be with economy of effort. An animal with pain, discomfort or fever doesn’t move “right” and does not have the sparkle of vitality and health exhibited by a normal animal. “If the animal moves with sore- ness or discomfort,
this should
make you suspicious,” says Mays. “Sometimes they might drag their toes, especially the hind legs, or knuckle over in the ankle joints.”
September 2013 The Cattleman 91
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