Other Health Problems

Pneumonia and Other Respiratory Disorders

Respiratory illnesses can occur in all species and are often caused by some of the normal flora that has gotten out of control when an animal is stressed. Stress caused by poor management (such as drafts or ammonia fumes in buildings, and poor nutrition) or the transportation of animals is often the underlying cause of respiratory illnesses. It is very common in young animals of all species.

Treatment for Respiratory Disease

If mature animals have no fever and are still eating well, we simply keep an eye on them, but respiratory illness in young animals is again far more serious. Keep them warm, administer electrolytes, and call the vet if the problem persists for more than 24 hours or seems to be getting worse.

If your animals are going to come into contact with other animals – for example, if you plan to show them, or if you’ll be bringing new animals in and out of your herd – many contagious respiratory diseases can be prevented through vaccination.

Poisoning

Animals can be poisoned by chemicals (such as insecticides and dips), poisonous plants and fungal toxins. They can also be bitten by snakes, scorpions and spiders.

Dietary Problems

Lack of enough food or lack of a particular part of the food (such as phosphorus) can also cause disease. Malnourished animals may develop other diseases because they are weak.

Metabolic Diseases

Metabolic diseases are an upset in the normal functioning of the animal (that is not caused by infection, poisoning or feed deficiencies) and usually result from intensive animal production. An example is milk fever in highly productive dairy cows.

Congenital Diseases

In some cases, animals can be born with a disease. Some of these may be inherited (passed on from the parents). This is rare, and inherited diseases are usually seen at birth. An example is a congenital hydrocephalus, which is a swelling of the brain caused by fluid and can be clearly seen as a swelling of the head.

Environmental Diseases

Environmental problems, such as littering, contribute to some diseases, for example, animals may eat plastic bags or wires, and this can harm animal health.

Cancer

Cancer occurs when some of the cells in the body grow in a way that is different from normal. Illness occurs because of the pressure of the growth on other parts of the body and the fact that affected parts of the body cannot function normally.

Cancer can also cause signs such as fever and loss of condition. In some instances, viruses can cause cancer.

Allergies

Some diseases are caused by allergies, which is when the body's own immune system attacks part of the body.

Degenerative Disease

Some diseases are caused by parts of the body breaking down, particularly as an animal becomes older.

In order to make decisions about administering treatments such as vaccines or physical interventions, it is necessary to think carefully about the possible effect that the treatment might have on a diseased animal. It is very important to know what signs to look for in order to ensure that animals that are not entirely healthy are not treated with unnecessary preventive health vaccines. In some cases, the treatments that are administered may even be a veterinary response to ensure that the animal is treated for the disease.