RELATED TO THE FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN DAIRY COWS

Foot-and-mouth disease (LMLM) is caused by a virus, and there is no specific treatment.

• Direct transmission: occurs from sick animals to healthy ones.
• Indirect transmission: the virus enters the digestive tract through feed, drinking water, tools, breeders, etc.; and enters the respiratory tract through the air.

1. TImplement vaccination well, fully, and seriously every 6 months and twice a year. The injection should be done in March - April and September - October every year as regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Decision No. 63/2005/QD-BNN dated 13 October 2005;
2. Any cow to be exported and sold must be declared to local Veterinary agencies. Any purchased cow must have a animal quarantine certificate issued in a pandemic-free place;
3. Clean and disinfect floors of the barns once a week;
4. When foot-and-mouth disease is found, isolate cows, remove milk, and report to local Veterinary agencies for guidance and assistance in disease control.

Apply local and systemic treatments to prevent secondary infection caused by pathogens attacking the body through sores at: the mouth, hooves, breast.

1.     Local treatment:

• Clean the sores twice per day with a solution of salt water, sour water extracted from star fruit, lemon or alum;

• Disinfect the sores with Methylene Blue, Alcohol, Iodine, etc.

2.    Systemic treatment:

Take one of the followings depending on the health prognosis of each individual sick cow

• Antibiotic injections to kill bacteria;
• Infusion of Glucose 5%, injection of B.Complex, Catosal 10% to help cows recover quickly.

3.    Nursery:

• Make delicious high-quality mix of feeds that are easy for the cows to eat and digest;

• Use pads to avoid cows from having foot pains, keep the floor of the barn clean and dry, disinfect the barn twice a day.

⇒   ONCE RECEIVING GOOD TREATMENT, THE COWS WILL RECOVER AFTER 10-15 DAYS