Nobody wants to walk out to the pasture and see a sick cow. Cattle diseases don’t just hurt the animal—they can slow down your whole operation and hit your wallet harder than expected. Sick animals may eat less, grow slower, or lose condition, and treating them takes time and money you probably hadn’t planned on spending. The good news? Many common issues can be spotted early and dealt with before they turn into big problems.
By paying close attention to your cattle and acting quickly when something seems off, you can stop many diseases from spreading through the herd. Early detection not only reduces stress for you and the animal, but it also gives you more options when it comes to treatment. It’s also a way to stay in control instead of feeling like you’re constantly putting out fires. When in doubt, your veterinarian should always be your first call—they are there to support you and can help you get ahead of things fast.
While cattle can get sick any time of the year, a few health problems occur more often during the summer months. Heat, flies, and changing forage quality all play a role. In the sections below, we’ll cover four common summertime issues—what causes them, what signs to look for, and what you can do to protect your herd. Knowing what to watch for is one of the simplest but most powerful tools you have as a cattle producer.
1. Pinkeye: A Pain in the Eye (and the Wallet)
Although this cattle disease can occur any time of the year, it is common during summer. It is caused by bacteria that get into either one or both eyes. As the bacteria responsible for the disease spreads via face flies, preventing the fly population is a suitable means of controlling the disease.
This disease can begin very suddenly. Generally, it starts with excessive tears in the infected eye. The animal will hold the eye partially closed while rubbing the eye, and it will seek a shaded area. An ulcer will develop in the middle region of the cornea, and a ring will form around the ulcer; usually, within a couple of days, the entire cornea of the eye will become cloudy,
After this occurs, the linings of the eyelids become red with mucus and pus. The ulcer deepens and then wholly covers the cornea. If left untreated, the eye will rupture, lose fluid, and collapse, which can lead to blindness. In advanced stages, the cow may show signs of severe discomfort, such as increased rubbing of the eye and reluctance to move or eat.
Suppose you suspect one or more of your cows have pink eye. In that case, it is essential to isolate the infected animals immediately. This not only prevents the infection from spreading but also gives you a sense of responsibility and control over the situation. Remember, early isolation and treatment by a veterinarian are vital to eliminating the disease.
Treating Pinkeye by Stage
Catching it early makes a big difference when it comes to pinkeye in cattle. Early detection and treatment not only reduce the risk of the disease spreading through the herd but also significantly improve the chances of a full recovery for the infected animal. This disease can spread quickly through the herd, especially during fly season, so the sooner you notice symptoms, the better your chances of stopping it in its tracks. Treating it right away not only helps the sick animal heal faster but also keeps the rest of your cattle from getting infected. Think of it like dealing with a small fire—if you act quickly, you can prevent it from burning down the whole barn.
Pinkeye treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. The right approach depends on how far along the infection is, so paying close attention to the signs is essential. We’ll break it down by stage, from early signs like tearing and squinting to more advanced cases where the eye becomes cloudy or ruptured. Knowing what stage you’re dealing with helps you choose the most effective treatment and gives your cattle the best chance to recover fully.
Stage 1: Early On
Treating the infected cattle with a long-acting tetracycline such as Bio-mycin 200 or LA200 will be very effective at this stage. The recommended dose is 4.5cc per 100 lbs of body weight given
subcutaneously or under the fold of the skin. A second dose given within 48 to 72 hours may increase the percentage of responding to treatment.
It is also recommended that you put a patch over the infected eye. The patch will prevent other irritants from getting in there, worsening the problem. It will also help with the cow’s increased sensitivity to sunlight.
Commercially available patches will work well for covering the eye. If you do not want to do that, 5 “x6” blue jean patches cut to size with glue on three sides, leaving the bottom open, will also work. To ensure that the patch stays on, use cattle backtag cement to glue it in place, making sure not to get any glue in the eye.
Stage 2: Getting Worse
Treatment with tetracycline at the same dose as stage 1 will do the trick here. A bulbar injection with either penicillin or dexamethasone in the white portion of the eye will work just as well.
Stage 3: Advanced Case
In this stage, tetracycline and a bulbar conjunctival injection will need to be given; you will also need to place an eyepatch. Also, suturing the third eyelid of the cow over the eye and closing it shut will be required.
Suturing the third eyelid over the eye will prevent debris or other irritants from getting in. It will also make the eye more comfortable, reduce excessive tearing, and shed bacteria.
Another advantage of suturing the eyelid shut is that it will support a fragile cornea, helping prevent corneal rupture.
Disclaimer: Any suturing should be done by a veterinarian or someone who has been adequately trained to do that to avoid damaging the cow’s eye.
2. Warts: Not Just an Eyesore
These are fibrous tumors of the skin and mucus membranes of cattle. Several strains of the papillomavirus are responsible for causing them. This virus is generally transmitted to cattle by direct contact with infected animals. In addition to using contaminated instruments, it can spread through biting flies, such as stable flies or horn flies.
The wart usually occurs on the head, neck, and shoulders. The fungus can also grow in the mouth or on specific reproductive organs of cattle.
To prevent warts from spreading, you need to isolate those with them. Isolation will also keep the other cattle from getting it. You will need to keep them separate for 3 to 12 months. This separation will give the cow time to build immunity to the virus. Warts will dry and fall off once the immune system kills the virus.
3. Grass Tetany: A Silent Killer
Tetany typically occurs during years when we receive a good amount of rain in the spring. With abundant rainfall, grasses proliferate and become lush and green. However, due to the sudden growth, forages are lacking in Magnesium, and the shortage of this mineral causes grass tetany.
Usually, the cows affected by this are thin and graze on lush green pastures high in nitrogen and potassium. In addition to extreme weather conditions, calving, and nursing, unnecessary stress can also cause this condition.
The most common sign of this disease is that the animal will be staggering around. In addition, the animal may also toss its head around, start to bellow a lot, and then gallop around before going to the ground with convulsions.
If you believe that one of your animals is affected, call your vet immediately so they can begin raising the magnesium level in your cow’s blood.
One problem with this disease is that it can occur so rapidly that you may not even know they are having it until you find a dead cow. Prevention is the best course of action when dealing with this. In a previous post, “Keep an eye out for grass tetany,” I discuss this in more detail.
How to Respond:
It can be difficult to treat grass tetany quickly because the cow’s death can occur relatively quickly. One day, the cow may look fine, but then the next, she will be dead.
The blood’s Magnesium levels must be promptly corrected to prevent grass tetany from worsening in your herd. There are a few different ways to do that.
If grass tetany is detected in your herd, rest assured that treatment options are available. Your veterinarian can administer an intravenous injection of Magnesium and Calcium solution to remedy this problem. This solution can work effectively, especially during the early stages of the disease, providing you with a sense of relief and confidence in managing the health of your cattle.
Suppose the problem is severe, and you must act quickly. In that case, the producer can inject the Magnesium/Calcium solution under the skin.
Some oral options are available to the producer. These options are generally to prevent any of your cows from relapsing. These oral sources of Magnesium are:
- A Magnesium oxide powder for putting onto either feed or on the pasture
- Magnesium lick blocks
- Slow-release capsules
- Add soluble magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate to hay or silage
- Adding Magnesium to concentrates
You can purchase these products from your veterinarian or local feed store.
4. Sudden Calf Death: When There’s No Warning
Nothing is more heartbreaking for a cattle producer than seeing a dead calf. It is especially heart-wrenching when it happens so suddenly.
The problem with the sudden death of a calf is that many things can cause the symptoms of heavy breathing, a fever, and, ultimately, sudden death. If this happens, you must have your vet perform a necropsy on the calf to determine what caused this.
Two of the most common culprits are Blackleg and Lepto, which are bacteria from the surrounding area that cause these infections. It is good to know that both of these diseases are preventable with proper vaccination. Your local vet can tell you if either of these diseases is expected in your area and what measures you can take to control them.
Though I only mentioned four of them here, many different types of diseases can affect your cattle herd. The Texas AgriLife Extension office in Bexar County has a paper discussing more of the ones you can encounter throughout the year. It includes some symptoms as well as some management methods you can follow.
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