1. Animal Health Original Power Point Created by Casey Osksa
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
June 2002

2. What Causes Disease? Germs: bacteria, viruses, protozoa
Parasites: worms, insects
Infestations: external parasites
Infectious: internal disease
Injury: handling, facilities
Inherited Genes
Poor Nutrition: easiest to correct
toxic materials in plants, nitrogen content
chemicals for insect control

3. Disease Infectious Disease: spread by contact
Confinement Systems: disease easily spread
Animal Waste: host for germs
Soil Born Disease: live in soil
hog diseases
anthrax: bury animals deep, cover with lime or burn
feline distemper
do NOT drag dead animals
alternate pastures

4. Disease From water & feed: chemical residues, waste
From air: germs, chemicals, mosquitoes host disease
Diseases divided according to how rapid they progress:
Acute: rapid progression (cholera, bloat, mastitis) all generally have a rapid increase in body temperature
Chronic: last a long time (cancer), costly to fight
Some are localized: mastitis, pink eye

5. Vital Signs Pulse: high under left foreflank or over jawbone
Respiration: rate of breathing
Temperature: most reliable & constant
taken rectally
rise of 3 deg F is considered serious
Symptoms: not eat, isoalte self, lack alertness, nucous discharge, droopy, lowered head, swelling, bleeding, abnormal bowel movements, worms in feces, unusual walk, abnormal behavior

6. Disease Prevention Sanitation: most important
Vaccination: build up antibodies to fight disease
Some diseases (tetanus) animals can’t be saved once they show signs
separate from herd
humanely kill and dispose of

7. Parasite Control Some parasites may be passed to humans
trichina, bladder worms
Worming usually done in spring
Insectisides: apply manually or cattle rub
Tick: Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in humans
Sanitation: remove waste, disinfect floors & walls, remove dead animals, insect & rodent control, repair equipment, proper bedding
Hog house: steam clean & disinfect
Pile manure to kill germs (heat)