A herd of dairy cattle. Hardware disease is the layman’s name for Bovine Traumatic Reticuloperitonitis. Photo/FILE
Hardware disease is the layman’s name for Bovine Traumatic Reticuloperitonitis.
It is a common condition in dairy cattle but it also occurs in other domestic animals, although rarely. It is usually caused by the ingestion of sharp, metallic objects such as nails, hence the term hardware disease.
These pieces of metal settle in the reticulum (a chamber in the stomach) and can irritate or penetrate the lining of the stomach.
CAUSES
Cattle commonly swallow foreign objects, including nails or wire, because they do not use their lips to discriminate between materials and they do not completely chew their feed before swallowing.
Sharp metallic objects swallowed get into the rumen and finally are pushed into the reticulum along with the rest of the feed eaten.
Reticulum contractions can push the object through the wall of the reticulum into the peritoneum (membrane covering the internal surface of intestines) causing severe inflammation. Occasionally, the metal object penetrates the entire reticulum wall and pierces the heart sac, leading to pericarditis (inflammation of the heart wall).
Chances of this penetration into the heart are increased by compression of the uterus in late pregnancy, straining during birth and mounting when the cow is on heat.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Diagnosis is usually based on history and clinical findings although metal detectors can also be used though not conclusively. Laboratory testing may be done, but it may not be of much value.
The symptoms include the following:-
The cow stands with an arched back
Reluctance to move and a slow, careful gait
Groaning when lying down, getting up, defecating or urinating
The back may be pinched
The heart rate is normal or slightly elevated, and the respiration is shallow and rapid. A veterinarian will be able to pick abnormal heart sounds on examination.
High temperature
In dairy cows, there is often a decrease in milk production.
What can a farmer do when faced with hardware disease?
Administration of a magnet orally through a tube into the rumen (stomach) to attract and collect the metal objects.
Administration of a broad spectrum antibiotic is also done to treat the infection.
The cow should be confined and movement limited hoping that the reticulum will repair the hole.
Surgery may be necessary in some cases to physically remove the metallic objects.
Slaughter should be considered from an economic point of view in advanced cases that do not respond to medical or surgical therapy.
What to do to avoid hardware disease cases
The best prevention is administering a magnet after fasting the cow for 18–24 hours. This is the most effective method if done to the entire herd before the age of one.
Good feed management is also important. In smaller operations, some farmers pass metal detectors or magnets over the feed.
Dr. J. N. Maina, veterinary surgeon, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery
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