Summertime care for cows and carabaos
LINGAYEN-Cows and carabaos, the hardworking farm animals of this largely agricultural province, are getting special attention this summer season.
Dr. Benedicto Perez, provincial veterinarian, told The PUNCH that his office has intensified vaccination activities against hemorrhagic septicemia, commonly known as shipping fever, which afflicts large animals like cows and carabaos during summertime.
In order to protect the animals, Perez said they are giving free shots of hemorrhagic septicemia vaccines province-wide. Pangasinan is estimated to have 45,000 carabaos and 112,000 cows.
The disease, caused by the bacteria called Pasturella multocida, can lead to death within 24 to 48 hours for acute cases.
Vulnerable to pneumonia-like disease are those that get too much exposure under the heat of the sun when the animal is left to pasture in the rice fields.
This is aggravated when the animal is not given enough water, Perez said.
Since January, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian has already disposed about 400 bottles. Each bottle is good for 50 animals.
It is administered once for summer protection during summer and another for the rainy season, Perez said.
Symptoms of this disease include limping due to swollen joints and mucus discharge in its feces.
Perez advised farmers to take extra good care of their animals during the summer because even those that have already been vaccinated could still die due to other causes such as heat stroke.—EVA
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