Farm Animals Health

Even with the best of care, you may find an infestation of lice in your backyard flock. Body lice, shaft lice, and head lice will irritate your chickens, cause a drop in laying, and will...

As cold-blooded invertebrates, red worms stay at exactly the same temperature as their surrounding environment--in this case, the bedding in your worm bin. If your bedding falls below 55 degrees...

Measuring the leukocyte and blood urea nitrogen levels in your animal gives you an idea of how healthy your pet is. Leukocytes are the white blood cells in your pet and blood urea nitrogen, or...

Although extremely uncommon, urinary tract infections can occur in horses from time to time. Generally those most likely to experience a urinary tract infection, or UTI, are either very young or ill.

Pinkeye is the most common eye disease in cattle. It is caused by the bacteria Moraxella bovis, which is spread to cattle by face flies. Pinkeye is treated by antibiotics and by protecting the eye...

Mange is caused by a mite infestation in cattle. Four mites cause the majority of cases of mange in cattle. Mange primarily affects the skin, causing sores of varying degrees of severity.

High urea nitrogen, also known as urea toxicity, develops when the urea added to livestock feed is too great. Urea is a useful dietary supplement for livestock, particularly ruminants (cows and...

There are many parasites that will target a backyard flock, but fleas are some of the most tenacious and difficult to eradicate. Even if you remove them from the chickens themselves, they can...

Many people establish backyard flocks because they want chemical- and pesticide-free meat and eggs. However, whether you have an urban flock in your backyard or a pastured flock in the country,...

The medical term for pinkeye in cattle is Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis. Moraxella bovis is the name of the bacteria that is responsible for causing pinkeye in cattle. There are a few...

Most home growers of red worms, also known as red wigglers or Eisenia fetida, use them to convert kitchen scraps into valuable garden compost. If you are, an avid fisherman or commercial grower of...

Diatomaceous earth is a natural substance composed of small, fossilized microorganisms called diatoms. To the naked eye, this white, powdery substance seems smooth and uniform. In reality, the...

Fescue foot, or fescue toxicity, is a non-contagious condition that develops in cattle eating tall fescue, a cool-season perennial grass. Fescue foot occurs most frequently in cattle in the fall...

STAT is a highly concentrated, high-calorie supplement used to increase energy, hydration and digestion for large and small animals that require it.

Hoof and mouth disease is a contagious viral infection that affects animals with hooves like cows, pigs, sheep and goats. There is no cure for Hoof and mouth disease, meaning that infected animals...

Most rabbits are quite susceptible to infections and parasites, especially if they live outdoors and among other wild or domesticated animals. While wire cages are easier to keep clean, many...

Because chicken diseases can come on suddenly, it's important to note the symptoms so a sick chicken can be properly treated before the diseases worsens and spreads. Healthy chickens have bright,...

Johne's disease is an intestinal bacterial infection that usually affects hoofed animals with three to four chambered stomachs, such as sheep, cows, goats, and deer. It is a contagious disease and...

Whether your chickens are pets, a hobby or a business, taking care of a newborn chick will most likely be your first challenge. If you are the mother hen to your baby chick, you need to make sure...

Rhinitis is an infectious disease that affects a pig's nose, causing inflammation and atrophy. The disease is often caused by bacteria and other airborne irritants and is highly contagious among pigs.

Build a chicken coop without problems or spending too much money. your chicken coop must include an easy clean up. Tilt the floor at the rear. Mess will flow right out. Must provide protection...

Raising chickens can be very rewarding! But just like every other animal, they need fresh water and food. In the winter, it can be difficult to keep their water from freezing. Here are a few...

Diarrhea in chickens is generally a symptom of a larger disease or condition that requires treatment. The disease may be contagious or infectious, so isolate the sick chicken and employ a regimen...

Sticktight fleas are parasites that have been known to attach themselves to dogs, cats, chicken and other birds. A sexually mature female will mate and then attach herself to her host, dropping...

Once discovered, treatment for lice and mites on chickens should begin promptly. The individual birds can be dusted with carbaryl insecticide if the flock is small. Severe infestations may require...

Red wiggler worms, well adapted to living in the wild in leaf litter and manure, flourish readily when you meet their needs for food and habitat. They will excel at turning your kitchen scrap into...

Farmers disagree over whether to leave cattle outdoors in the winter months or confine them to a barn. In general cattle seemed to adapt well to living outside in the wintertime even in the...

Most chickens live on commercial farms and are raised either as egg-layers or for their meat. Commercial chicken farms keep the chickens in the chicken house both as a health measure and to make...

Copper sulfate is used in disinfectant foot baths for hoofed animals. It is one of the preferred treatments for foot rot in sheep and cattle and has been used by stockmen for centuries.

Tylan is a name brand version of the medication tylosin produced by the company Elanco. It is FDA approved for use with farm animals such as chickens, pigs and cattle. It is not approved for human...

Poultry lice are parasites that live on the skin and feathers of the bird, feeding on blood, dry skin scales and feather parts. Infestations arise in malnourished poultry; poultry living in...

If you're a goat owner, your animals' health and comfort is of utmost importance. And if your goats have lice, you'll want to take care of this problem as soon as possible. Lice can cause a goat...

Used as a therapeutic agent to prevent infection in dogs, cats, pigs, cattle, and birds, Baytril is an antibiotic manufactured by Bayer Animal Sciences. The liquid form of Baytril, which has been...

Nodular skin disease is one of several allergic and immune-mediated dermal conditions occurring in horses. To ensure that your horse receives the most effective care possible, familiarize yourself...

Mastitis is an inflammation of a cow's breast, or udder. A number of different bacterial strains can cause mastitis. Mycoplasma strains, however, aren't easily treatable and may result in the need...

Canker is a nasty disease of the hoof that can cause lameness, and in extremely rare cases, death. It is a fungal infection of the hoof wall or the laminae of the hoof that causes a cauliflower...

Salmonella is an intestinal bacterium that affects cattle of all ages, especially those who are pregnant, young or stressed. Being familiar with signs and symptoms of salmonella in calves can help...

Nephritis is the inflammation of one or both kidneys. Pyelonephritis in cows is infectious nephritis caused by a bacterial infection of the kidney. This infection is usually a result of an...

Ants can be harmful to all types of farm animals, including goats. In addition to irritating bites ants deliver to goats and humans, ants can also cause damage to your lawn, plant and vegetable...

I've raised sheep and goats for over 20 years, and one of the things I used to dread was bottle babies. Lamb or kid milk replacer is stinky, expensive, and can be difficult to find when you live...

Ringworm is a fungal infection that many mammals contract, including cattle. This infection is primarily located within cattle's hair. Once infected, the area begins to look gray and ashen, with a...

Rabies is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmissible between species. Most mammals, including cattle, are vulnerable to the virus that causes rabies, and there is no treatment. Vaccination is...

In this article you will learn how to correct splay leg in a newly hatched chick.

Cattle warts are a chronic condition affecting millions of cattle worldwide. Caused by the papillomatomavirus, the warts appear mainly on the heads and necks of cattle under 2 years old. The...

Greyish-white areas on the normally flawless white skin of your cattle could be a sign of ringworm. A significant rise in the incidence of ringworm in cattle has been observed in the recent years,...

A steer is a male cow castrated before reaching sexual maturity. Steer are vital to beef production, as well as other products such as clothing, machine grease, cosmetics and china.

Because chickens are flock birds and raised for meat and egg production, contagious diseases are a real concern for farmers. Contagious diseases can spread through a flock and kill the birds or...

Articular gout is a rare but serious condition in which uric acid crystals build up in an animal's joints. In poultry, articular gout is most often caused by dehydration and too much protein in a...

Rabies is a disease that is transmitted between animals, typically through a bite. The ultimately fatal disease occurs often in raccoons and other wild animals and can be spread from those animals...

The famous Dolly was the first-ever cloned sheep. When she came into the world, she ushered in a new era. While cloning may seem like the wave of the future, it has its critics who argue that we...