Heifer with allergies?

[blueridge]

I have a SG heifer that appears to have allergies. I bought her last July and noticed that she would blow hard through her nose like she was trying to get something out of it. I checked and could not find anything obstructing the passageway. She would rub it on anything she could find, even using her hoof, until she eventually had it bleeding. I noticed in November that she stopped. I hadn't given it much thought until the grass started greening up and she has started doing it again. Is there anything that can be done to alleviate the problem?

 

[peg4x4]

Sell her,any calf she has will do this to,and you'll go broke buying tissues :lol:

 

[Angus In Texas]

I noticed a cow we have had for 4 years was having the same problem this year. She has never had the problem in the past that I can recall. Let me know if you find anything that will help.

 

[blueridge]

A second heifer that was purchased at the same time has the same symptoms but extremely mild by comparison. It doesn't affect their grazing but passing it on to her calf will be a problem. They should calve in mid-June so I will keep them until then and probably cull after that.

 

[Ryan]

I would contact your local vet. Ask what they think, maybe even get the vet to take a look at her if it is that big of a problem. could be something small that a simple shot could take care of.

 

[blueridge]

I had the vet see her and she claims that with no discharge from her nose and no loss of apetite that I should not worry about it. She says that there is no fever present either so she would not recommend antibiotics. What I am most worried about is the outer portion of the nose becoming infected due to the rubbing and then contact with the ground.

 

[cfpinz]

We have some that will do the same thing. I've kept heifers out of them and have not noticed it being hereditory. Not something I would jump the gun and sell for, but if it lead to problems that took money from my pocket then it would be a concern.

cfpinz

 

[Little Cow]

Just a hunch, but could you check your pastures for poisonous grasses? Maybe ask your extension agent if anyone else had the same trouble? There are some strange reactions to certain plants and the fact that it is seasonal. Maybe she likes the taste of it but the other cows know better.

 

[TREY-L]

I may be way off here, but... I have noticed my cows doing the same thing occasionally, and I always thought that it may in some way be related to an issue with lung worms in the sinus cavity. I have harvested white tailed deer in our area, and while preparing the skulls for European mounts, noticed grubs, (worms?) in the sinus cavity. Have you wormed them recently? Like I said, I may be way off, maybe some of the more seasoned cattleman/cattlewomen can steer you in a better direction. (Just my thoughts on it, but I'm still just a rookie)

Trey

 

[blueridge]

I wormed them in February and will worm again in May. The poisonous grass is something that I have not thought of. There is about every weed known to man though. I used crossbow this weekend to help with this. As long as she is not costing too much money she will stay.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I may be way off here, but... I have noticed my cows doing the same thing occasionally, and I always thought that it may in some way be related to an issue with lung worms in the sinus cavity. I have harvested white tailed deer in our area, and while preparing the skulls for European mounts, noticed grubs, (worms?) in the sinus cavity. Have you wormed them recently? Like I said, I may be way off, maybe some of the more seasoned cattleman/cattlewomen can steer you in a better direction. (Just my thoughts on it, but I'm still just a rookie)

Trey

I was thinking warbles.

 

[Sir Loin]

Department of Urban Practice, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901.
A group of Angus X Holstein cattle were determined to have allergic rhinitis. Clinical signs included nasal discharge, tearing, sneezing, and nasal pruritus. The diagnosis was made on the basis of intradermal skin testing of affected and clinically normal cattle. The affected cattle had positive test results to various tree, grass, weed, and mold allergens. The clinical signs and seasonal occurrence were similar to those features for allergic rhinitis in man. Breeding data indicated an inherited mode of transmission, although only females were affected.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/quer ... t=Abstract
Or it may be as simple as these cattle haven’t learned not to eat near fire ant hills yet.

 

[blueridge]

Thanks Sir Loin. I will look more into it. The part about tearing is right on as well. I just figured it was from wind. From the link you provided I saw several articles describing all the symptoms the heifers have, but I didn't find articles about what to do for decreasing the symptoms. Anybody ever treated their cattle for this?