randiliana
Well-known member
This is a disease worth a little time and attention. First off, it is caused by the same bacteria as Footrot, therefore, if you have had Footrot problems, you can have Diphtheria problems. It usually is a sporadic disease, where you may have only 1 case or a very few # of cases. Some of the symptoms include
Lumps, usually you will see these along a line where the teeth/gums meet in the upper jaw.
Ulcerated tongue or cheeks. Often, you won't know about it, but the calf will look like it is starving. You may have to really pry the mouth open, and pull the tongue out to see these. The calf will usually have pretty bad breath.
Raspy breathing. This is the more classic form of it, and of course the hardest to treat. The calf can and usually will have a fairly high temp as well. You can see the calf's sides move when he breathes, it will be a lot more dramatic than normal, and the calf will sound wheezy. It can also affect its voice.
You may only see one of these symptoms, or you may see them all.
We have had good luck treating the lumps with Sustain III pills. The ulcerated tongue, in my experience, is usually best treated with penicillin, and an iodine wash if possible. Depending on the severity, you may need to force feed the calf as well. Neither of these two symptoms are deadly in themselves, but the ulcerated tongue can cause the calf to starve to death.
The breathing symptoms are the hardest to treat, and it seems that it takes a sustained treatment course to control it. This one can cause death if untreated, or if it is not treated properly.
Here is some more info about the disease, and treatments.
http://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinf ... bacillosis" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Click on the Necrotic Laryngitis link
http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/vetsci/Course ... _Notes.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Lumps, usually you will see these along a line where the teeth/gums meet in the upper jaw.
Ulcerated tongue or cheeks. Often, you won't know about it, but the calf will look like it is starving. You may have to really pry the mouth open, and pull the tongue out to see these. The calf will usually have pretty bad breath.
Raspy breathing. This is the more classic form of it, and of course the hardest to treat. The calf can and usually will have a fairly high temp as well. You can see the calf's sides move when he breathes, it will be a lot more dramatic than normal, and the calf will sound wheezy. It can also affect its voice.
You may only see one of these symptoms, or you may see them all.
We have had good luck treating the lumps with Sustain III pills. The ulcerated tongue, in my experience, is usually best treated with penicillin, and an iodine wash if possible. Depending on the severity, you may need to force feed the calf as well. Neither of these two symptoms are deadly in themselves, but the ulcerated tongue can cause the calf to starve to death.
The breathing symptoms are the hardest to treat, and it seems that it takes a sustained treatment course to control it. This one can cause death if untreated, or if it is not treated properly.
Here is some more info about the disease, and treatments.
http://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinf ... bacillosis" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Click on the Necrotic Laryngitis link
http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/vetsci/Course ... _Notes.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
