How to save dairy animals from hyperthermia?

Like human beings, animals too suffer from heat intolerance, particularly when they are left in the direct sun and do not get adequate water. Domestic animals and poultry birds are particularly vulnerable to heat wave. Hyperthermia (Heat intolerance syndrome) is one of the commonly encountered problems among dairy animals of Punjab.

The problem is most common in exotic and crossbred animals as conveyed by Dr Charanjit Singh, Professor-cum-Head, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and animal Sciences University, Ludhiana. The condition occurs due to high environmental temperature and humidity. During this weather conditions heat loss is reduced leading to rise in body temperature called hyperthermia. Panting (marked increase in respiration rate), reduced appetite and milk production are the common manifestations. The most common initiating factor is poor ventilation and also some times in animal that have suffered from foot and mouth disease in the past as a result of to damage to heat regulation system in brain. This condition is cannot be treated by drugs and antibiotics.

Dr. Sushma Chhabra, Senior Scientist in the department of Veterinary Medicine said that Hyperthermia is mostly observed during months of May to September with maximum cases recorded during months of July to September. During humid weather, the ambient temperature and relative humidity frequently exceed the critical comfort level of temperature humidity index (72), resulting in elevated body temperature and panting. The temperature-humidity index (THI) describes the effect of environment on animal’s ability to lose heat.

Dr. Charanjit Singh revealed that a study conducted by Dr Sushma Chhabra, and Dr SNS Randhawa, on dairy animals showed that subcutaneous administration of 5 ml iodized oil (containing 750 mg of elemental iodine) for three consecutive days was helpful in its management. More than 95 per cent of the hyperthermic dairy animals recovered with this therapeutic regimen and no relapse was recorded during the post treatment period of two months.

He advised farmers to provide ample quantity of water to animals, keep them away from direct sunlight in well ventilated places and give bath to dairy animals 2-3 times a day. Feed your animals, during the cooler periods of the day (early morning and evening). Often the farmers treat such animals with antibiotics and other drugs (Diminazine or buparvacone).This is absolutely not required unless the tick related diseases has been confirmed by blood tests. If high fever persists or there marked loss of appetite and milk yield, get the blood of your animal examined at GADVASU for tick borne diseases or other infections. Self-medication should be avoided by farmers. Contact only qualified Veterinarian for the treatment.