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Nursing

A sick animal is less able to compete with the remainder of the group for food, water and even shelter, and there are many instances when it is best moved into a loose-box or a small pen of its own for a few days to convalesce.

This allows more attention to be given to the animal and also makes it much easier to monitor the animal’s progress. Is it eating and drinking? Are its faeces normal? Special succulent food may be offered to tempt it to eat, and for the animal with a high temperature, a warm, well-bedded dry environment is essential.

Any necessary medicines can be given much more easily if the animal is on its own, and if medication is easily administered it is more likely to be given at the correct dose and at the correct frequency. The other advantage of separating a diseased animal is that it reduces the risk of that animal spreading its infection to the remainder of the group; that is, its removal effectively reduces the challenge dose of infection to the others.

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Source: Blowey R.W.. A Veterinary Book for Dairy Farmers. 3rd Edition. — Old Pond Publishing,1999. — 480 p.. 1999
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