What's Navel Ill?
What umbilical cord
The umbilical cord contains two umbilical arteries, the umbilical vein, and the urachus.
Rupture of the umbilical cord during the birthing process leaves the end of the cord and its internal structures open to potential contamination by pathogens present in the maternity pen or other calf housing areas. When does it dry up
How Can I Prevent It?
Make sure the entire cord is immersed in the iodine solution. If necessary, a long navel cord can be cut to 3 or 4 inches in length. Dipping the cord in iodine not only prevents entry of organisms but promotes rapid drying and the eventual breaking away of the cord from the navel.
Cut cord to at least two inches from the body, or short enough so it won't drag on the ground.
Check routinely by
Study of 3 different
The umbilicus was considered infected if it met any one of the following four criteria: 1) the calf demonstrated a pain response at any of the three weekly evaluations, 2) the umbilical stalk did not atrophy and was still 8/16ths of an inch (12.7 mm) or larger on the third evaluation, 3) the umbilical stalk did atrophy but was still 10/16ths of an inch (15.9 mm) or larger on the third evaluation, or 4) the diameter of the umbilical stalk increased in size as compared to a prior evaluation. Forty-three percent (30 of 70) of all calves with umbilical infections demonstrated a positive pain response. For these calves, the median (mean, SD, range) days to a positive pain response was 4.0 (6.6; 5.6; 1 to 22) days. Study in calves found the product Navel Guard and iodine were equally as effective in preventing navel infections.
How Will I Know if my Goat Has It?
How Do I Treat It?
References
2011. Efficacy of a New Navel Dip to Prevent Umbilical Infection in Dairy Calves. American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Open Access Distribution. Wayne M. Grover1, DVM, MS; Sandra Godden.
