How to Use This Guide
This quick reference helps you identify common cattle health problems based on observed symptoms. Find the primary symptom, then look for associated signs to narrow down possible causes. This is not a diagnostic tool. Consult your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms at a Glance
Respiratory Signs
| Symptom Combination | Possible Causes | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Cough + nasal discharge + fever | BRD (shipping fever), IBR, BRSV, PI3 | HIGH - treat promptly |
| Cough + no fever | Dust irritation, mild viral | MODERATE - monitor |
| Labored breathing + extended head | Pneumonia, AIP, bloat | EMERGENCY |
| Foamy saliva + breathing difficulty | Bloat, choke | EMERGENCY |
| Rapid shallow breathing + high fever | Advanced BRD, septicemia | HIGH - vet call |
| Cough + mature cattle + gradual onset | Lungworms, chronic pneumonia | MODERATE |
Digestive Signs
| Symptom Combination | Possible Causes | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Diarrhea + young calf + dehydration | Calf scours (E. coli, rotavirus, crypto) | HIGH |
| Diarrhea + bloody + fever | Coccidiosis, salmonellosis, BVD | HIGH |
| Diarrhea + adult + sudden onset | Poisoning, Johne's, salmonella | HIGH |
| Diarrhea + chronic + weight loss | Johne's disease, parasites | MODERATE |
| Distended left abdomen | Bloat (frothy or free gas) | EMERGENCY |
| Off feed + arched back + grunting | Hardware disease | HIGH |
| Straining + no feces | Obstruction, impaction | HIGH |
| Excessive salivation + can't swallow | Choke, rabies, foot-and-mouth | HIGH/EMERGENCY |
Neurological Signs
| Symptom Combination | Possible Causes | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Circling + head pressing + blind | Polio (thiamine deficiency), listeriosis, lead poisoning | EMERGENCY |
| Staggering + "crazy" behavior | Rabies, anaplasmosis, grass tetany | EMERGENCY |
| Seizures | Grass tetany, polio, poisoning | EMERGENCY |
| Head tilt + facial paralysis | Listeriosis, ear infection | HIGH |
| Weakness + down + paddling | Milk fever, grass tetany | EMERGENCY |
| Progressive hind leg weakness | Rabies, spinal abscess, injury | HIGH |
| Aggressive behavior change | Rabies, anaplasmosis | HIGH - isolate |
Eye Problems
| Symptom Combination | Possible Causes | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Tearing + squinting + cloudiness | Pinkeye (IBK) | MODERATE-HIGH |
| Eye completely closed + swollen | Advanced pinkeye, injury, cancer eye | HIGH |
| White spot on eye + tearing | Early pinkeye | MODERATE |
| Both eyes affected + fever | IBR, malignant catarrhal fever | HIGH |
| Bulging eye + discharge | Cancer eye (SCC) | MODERATE - vet eval |
| Eye injury + bleeding | Trauma | HIGH - same day |
Lameness
| Symptom Combination | Possible Causes | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Swelling between toes + foul smell | Foot rot | MODERATE-HIGH |
| Swollen joint + hot + painful | Joint infection (septic arthritis) | HIGH |
| Lameness after handling + swelling | Injection site abscess, injury | MODERATE |
| Overgrown hooves + walking on heels | Laminitis, founder | MODERATE |
| Multiple animals lame | Foot rot outbreak, ergot, selenium issue | HIGH |
| Stiff gait + reluctance to move | Blackleg (clostridial), white muscle disease | HIGH |
| Sudden severe lameness + healthy otherwise | Fracture, foreign body | HIGH |
Skin and Coat
| Symptom Combination | Possible Causes | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Hair loss + itching + rubbing | Lice, mange, ringworm | MODERATE |
| Lumps under skin + no pain | Grubs, abscesses, lymphoma | LOW-MODERATE |
| Crusty lesions + spreading | Ringworm, warts, mange | MODERATE |
| Open sores + flies | Summer sores, injury | MODERATE |
| Blisters on mouth/feet | Vesicular disease (reportable) | EMERGENCY - call vet |
| Sudden swelling of head/throat | Allergic reaction, snake bite | EMERGENCY |
| Rough dull coat + poor condition | Parasites, nutrition, chronic disease | MODERATE |
Reproductive/Udder
| Symptom Combination | Possible Causes | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Tissue hanging from vulva | Vaginal prolapse | HIGH |
| Red mass after calving | Uterine prolapse | EMERGENCY |
| Straining + no calf progress | Dystocia (difficult calving) | EMERGENCY |
| Vulvar discharge + foul smell | Metritis, retained placenta | HIGH |
| Swollen hot quarter + abnormal milk | Mastitis | HIGH |
| Abortion | Multiple causes (consult vet, may be reportable) | HIGH |
| Bull unable to breed | Injury, infection, breeding soundness issue | MODERATE |
General/Systemic
| Symptom Combination | Possible Causes | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Fever + multiple animals | Outbreak, various causes | HIGH |
| Sudden death + bloat | Clostridial disease, bloat, poisoning | N/A (necropsy) |
| Swelling under jaw (bottle jaw) | Parasites, liver fluke, Johne's | MODERATE |
| Yellow membranes (jaundice) | Anaplasmosis, leptospirosis, liver disease | HIGH |
| Pale membranes | Anemia (parasites, anaplasmosis, bleeding) | HIGH |
| Weight loss + eating | Parasites, Johne's, cancer | MODERATE |
| Not eating + standing alone | Early sign of many diseases | MODERATE-HIGH |
| Rapid heart rate + weakness | Dehydration, shock, anemia | HIGH |
Quick Vital Signs Reference
Normal Values
| Parameter | Normal Range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 100.5-102.5°F |
| Heart rate | 40-80 beats/min |
| Respiratory rate | 10-30 breaths/min |
| Rumen contractions | 1-2 per minute |
Abnormal Indicators
| Finding | Suggests |
|---|---|
| Temp >103°F | Infection/inflammation |
| Temp >106°F | Severe infection, heat stress |
| Temp <100°F | Shock, hypothermia, near death |
| Heart >100 bpm | Pain, fever, dehydration, shock |
| Respiratory >40/min | Respiratory disease, pain, heat stress |
| No rumen sounds | GI stasis, serious illness |
Disease Quick Profiles
BRD Complex (Shipping Fever)
Pinkeye (IBK)
Foot Rot
Calf Scours
Anaplasmosis
Grass Tetany
Bloat
Blackleg
Milk Fever
Symptom-Based Emergency Decision
CALL VET IMMEDIATELY IF:
- Animal is down and can't rise
- Severe bloat (distended left side, distress)
- Prolapse (tissue outside body)
- Difficult calving with more than 1 to 2 hours of no progress
- Neurological signs (circling, seizures, aggression)
- Multiple animals suddenly ill
- Suspected poisoning
- Severe respiratory distress
- Any vesicular disease signs (blisters)
CALL VET SAME DAY IF:
- High fever (>104°F)
- Severe lameness (non-weight bearing)
- Bloody diarrhea
- Eye injury
- Mastitis
- Significant wound
MONITOR/TREAT AND WATCH IF:
- Mild lameness
- Early pinkeye (single eye, small lesion)
- Mild respiratory (clear discharge, occasional cough)
- Mild diarrhea in adult (eating/drinking OK)
- Minor wounds
Reportable Disease Warning Signs
| Signs | Possible Disease |
|---|---|
| Blisters on mouth, feet, teats | Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), vesicular stomatitis |
| Sudden high mortality | Foreign animal disease, outbreak |
| Unusual neurological disease | Rabies, BSE, other |
| Unusual abortion pattern | Brucellosis, other |
Quick Notes
Before Calling Vet, Have Ready:
- Animal ID and description
- Temperature (if safe to take)
- Symptoms observed
- How many affected
- Duration of symptoms
- Any treatments given
First Aid While Waiting
Keep the animal calm and quiet. Provide shade in summer or shelter in winter, and make sure it has access to water if it will drink. Isolate it from the herd if you suspect something infectious. Do NOT give medications without vet guidance for unknown conditions.
Disease Symptom Quick Reference | AnimalSafeRanch.com Laminate and keep in barn, truck, and first aid kit Version 1.0 | January 2026
