Parainfluenza Type 3 (PI3)

When it comes to your cattle’s health, it’s important to be proactive. The sooner you notice signs of infection, the sooner you can start your sick cows on the path to recovery. PI3 is a common disease among livestock. Keep reading to learn how to identify, treat and prevent Parainfluenza Type 3.

What Is Parainfluenza Type 3?

PI3 is a common respiratory illness that weakens an animal’s immune system. With a suppressed immune response, other diseases and infections are more likely to develop. That’s why it’s important to act quickly once you observe the symptoms of this sickness. Waiting to treat infected cattle could result in worse diseases, like Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex, and even death.

How to Identify Parainfluenza Type 3

The symptoms of PI3 are those of the common cold, which include the following:

• Fever: If your cow is displaying any signs of a fever, take its temperature. If the reading comes back between 104°F and 108°F, your animal is more likely than not fighting an infection.
• Coughing: Just as humans cough when they have a respiratory virus, so do cows!
• Difficulty Breathing: Due to nasal congestion, cows with PI3 will have trouble breathing through their nose. If you notice any of your cattle open mouth breathing, they may have PI3.
• Nasal Discharge: Running or dripping nasal discharge is a classic sign of Parainfluenza Type 3.
• Ocular Discharge: Pay close attention to your livestock’s eyes. If you notice any discharge leaking from their ocular area, be sure to make a note and pursue treatment accordingly.

How to Treat Parainfluenza Type 3

While there is no specific cure for PI3, there are supportive treatments available to help nurse your infected cows back to health. Since PI3 is a gateway illness capable of leading to more significant infections and diseases, preventative treatments are crucial.

How to Prevent Infectious Parainfluenza Type 3

Perhaps the more obvious prevention method for PI3 is to vaccinate your herd, but this does not guarantee protection from contracting the disease. We recommend reducing stress among your cattle to help keep cortisol levels lower. This, in turn, helps naturally boost the immune system. Considering much of a cow’s immune system lies in and around the rumen, increasing your cattle’s gut health is key to sickness free future.

How Our Products Can Help

CattlActive® is a treatment driven supplement that works to regulate ruminal pH in the gut. By neutralizing the stomach, CattlActive® keeps feed and water consumption steady — a critical factor in keeping your livestock well and ready to fight off infections early on. Adding this all-natural product to your cattle’s diet will increase the good bacteria in their gut thereby diminishing their risk of catching common diseases like PI3.

Whenever a cow encounters a stressful situation — extreme temperature changes, bad weather, poor living conditions, etc. — the ruminal pH in their stomach reacts. An unstable gut makes cattle more susceptible to illness. CattlActive® works as a constant stabilizing agent and is a smart prevention strategy to practice.

CattlActive® is useful for cattle owners and practitioners. If you have any questions, contact us today!