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Pets, livestock, residents, agricultural workers and their families have been impacted by the recent atmospheric river flooding event in Western Washington. People and animals are displaced, feed supply chains have been broken, property has been damaged, and long-term economic impacts are yet to be determined. As the emergency transitions from response to recovery, a focus on human and animal health will be of utmost importance.
Human health and safety
Only return home after officials have declared the area safe. Do not drive through flooded roadways. Upon returning home, assess the situation for safety. Be aware of hazards such as gas leaks, down power lines, dangerous materials or objects, loss of structural integrity of homes, sheds and barns.
Animal health and safety
Although WSDA has only received one farm report several livestock mortalities due to drowning, there have been reports that suggest some livestock stood in flood water for several hours without feed or water. Floods are of great concern for disease and animal health. Work with your veterinarian to assess animals for disease and ensure your vaccination program is up to date. Surviving animals may have long term health impacts that may not appear for days, weeks or even months. Diseases can result from pathogens through many pathways including direct exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or insect bite.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia can result from animals standing in cold water and mud. Young, neonatal animals, pregnant animals, or those that have recently given birth, or other underlying conditions are the most vulnerable. Get animals onto high ground and under cover, provide dry, deep bedding whenever possible. Consider retrofitting storage areas or temporarily relocating animals to shelters or empty facilities.
Contaminated feed, water, and pastures is common after a flood
Flood waters are often contaminated with chemicals, raw sewage, and bacteria that can make both humans and animals sick. Provide clean water and feed to animals. Keep both livestock and companion animal off of pastures until debris can be removed and contamination impacts can be assessed. Assess fence integrity and look for down wire or debris that can cause injury. Assess feed and stored forages for spoilage, contamination, and mold. Molds can make animals very sick and contaminate products. Dispose of feed impacted by flooding and remove wet hay from barns to avoid fires. Implement a rodent control program to prevent farm to farm disease transmission.
Animal illness and disease
If you are concerned about animal health and welfare, please reach out to your private veterinarian for assistance and recommendations for treatment, care, and feeding. There are financial programs and resources to help producers and veterinarians who have experienced losses due to the flood.
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Diarrhea or other digestive upsets are not uncommon especially when feed changes are made. Forage, hay, or other feed commodities that have been submerged in flood waters also present a risk of contamination, mold and bacteria, and is prone to abnormal fermentation that may result in listeria, botulism, bloat, etc.
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Internal Parasites such as worms, Giardia and cryptosporidiosis may also surge. Wet conditions are optimal for parasite reproduction on pastures that have been flooded. Worm larvae survive much longer on pasture in moist conditions and may increase rapidly.
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Zoonotic pathogens such as Leptospirosis, E-coli, and Salmonella can increase after flooding and cause illness in both humans and animals.
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Respiratory diseases and pneumonia due to stress, hypothermia, or aspiration of flood waters, especially in youngstock. Check with your veterinarian to make sure your vaccinations are all up to date.
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Mastitis or infection of the mammary gland/udder may result from lactating animals standing in contaminated water that have direct exposure with bacteria and prototheca.
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Foot problems such as hoof rot, heel warts, abscesses, and laminitis may appear days to weeks later due to long term exposure to wet conditions harmful to hoof and skin health.
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Skin conditions such as rain rot, scratches, and mud fever (pastern dermatitis) are common. Wool or hair that holds moisture against the skin due to cool winter conditions is prone injury and infection.
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Lost production due to stress, feed changes, or diseases may require additional veterinary care to fully recover. It may take time and additional nutrient inputs (energy/protein) for animals to attain pre-event body condition.
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Mortality should be documented for all animals that die during or after a flood. Check with your USDA FSA office for assistance with the ELAP program. You can reach out to local authorities to select the best disposal method or request technical assistance from WSU or WSDA. If you need help identifying cattle for compensation, you can request assistance form the WSDA Livestock assistance program.
Agriculture is a stressful profession without a devastating natural disaster. Animal mortality/ illness, damaged equipment, contaminated feed, lost human and animal housing only compounds that excessive stress. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to AgriStress Helpline - call or text 833-897-2474. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.
There are many community resources available, so don’t hesitate to ask your local Emergency Management for help.
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