Perforated Ulcer

i_steal_sheep

I lost an in-calf heifer this evening after she was diagnosed this afternoon with a perforated ulcer. During herding this morning, noticed that she was away from the other heifers and visibly off-form. She passed manure and there was blood in it and she was breathing heavily. As I was bringing her in towards the avenue to put her into the yard, she just got weak and lay down. Called the Vet there and then and he came out to her. We got her into a pen eventually and gave her fluids. She appeared to be be improving this evening but still distressed. Checked on her at 10pm and it was all over. A bit shocked to be honest, a fine Simmental gone. Has anyone else come across this in the past. The Vet, even by his very own admission, is not the most ofey with the condition. I'm probably going to get a PM to satisfy curiosity...

snowman707

sorry to hear

have had a couple of cases over the years, dairy cows, always fatal. I'm afraid , managed to 1 to the factory but rules were more lax then.

P.s just an after thought , fern poising can also cause blood in the dung, but has more symptoms which the vet should have copped

freedominacup

i_steal_sheep wrote: »

I lost an in-calf heifer this evening after she was diagnosed this afternoon with a perforated ulcer. During herding this morning, noticed that she was away from the other heifers and visibly off-form. She passed manure and there was blood in it and she was breathing heavily. As I was bringing her in towards the avenue to put her into the yard, she just got weak and lay down. Called the Vet there and then and he came out to her. We got her into a pen eventually and gave her fluids. She appeared to be be improving this evening but still distressed. Checked on her at 10pm and it was all over. A bit shocked to be honest, a fine Simmental gone. Has anyone else come across this in the past. The Vet, even by his very own admission, is not the most ofey with the condition. I'm probably going to get a PM to satisfy curiosity...

We had one earlier on in the "summer". Treated her with a blood transfusion, sulfa powders and coffee. I think it was high in the stomach according to the vet as the blood was black having being somewhat digested as it passed through the gut. I think if it had been lower down her chances would have been a lot poorer. She actually survived. Had to be handled very quietly for a few days due to pressure on her heart from the blood loss. We dosed her twice a day for about 4 days with sulfa powder and coffee. We're talking about a catering pack of maxwell house used in the 8 doses. She's factory bound gaining weight slowly, I doubt if we'll house her any price in the factory would be better than a knackery bill.

Had another on a good few years ago as the other poster said times were more lax so she was in the factory within a couple of hours of being noticed.

i_steal_sheep

€95 to have her collected and €150 to the Vet. Sickening. I gave her the coffee too - and I'm sort of sorry in one sense. Gave her what they vet said to give but she was gone within two hours. The question i put to the vet - without reply, would the coffee not put her heart under more pressure? Maybe it did, and maybe it was on the cards for her anyway. No point in lamenting at this stage anyway, best to carry on. As regards ferns mentioned above - I'm fierce pleased with the condition of my land - absolutely no ferns/ragworth or any of that so that can be ruled out.

Cheers for replies.

freedominacup

i_steal_sheep wrote: »

€95 to have her collected and €150 to the Vet. Sickening. I gave her the coffee too - and I'm sort of sorry in one sense. Gave her what they vet said to give but she was gone within two hours. The question i put to the vet - without reply, would the coffee not put her heart under more pressure? Maybe it did, and maybe it was on the cards for her anyway. No point in lamenting at this stage anyway, best to carry on. As regards ferns mentioned above - I'm fierce pleased with the condition of my land - absolutely no ferns/ragworth or any of that so that can be ruled out.

Cheers for replies.

I think the transfusion was the most important thing the vet did. There was a noticeable improvement straight away. The coffee seemed to work to dry up bleed though I'd say luck has a good bit to do with it in terms of how soon you spot it and where the bleed is.

Figerty

God only know what could have happened her, one puck in belly from another heifer could do it. I had a cow calf last night, she was acting like a bull a week ago, rising on a bulling heifer. I thought she could damage herself they way she was going on.