Injured bull

RD10

I usually leave the bull out for the winter but with the weather being so bad brought him in and left him in a pen with in-calf cows. Not a bother on him or the cows.
About 2 weeks ago i went out to find him barely able to walk on the slatts. Got him outta there straight away where he's lying on bedding since. He was just about able to get up the first few days..very wobbly on his feet and would kind've fall down if he had to turn to the side. Was able to take very small slow steps and walk around but not very far at all. Had vet out and he cgecked him over and left injections for him etc.
Went out this morning...bull lying flat on his side, have him propped up for now but he just seems to be getting worse. Few days ago he could stand but things aren't looking great now.
I'd imagine he tried to mount a cow or something and somehow slipped and fell onto his back or spine? His back legs were very weak. Probably nerve damage?
Dont like to see an animal suffering but if there was any chance of him recovering with some tlc i'd like to give it to him. I'll prob give him a few days and see what way he's going. As i said dosnt look good for him atm. :-(

whelan2

is he worth another vets visit? or ring the vet he might give you more shots?

patsy_mccabe

What did the Vet give him, anti inflammatories, pain killers ???
Can you apply pressure along his back bone and see if he reacts? You might find the problem that way.
Is he passing dung ok?
To be honest, if the vet doesn't know what is wrong with him!!!

RD10

Vet reckons its nerve damage. He's gotten all sorts of anti- inflammatories, painkillers etc from the vet. Ive been in to the vets again few days ago to get some more. there the strongest he could get aswell. Its like his muscles are beginning to waste away now aswell. Was out just there to him again. He's still eating but its sore for him to move. Passing dung but its beginning to dry up i think because he's not eating as much. Still propped up the way i left him earlier. He'll probably get sores now if he cant get himself up. All he needs now is an infection to send him on his way- thats if i dont send him to god b4 then.

L1985

Hi OP. We had something a little bit similar maybe 2/3months ago. Three year old bull around a thousand kilos in weight he was out wintered. He suddenly could barely walk and the back legs were going looked like nerves or his back or something.appetite wasn't great and he was lying down all the time.we called the vet-dad was here he didn't get much info but the vet said something was going around with Bulls and to factory him. We were going to factory him anyway just trying to fatten him and get one more cow bulled so wasn't a huge loss.we were lucky.i hope things pick up with your guy but I'd be questioning putting antibiotics etc into him if he's not picking up.p and if you have to look at the factory route. Heartbreaking stuff I hope he turns around.

RD10

L1985 wrote: »

Hi OP. We had something a little bit similar maybe 2/3months ago. Three year old bull around a thousand kilos in weight he was out wintered. He suddenly could barely walk and the back legs were going looked like nerves or his back or something.appetite wasn't great and he was lying down all the time.we called the vet-dad was here he didn't get much info but the vet said something was going around with Bulls and to factory him. We were going to factory him anyway just trying to fatten him and get one more cow bulled so wasn't a huge loss.we were lucky.i hope things pick up with your guy but I'd be questioning putting antibiotics etc into him if he's not picking up.p and if you have to look at the factory route. Heartbreaking stuff I hope he turns around.

Thanks L1985 it's looking likely he'll be going to the gods. I dont think he's going to improve now by the look of him. and now that he has all this medication inside of him he can't be sent to the factory. Hoping for a miracle. Maybe by morning he might be back on his feet again..but unlikely. Only a young bull, 4yrs old and a 5* of course!

L1985

Ah Jesus.i was wondering when he was given the injection. We were lucky the vet told us he was gone and to get him to the factory Asap.hopefully you have got some good calves off him anyway and he might pick up in the morning. Maybe if the vet says it was an accident and you have livestock on your insurance you can claim? I don't know some have them covered more don't and I don't know if what happened to your fella would qualify but might be food for thought?its always the good fricking ones that get caught thou isn't it-ours was a four star as well and have some smashing calves off him just his temperament was iffy.

whelan2

how is he today?

RD10

whelan2 wrote: »

how is he today?

He's no better today. The very same really,thanks for asking. Still propped up by a bale. the fact that he's such a big animal, its awkward to be trying to lift him without knowing if im doing more damage to him. this bale is the only thing thats holding him upright and stopping him from going sideways aswell. Cant be doing him much good the way he is lying either. Any suggestions?

Bitten & Hisses

Similar thing happened me with a pedigree LM cow in the summer of 2014. Went to check them one evening and found her under the trees, away from the rest of the group. When I approached her, she looked a bit weak on the back legs, if she was turning, it almost looked like the back legs would give way.
Vet called, gave her a magnet bolus in case she swallowed metal and some injections. He's a good vet and admitted he was puzzled by her. She got injections for a few days until she got progressively worse and eventually had to be put out of her misery. The only theory the vet could offer was that she could have had tumours on her kidneys, which spread to her spine.
With hindsight, the best thing to do would have been to give no injections and take her to Larry, but it's easy to be wise afterwards.

RD10

Bitten & Hisses wrote: »

Similar thing happened me with a pedigree LM cow in the summer of 2014. Went to check them one evening and found her under the trees, away from the rest of the group. When I approached her, she looked a bit weak on the back legs, if she was turning, it almost looked like the back legs would give way.
Vet called, gave her a magnet bolus in case she swallowed metal and some injections. He's a good vet and admitted he was puzzled by her. She got injections for a few days until she got progressively worse and eventually had to be put out of her misery. The only theory the vet could offer was that she could have had tumours on her kidneys, which spread to her spine.
With hindsight, the best thing to do would have been to give no injections and take her to Larry, but it's easy to be wise afterwards.

Exactly. You can only learn from what you've experienced. He was attempting to get himself goingwhen i was out about half an hour ago. Only thing is he tends to wear himself out if he does too much. If only the bloody weather wasnt so bad i'd have him out to give him a better chance. He's just getting stiff and sore inside.

L1985

Sorry to hear that OP.We always hope for miracles and sometimes they can happen.

RD10

L1985 wrote: »

Sorry to hear that OP.We always hope for miracles and sometimes they can happen.

Thank you. He's able stand today with a lot of effort so fingers crossed!

Bitten & Hisses

Best of luck! Hope he pulls through

Parishlad

Bitten & Hisses wrote: »

Best of luck! Hope he pulls through

Second that! And fair play for all the effort you have put in to do your best for the animal!

Kovu

Great to hear he's a bit more mobile. If he pulls through will you get rid?
I'd be wary of him undoing himself again in summer after cows. Had a neighbour here who had a bull do something like yours, well, his words were ''his back is gone'' so possibly something similar. He fed him up in a softish field with an old cow and got rid of him asap.

L1985

Best of luck-that's encouraging anyway

RD10

Thanks for all yer kind messages. He's doing ok again today. Just taking one day at a time and hoping he dosnt go backwards again. I think il get rid of him. Dont want to take the risk. As i said on another thread i'd always be one to give them another chance but i think its too big a risk if things go wrong then!

Deepsouthwest

RD10 wrote: »

Thanks for all yer kind messages. He's doing ok again today. Just taking one day at a time and hoping he dosnt go backwards again. I think il get rid of him. Dont want to take the risk. As i said on another thread i'd always be one to give them another chance but i think its too big a risk if things go wrong then!

Delighted to hear he might be coming around, must admit when u said a few days it was only the bale that was keeping him sitting up right I thought it was going to be curtains!

obi604

How is the beast the last couple of days RD10 ?

obi604

Any news RD 10 ?