Heifer Down

meathchap

Uncle has a heifer down from last thursday, had the vet and not eating at all, doesn't seem able to get up even with help.

Lady Haywire

Did he just find her in the field like that or did she show any signs beforehand?

If she's not showing any signs of improvement at all you'd be kinder putting her out of her misery.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Mod note: Hi meathchap, I'll move this to the main forum for a better profile.

Buford T. Justice

whelan2

If she's not eating it doesnt look good, what did the vet give her?

Say my name

What did the vet say?

tanko

Could be a brain problem, possibly meningitiis or lead pousoning.
Is she blind?

TITANIUM.

What age is the heifer?

queueeye

You need to keep her hydrated at least if she's going to have any chance. Try to get an aggers pump, it's a type of cow stomach tube that's saved more than one downer cow here.
She's got youth on her side and will be easy enough to move around on a clean bed to keep pressure sores to a minimum.

meathchap

She 2 year, he went down and she was standing then dropped, was drinking but not eating.
vet thought it was blackleg but then later on meningitis, if lead poisoning or blackleg they die within few days don't they?
its 10 days now

tellmeabit

I had weanling bull that more than likely had lead poison, staggers really shook for a while. Blind. Kept him going with fees and water. Came round. Vet said sight would come back. Didn't . Sent to factory about 8 months later. At 950kg. Bull few cows too.

tellmeabit

Suppose depends if they suffering or not

The man in red and black

If a down animal is not eating, looks like not interested in trying to get up and they are throwing themselves out flat, most are better humanely put down.

If they are sitting up, bright, eating, drinking, don't look sick, crawling or attempting to rise most are worth persisting with for a while as long as on good deep straw or in the field as long as not getting pressure sores or welfare isn't compromised. If they are going backwards after 4-5 days you are generally fighting a losing battle.

The big worry with down cows is crush injuries. Big cows need to be moved from side to side every 4 hours or their legs begin to suffer crush injuries.

Always be aware of the welfare concerns regarding down animals. We occasionally have to attend cases where down cows are reported on welfare grounds to ISPCA etc. Occasional ones have been left down too long but on the other hand often these cows are being well nursed with fresh food, water and bedding but the farm is near a public road.

Lady Haywire

Could be anything, if the vet can't find any cause it's possibly something strange e.g. tumor on brain/spine or poisoning like above. Temp must have been abnormal if he thought it was either of the two suggested though.

Was she outside with access to anything that'd poison her & when you say 2yr old, is she incalf?

meathchap

The man in red and black wrote: »

If a down animal is not eating, looks like not interested in trying to get up and they are throwing themselves out flat, most are better humanely put down.

If they are sitting up, bright, eating, drinking, don't look sick, crawling or attempting to rise most are worth persisting with for a while as long as on good deep straw or in the field as long as not getting pressure sores or welfare isn't compromised. If they are going backwards after 4-5 days you are generally fighting a losing battle.

The big worry with down cows is crush injuries. Big cows need to be moved from side to side every 4 hours or their legs begin to suffer crush injuries.

Always be aware of the welfare concerns regarding down animals. We occasionally have to attend cases where down cows are reported on welfare grounds to ISPCA etc. Occasional ones have been left down too long but on the other hand often these cows are being well nursed with fresh food, water and bedding but the farm is near a public road.

dont think its poisoning as was trying to get up but legs back legs not strong enough, he was lifting her and hoping for some miracle.
Animal had no temperature and only very slight congestion on the lungs but nothing that the vet could find that made her go down. she's drinking but not eating so he may put her down tomorrow

whelan2

Would she drink milk?

patsy_mccabe

Can you do a bit of DIY physiotherapy on her. Roll her on one side. Work the legs on that side in and out and side to side. Use strap or rope on back leg to avoid kick. Roll her over every hour and do other side. It will get the numbness out of the legs.

Terrible to have an animal like that. At least a human can say where the pain is.

ferryman35

Would it be worth trying her with a can of Guinness? I've seen it to work with sick ewes, the yeast seems to get the stomach working again. If it starts to work, soak some ration in more Guiness. If she gets some food in it would help her start to build energy and strength. Also the physio that Patsy suggested will help her get blood flow through her system, all helps.

tanko

Any improvement??