Dislocated Shoulder

Green&Red

I've a heifer with a dislocated shoulder. The local lad I would get to put it back in <modsnip> is down with Covid.

Another neighbour suggested using white spirits, shaving the area and painting it. I was sceptical but it does seem to be pulling it back in.

I was wondering has anyone else done this and how did it work out long term?

Cheers

_Brian

Maybe it’s just me but I’d be thinking of anti inflammatory and pain killer from the vet
And leave the dulux for the walls in the house. .

Lots of old remedies were to keep people happy because they felt they were doing something rather than actually doing anything.

Green&Red

_Brian wrote: »

Maybe it’s just me but I’d be thinking of anti inflammatory and pain killer from the vet
And leave the dulux for the walls in the house. .

Lots of old remedies were to keep people happy because they felt they were doing something rather than actually doing anything.

Shes gotten pain killers, doesnt solve the issue of the dislocated shoulder

morphy87

Green&Red wrote: »

Shes gotten pain killers, doesnt solve the issue of the dislocated shoulder

Had you the vet out with her? And if so what did they recommend?

Green&Red

The white spirits seems to be doing the job, tightening the skin and pulling it back in. Just don’t want to let her back out to the cubicles and find it out again, she’s due to calf 11th Feb

Green&Red

Had a chat to another vet about this, he said theres no real solution. <MODSNIP>
He suggested penning her into a smaller space so she minimises her movement, reckons six weeks should see it rectify itself. Its going to be awful stress on her calving

Green&Red

The trauma of carrying her front leg round isn't going to do much for her

<MODSNIP>

Edit: even for humans the treatment for dislocated limbs is agricultural at best

_Brian

Not against animal care but as ever some of the solutions sound worse than the problem.

I’ve only experienced one issue with such a dislocation and vet recommended someone who manipulated it and it came right in time. Was in my fathers time.
We must always remember the eyes on our naysayers are ever present.

Limestone Cowboy

<MODSNIP>

Well if the naysayers went into hospital with a dislocated shoulder and the doctor suggested putting them down like a vet will normally do I'm sure they would be outraged.

whelan2

Isn't though the quicker you get the joint back in place the better it will heal?

LilacNails

Can u close her off into a smaller space away from the other cows , might be less stress for jer also.

Green&Red

whelan2 wrote: »

Isn't though the quicker you get the joint back in place the better it will heal?

That would be my thinking. I’m also up against the clock, her time is up Feb 11. In and out to a parlour isn’t going to do it any good

LilacNails wrote: »

Can u close her off into a smaller space away from the other cows , might be less stress for jer also.

I have her in a calving box since it happened, I’m going to narrow that again today, enough to keep her comfortable but limit her movement


My initial question was about white spirits. The theory makes sense to me, if you spilt white spirits on your hand it would tighten up the skin. I’ve put it on the area a few days and it’s definitely improved it but I have doubts whether it will pull it in completely

LilacNails

I suppose u might need to be careful in case it drys out the skin and it might form dry cracks, then dealing with a sore and possible infection.

I don't know, it's a fairly awkward one. Limited space is probably the most effective thing u can do for now.

greysides

Mod:

I'm pulling the curtains on this discussion.

All views on this have already been represented in this thread.

While there's no doubt everyone would like to see this situation resolved successfully, it's the methods employed that are dubious.

None of the solutions to a joint that has been disrupted are going to be pleasant for the animal.

It's worth bearing in mind that it's only relatively recently (30 years,?) that the pin-firing of horses tendons has been stopped. This method has similarities with the theory mentioned here. I doubt it would have been continued over the period of time it was used unless there was some benefit to some animals.

Time has moved on, welfare standards and public perceptions are different. There are people who can resolve the dislocation by manipulation, that seems to me to be the best bet - the joint is physically brought back into normal alignment. Finding one of these people would seem the best option.

The longer a dislocation remains, the more likely any manipulation will not be successful in the longer term. Swollen tissue due to inflammation from tears, can be present in the space between the two surfaces that should be in apposition. The joint wouldn't meet to stay together once the articulating surfaces are re-apposed. The stretched and torn elements that normally help keep a joint together will no longer function as needed and it would be much easier for a replaced limb to re-dislocate due to the slackness.

A joint that isn't 'fixed' will eventually form a 'false joint'. Scar tissue will develop that binds the bones in place. A lot of the pain will go as the movement as restricted. The limb won't move or be as useful as before. It will be prone to further hurt. It's a 'make-do' situation.

Joint replacement really needs to be done ASAP. Probably within 24 hours for reasonable results. I've seen it successful at longer intervals though - a lot will depend on how much damage was originally done.