France went down for over 100 hours
Sept 19, 2021 21:07:40 GMT -5
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Holly in WA, elia, and 12 more like this
Post by Applelonia on Sept 19, 2021 21:07:40 GMT -5
France calved just over two weeks ago ….Thursday evening ~ 10pm. I was there for the entire birth. All went well. She was up right away …so was calf. I milked out 1/2 gallon of colostrum for calf. He drank it with gusto!
Next day I milked out France late morning. Then a little after 2pm I was in the barn, France was resting and I heard banging in her stall. I rushed over. She was unable to get up. My first thought was she was stuck in the corner of her stall …then I immediately realized something was off…terribly off. I wondered, is this milk fever!!!
I called the vet. They are about an hour away. Vet came right away.
She was treated with IV calcium, calcium bolus. While the vet was there she got up. She was up for about 2 hours after the vet left. She was slow - stiff moving but up. We figured all was well.
Then she laid down again to rest…8pm ish…same thing, couldn’t get up. A different vet came from the same clinic…more iv calcium, vitamin injections, anti inflammatory, pain meds…they figured she’d be up soon. They drew blood….called after midnight with the results.
Next morning still down. Called the vet again…third vet came. She got more IV calcium with saline mixed ~ vet checked her heart ~ she was receiving the upper limits of calcium at this point. She got a stomach drench of various things…calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium…more pain meds…
The third vet came back a second time …I talked to him about her walking issues in the past before calving …I asked if this could be related. He thought possibly…he found an area on her spine with inflammation and tenderness. The exact same area I’ve noticed tenderness in the past. He’d touch the area and her sides would quiver.
She got a steroid injection and remained on pain meds. More blood work to check multiple things like calcium, phosphorus, etc …and to continue monitoring muscle damage. Her numbers regarding the muscles were quite elevated…
Saturday night still down.
Sunday morning still down.
Sunday night still down.
Monday all day still down.
I talked to five different vets who all were in agreement…don’t lift. I also spoke with a farrier, who’s worked on her hooves before, a couple long time Guernsey breeders, our cattle neighbor …and they all said do not lift her.
She was repositioning herself and crawling around the stall. She was not out flat, did not need propping up. My gut feeling was not to lift …because of her back.
I started massaging her legs down to her hooves …her sides…her neck …everywhere …just all over trying to help with circulation. She remained in good spirits the majority of the time. Appetite was great!
I’d milk out what ever side I had access to. I’d put on her collar and lead rope and I’d treat her normally and chat at her as I do when milking and when I told her that side was done she often would turn over or try to turn over so I could get to the other side 🙂
Cordelia was terribly upset by this all. I kept reassuring her, but the worry and concern was evident. Flower was concerned.
I slept about 2-3 hours a night - otherwise I was with her.
Throughout this ordeal I was in contact with our vets / texts/calls.
I inquired about float tanks. They didn’t offer that service or know of anyone who did, but the one vet knows a vet who specializes in acupuncture and other therapy’s that go along with that. At this point, some were figuring she had probably had milk fever at the beginning, but was dealing with a separate issue that caused her to stay down - a nerve/back issue. Others I spoke to questioned if she actually had milk fever at all.
Acupuncture vets’ office was a ways away and they were going to be gone for several days, but when I called, the one vet was actually near by finishing up with a client! He came over right away.
It was an interesting experience! He was showing me the various bends in the needles caused by the treatment process. He put vitamins in along her spine at certain points to help. He left me with various holistic treatments for her.
The acupuncture treatment was done Tuesday morning …nearing the 100 hour mark of being down.
As I milked Cordelia that evening, I was praying and discussing the situation …had some things to sort out on my end. I leaned over the closed Dutch door and looked out at France lying there. I said a final prayer and made peace with some things. “Frances" she looked at me. "France you need to rise up. We are going to the land. You get up and you're coming with us. We will go." (Referring to the land we’ve been debating to move to or not).
After Cordelia I washed up and went to milk Frances. Milked out one side. I then was cutting down tall grass in front of her with a Scythe in hopes it would be easier for her to crawl/turn herself so I could milk the other side. She had been trying but couldn’t turn.
I was talking to her about how we were going to milk that other side and she just looked at me. “Frances?” And she rose up!!
I started yelling for my husband “France is up!! She’s up!!” I wish I’d gotten it recorded, but for those who say cows don’t feel or show emotions…I yelled across the pasture and between laughing for joy I yelled “Cordie momma moo is up! Cordie she’s up! Come here” Cordelia came running from the back pasture - such an expression of joy, amazement, and relief was radiating from her eyes, her expressions and her movements. I was laughing through my uncontrollable smiling at this point “she’s up Cordelia, she’s up” …Cordelia looked at me with a look I’ll never forget ~ no doubt cattle feel and express emotions. Pure happiness and joy!
I finished milking France. 🙂
France then proceeded to walk back to the barn and smash her horns on the top Dutch doors - opening …closing …as she always does.
She will probably never be bred again. It’s too risky. So all hope of continuing her type, rests on Flower 😬 ….Flower who was on the iffy list has gotten herself a free pass to stay.
The acupuncture vet found a couple areas on her back …he said they usually see similar things in dogs related to a jumping injury …I told him of how France first arrived as a bred heifer…ran into the barn and sailed over the closed Dutch door like a deer. He said for sure something like that could result in what he was seeing with her spine. ☹️. We will never know for sure ..but they feel not genetic (I know both sides of her line - absolutely no issues) they feel back injury.
So, the plan is to milk …milk …and keep milking hopefully for years! At least not rebreeding her for a year and observing her closely…she will probably never be bred again, as long as I can keep her in milk. If she dries off …weight could become a real issue on the back I think. It’s not the ideal situation but I’m so unbelievably grateful The Lord has shown such kindness and mercy ~ she’s still in my care. I’m so grateful for the vets and all those who advised me with her. Our semi retired neighbor vet who gave me the most hope … he said “I give her 51 percent chance she gets up. 49 she doesn’t.” That 1 percent gave me so much hope.
Next day I milked out France late morning. Then a little after 2pm I was in the barn, France was resting and I heard banging in her stall. I rushed over. She was unable to get up. My first thought was she was stuck in the corner of her stall …then I immediately realized something was off…terribly off. I wondered, is this milk fever!!!
I called the vet. They are about an hour away. Vet came right away.
She was treated with IV calcium, calcium bolus. While the vet was there she got up. She was up for about 2 hours after the vet left. She was slow - stiff moving but up. We figured all was well.
Then she laid down again to rest…8pm ish…same thing, couldn’t get up. A different vet came from the same clinic…more iv calcium, vitamin injections, anti inflammatory, pain meds…they figured she’d be up soon. They drew blood….called after midnight with the results.
Next morning still down. Called the vet again…third vet came. She got more IV calcium with saline mixed ~ vet checked her heart ~ she was receiving the upper limits of calcium at this point. She got a stomach drench of various things…calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium…more pain meds…
The third vet came back a second time …I talked to him about her walking issues in the past before calving …I asked if this could be related. He thought possibly…he found an area on her spine with inflammation and tenderness. The exact same area I’ve noticed tenderness in the past. He’d touch the area and her sides would quiver.
She got a steroid injection and remained on pain meds. More blood work to check multiple things like calcium, phosphorus, etc …and to continue monitoring muscle damage. Her numbers regarding the muscles were quite elevated…
Saturday night still down.
Sunday morning still down.
Sunday night still down.
Monday all day still down.
I talked to five different vets who all were in agreement…don’t lift. I also spoke with a farrier, who’s worked on her hooves before, a couple long time Guernsey breeders, our cattle neighbor …and they all said do not lift her.
She was repositioning herself and crawling around the stall. She was not out flat, did not need propping up. My gut feeling was not to lift …because of her back.
I started massaging her legs down to her hooves …her sides…her neck …everywhere …just all over trying to help with circulation. She remained in good spirits the majority of the time. Appetite was great!
I’d milk out what ever side I had access to. I’d put on her collar and lead rope and I’d treat her normally and chat at her as I do when milking and when I told her that side was done she often would turn over or try to turn over so I could get to the other side 🙂
Cordelia was terribly upset by this all. I kept reassuring her, but the worry and concern was evident. Flower was concerned.
I slept about 2-3 hours a night - otherwise I was with her.
Throughout this ordeal I was in contact with our vets / texts/calls.
I inquired about float tanks. They didn’t offer that service or know of anyone who did, but the one vet knows a vet who specializes in acupuncture and other therapy’s that go along with that. At this point, some were figuring she had probably had milk fever at the beginning, but was dealing with a separate issue that caused her to stay down - a nerve/back issue. Others I spoke to questioned if she actually had milk fever at all.
Acupuncture vets’ office was a ways away and they were going to be gone for several days, but when I called, the one vet was actually near by finishing up with a client! He came over right away.
It was an interesting experience! He was showing me the various bends in the needles caused by the treatment process. He put vitamins in along her spine at certain points to help. He left me with various holistic treatments for her.
The acupuncture treatment was done Tuesday morning …nearing the 100 hour mark of being down.
As I milked Cordelia that evening, I was praying and discussing the situation …had some things to sort out on my end. I leaned over the closed Dutch door and looked out at France lying there. I said a final prayer and made peace with some things. “Frances" she looked at me. "France you need to rise up. We are going to the land. You get up and you're coming with us. We will go." (Referring to the land we’ve been debating to move to or not).
After Cordelia I washed up and went to milk Frances. Milked out one side. I then was cutting down tall grass in front of her with a Scythe in hopes it would be easier for her to crawl/turn herself so I could milk the other side. She had been trying but couldn’t turn.
I was talking to her about how we were going to milk that other side and she just looked at me. “Frances?” And she rose up!!
I started yelling for my husband “France is up!! She’s up!!” I wish I’d gotten it recorded, but for those who say cows don’t feel or show emotions…I yelled across the pasture and between laughing for joy I yelled “Cordie momma moo is up! Cordie she’s up! Come here” Cordelia came running from the back pasture - such an expression of joy, amazement, and relief was radiating from her eyes, her expressions and her movements. I was laughing through my uncontrollable smiling at this point “she’s up Cordelia, she’s up” …Cordelia looked at me with a look I’ll never forget ~ no doubt cattle feel and express emotions. Pure happiness and joy!
I finished milking France. 🙂
France then proceeded to walk back to the barn and smash her horns on the top Dutch doors - opening …closing …as she always does.
She will probably never be bred again. It’s too risky. So all hope of continuing her type, rests on Flower 😬 ….Flower who was on the iffy list has gotten herself a free pass to stay.
The acupuncture vet found a couple areas on her back …he said they usually see similar things in dogs related to a jumping injury …I told him of how France first arrived as a bred heifer…ran into the barn and sailed over the closed Dutch door like a deer. He said for sure something like that could result in what he was seeing with her spine. ☹️. We will never know for sure ..but they feel not genetic (I know both sides of her line - absolutely no issues) they feel back injury.
So, the plan is to milk …milk …and keep milking hopefully for years! At least not rebreeding her for a year and observing her closely…she will probably never be bred again, as long as I can keep her in milk. If she dries off …weight could become a real issue on the back I think. It’s not the ideal situation but I’m so unbelievably grateful The Lord has shown such kindness and mercy ~ she’s still in my care. I’m so grateful for the vets and all those who advised me with her. Our semi retired neighbor vet who gave me the most hope … he said “I give her 51 percent chance she gets up. 49 she doesn’t.” That 1 percent gave me so much hope.