Post by thystledown on Dec 16, 2022 11:35:38 GMT -5
Yesterday at milking I noticed Esther has a swollen right rear ankle/pastern from below the dew claws up a few inches above the joint. I put her back out in the pasture for the day anyway as I thought standing in snow would be a good idea. She was worse last night, so I squirted Absorbine on the foot and she spent the night in the stanchion (1st time ever for her). It has chain suspension, so plenty of lunge room. She can get up and down well. Milking was a challenge because she is constantly kicking and pawing with that foot. I had to keep the claw and milk hose in my hand to move when the swipe came. But she's doing that when no machine on, so this was not directed at me and milking. In fact, I got a bit more milk than ususal. But she's clearly in pain. Hubby says sprains hurt worse than breaks and since she can walk on it and get up and down, probably just needs time to heal. I suspect she was running and playing with her calf on the rough frozen ground, stepped wrong on a frozen hole under the snow, and twisted and sprained her ankle (or cow equivalent). Before this most recent snow storm, it rained and was warm so the ground got very pock marked and then froze. She is just barely 2 years old by less than a month, so she is still a kid. But I am very worried and somewhat upset. I lost her mother because of arthritis and injuries from numerous falls (She thought she was a ballet dancer her whole life) on wet grass, mud, ice and snow. Now this on her daughter who is only 3 month fresh for the 1st time. The beef cows never fall or get lame. The horses rarely. And I don't really know what to do besides hope the Absorbine actually penetrates the hair coat and reduces the inflamation, wait and see.
Edited to add that she is in the stanchion for the day. We have heavy wet snowfall and staying off it where she can lay on a mat with her head in the manger of hay seemed like a good idea. I tied her calf next to her as I did with her when she was a calf. Both seem content, dry and as comfortable as they can be.
Edited to add that she is in the stanchion for the day. We have heavy wet snowfall and staying off it where she can lay on a mat with her head in the manger of hay seemed like a good idea. I tied her calf next to her as I did with her when she was a calf. Both seem content, dry and as comfortable as they can be.