Post by mooo on Jun 18, 2008 20:39:27 GMT -5
Tetanus antitoxin is given to an animal with a bad puncture wound that has not been vaccinated. It contains the antibodies themselves, isolated from a hyper-vaccinated animal. Lots of critters can have an adverse reaction to the antitoxin, so be judicous with it.
Tetanus toxoid is the vaccine, which stimulates the cow's OWN immune system to create antibodies. This takes a couple of weeks, but there is not nearly the same incidence of reaction problems.
She's not had a tetanus shot since I've had her which is why I wanted to give her both the antitoxin and the toxoid. Not only with the wounds but the placenta being retained tetanus is a possibility from contamination.
I've not found anywhere online that states that you're not to give Jersey's tetus vaccinations unless of course it has something to do with milk withdrawals. Never checked into that but at this point I don't care if I can't drink a drop of milk as long as she's able to raise her calf and regain udder health.
Anyone familiar with the first Fievel animated movie? An American Tail? There's the matronly mouse, Gussie Mausheimer, who has a speech impediment. Anyway, during the movie she has a line, "Rewease the secwet weapon!!" Okay, so painting myself as the dork I am, today after I'd finished milking Molly out and I went to untie her tail, which I've been tying to the fence to stop her from battering me in the face with it, that phrase popped into my head and I screeched at the top of my lungs, "Rewease the secwet weapon!!!" I really cracked myself up! ;D
The feedlot calf is going back with him Shawn as part of the 'horse trade'. Since he'll have the fresh cow (for a week or two, at least!) w/o the problems he'll be able to deal with it much better than I will.
Another woman, a jersey breeder, told me to leave well enough alone with the placenta unless it begins to smell, too, Ann. I wonder if I should be spraying the very top of the placenta as it comes out the vulva with iodine? Would that help? I'd considered doing it several times but haven't yet.
Also, anyone familiar with 'EM'? Efficient Microbes? I'm wondering what I should give to help her gut due to the antibiotics. Should I go with a regular probiotic, try these efficient microbes that people rave about, I just can't decide. I waffle between natural/homeopathic and commercially available products. I'll have to check Molly's out further for the other products you mentioned, Jenn.
OK..off to do something totally unrelated to cows!