Post by tabitha on Sept 24, 2008 8:43:53 GMT -5
Nimue.
she has that awful udder-cleft sore/ infection again. i dont know if you all remember it from last year. it was horrible and it took me a full month of 2x daily treating it for it to go away. eventually i used gentian violet and it worked (after 2 weeks). well this time i started off right away with gentian violet but it is terrible. it smells bad, like a serious infection. it is very weepy and yucky looking and the skin/ hair around it is peeling.
i am being very sure to not get it wet, and to use gloves and not spread it. i have treated with the gentian on sterile q tips, with iodine in the same way, and today i sprayed it with rubbing alcohol. but i am so worried about it. we have no money to bring a vet out, as usual. i am waiting for my vets call, though, to help.
to make matters much worse, i am having so much trouble milking her. her udder is huge and i cannot get the milk out efficiently. i know for certain that the machine is the only thing making it possible- i can not hand milk her. the front quarters will not milk unless i am giving constant hand-massage pressure while the machine is on. her teats are small and floppy, almost as if they arent attached to the huge reservoir of milk that is sitting there. it is hard to describe and extremely frustrating.
after milking i take her down to both calves and let them have her for an hour. i am hoping this is getting her empty. i dont know what to do. i find myself wondering what kind of future there would be for her if i sold her, not that i would do that. or if i have any options with her as a milker. i LOVE Nimue, but this is impossible! i am spending at least 4 hours a day with the milking chores, because of her.
i wonder if a systemic antibiotic would help Nim's sores? or would it wipe out her system and leave her even more vulnerable? what if the sores are deeper than just skin? is it safe to drink her milk? the whole thing grosses me out.
is there such a thing as a jersey cow genetically having a bad udder that is not just bad but unmilkable? am i just a weakling that isnt u to the task? and so on.
she has that awful udder-cleft sore/ infection again. i dont know if you all remember it from last year. it was horrible and it took me a full month of 2x daily treating it for it to go away. eventually i used gentian violet and it worked (after 2 weeks). well this time i started off right away with gentian violet but it is terrible. it smells bad, like a serious infection. it is very weepy and yucky looking and the skin/ hair around it is peeling.
i am being very sure to not get it wet, and to use gloves and not spread it. i have treated with the gentian on sterile q tips, with iodine in the same way, and today i sprayed it with rubbing alcohol. but i am so worried about it. we have no money to bring a vet out, as usual. i am waiting for my vets call, though, to help.
to make matters much worse, i am having so much trouble milking her. her udder is huge and i cannot get the milk out efficiently. i know for certain that the machine is the only thing making it possible- i can not hand milk her. the front quarters will not milk unless i am giving constant hand-massage pressure while the machine is on. her teats are small and floppy, almost as if they arent attached to the huge reservoir of milk that is sitting there. it is hard to describe and extremely frustrating.
after milking i take her down to both calves and let them have her for an hour. i am hoping this is getting her empty. i dont know what to do. i find myself wondering what kind of future there would be for her if i sold her, not that i would do that. or if i have any options with her as a milker. i LOVE Nimue, but this is impossible! i am spending at least 4 hours a day with the milking chores, because of her.
i wonder if a systemic antibiotic would help Nim's sores? or would it wipe out her system and leave her even more vulnerable? what if the sores are deeper than just skin? is it safe to drink her milk? the whole thing grosses me out.
is there such a thing as a jersey cow genetically having a bad udder that is not just bad but unmilkable? am i just a weakling that isnt u to the task? and so on.