Post by DostThouHaveMilk on Jun 13, 2009 17:38:47 GMT -5
This was originally posted in May of 2007.
Please note that I have not read through this before reposting, so there may be changes made to it within the coming week.
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Priscilla (Jersey) was 8 years old when she calved on May 21st, 2007. She was due the 18th. She delivered a Jersey bull calf around 8:15PM on the 21st, She was left with her calf overnight out where she had calved. Dad figured she was going to go down with Milk Fever. He saw her standing at 6AM the morning of the 22nd. When I went down around 8:15AM this is how I found her;
She didn't look right. I checked her ears as I do for any cow that has just calved. They were incredibly cold. She was laying very heavily. Note the shot from behind. Her eyes were slightly sunk, her ears droopy, her head heavy, and she was panting. She did not follow her calf with interest and did not even move when I tried to get her to stand. Note the turn in her neck.
When looking for signs of milk fever we watch their gait, their energy levels, their appetite, their temperature and their ability to pass manure. By checking the ears, you can tell fairly quickly if their body temperature is below normal. Despite its name, Milk Fever does not cause the cow to run a fever. Her temperature is actually below normal. If a cow is straining to pass manure and does not produce a lot when she does finally pass manure she is most likely in the early stages of MF. If the cow is unsteady on her feet and dopey in appearance she will likely be going down with MF. We generally wait until the cow has gone down to treat but dad has treated them when they are staggery. They do not fight it and we have success at that time. You do not want to wait, however. Treating sub-Q or using pastes they do not immediately stand. It is a slow release, which we feel is ideal. The cow's body is not shocked and she doesn't immediately try to get up. Her body regains its strength before she tries to rise. The sooner after they go down that you treat, the better. If you wait too long an IV treatment is a better option.
I called dad and he brought down the kit. Included in our Milk Fever kit is;
To start pour alcohol through your IV set;
You want to sterilize everywhere you will be working. As the alcohol starts to come out the needle allow it to run on the side in front of the front shoulder you will start with first;
Soak a large area;
After you have emptied out the IV set pour some alcohol straight from the bottle on the other side;
You have about 15 minutes before the alcohol loses its effectiveness.
Open up your bottle and attach the IV set. Save the rubber cap if it comes with one;
Allow the solution to run down to the needle and out some. You want to avoid air bubbles under the skin;
Grab a good pinch of skin in front of the shoulder. Make your tent and insert the needle sub-cutaneously. You need to be forceful and make sure you pass through all the layers of skin. Jerseys have very thick hides. If you insert the solution intracutaneously you run the risk of abscesses, which do not generally kill the cow, but are not any fun to deal with;
Hold the bottle up high.
Check to make sure bubbles are moving through the vent area at a good steady rate. This lets you know you are successfully sub-Q;
With the sub-Q method you do not need to worry about the solution going in too quickly. With IV and the solution moving directly into the blood stream, their heart needs to be monitored closely and the rate of delivery needs to be much slower.
Massage the area downward as it goes under the skin;
You want the needle to be placed well in front of the bone being pointed to in this picture;
After half the bottle has gone into that side, remove your needle and insert it into the other side;
Allow the remainder of the solution to go into the other side. Try and maintain the same height on the bottle throughout. Nice and high.
After you have given the cow her bottle of calcium retrieve the rubber cap (if your bottle came with one) and store your needle in it for safety;
Run hot water through your IV set as soon as possible after treatment. If the calcium/sugar solution is allowed to sit, the sugar crystallizes and you could easily kill the next cow you treat with that set. Run hot hot water through the set and hang it to dry. Store it away in your kit after it has dried.
Priscilla was treated around 8:30AM. I went back around 11AM to check on her. She had moved from where she had been treated, but was still laying down.
She was more alert and responsive to her calf. I milked 2 pounds out and fed the calf. She then stood (all-be-it a little shakily at first).
Another 5 hours after that she was slamming my father into barbed wire fencing when the vet was pulling blood for Bang's testing.
We treat our Jerseys with one bottle sub-Q. As a general rule that is all they need. Dad has treated cows that were laid out flat, and in the case of Hale Bopp with her head downhill and stomach contents out her nose, and they have all recovered. The sub-Q method works well on our farm and has been used for the past 20+ years successfully. We do not call vets out and dad has not lost any he got to in time.
The key is to know what you are looking for and treat quickly and aggressively. Remember that this is a slow release method. The cow will not stand immediately. Give her a few hours. Dad wants to see improvement in 4 hours. It can take them 6-8 hours to stand. If she improves and then appears to get worse he would retreat. He would consider retreating if she has not improved in 6 hours. Some have been retreated 12 hours after the first treatment. They generally never did completely come around after the first treatment.
Since sub-Q is slower release, they can get concerned about their calf or try to get up earlier than they are ready. They will stumble while trying to get up and can end up with their head downhill. It is crucial to keep an eye on them and make sure their head is uphill. Keep the cow on her brisket and setting up. Use a halter to accomplish this if she is out flat when you find her. Offer water and keep them shaded in the heat and warm in the winter.
Please note that I have not read through this before reposting, so there may be changes made to it within the coming week.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Priscilla (Jersey) was 8 years old when she calved on May 21st, 2007. She was due the 18th. She delivered a Jersey bull calf around 8:15PM on the 21st, She was left with her calf overnight out where she had calved. Dad figured she was going to go down with Milk Fever. He saw her standing at 6AM the morning of the 22nd. When I went down around 8:15AM this is how I found her;
She didn't look right. I checked her ears as I do for any cow that has just calved. They were incredibly cold. She was laying very heavily. Note the shot from behind. Her eyes were slightly sunk, her ears droopy, her head heavy, and she was panting. She did not follow her calf with interest and did not even move when I tried to get her to stand. Note the turn in her neck.
When looking for signs of milk fever we watch their gait, their energy levels, their appetite, their temperature and their ability to pass manure. By checking the ears, you can tell fairly quickly if their body temperature is below normal. Despite its name, Milk Fever does not cause the cow to run a fever. Her temperature is actually below normal. If a cow is straining to pass manure and does not produce a lot when she does finally pass manure she is most likely in the early stages of MF. If the cow is unsteady on her feet and dopey in appearance she will likely be going down with MF. We generally wait until the cow has gone down to treat but dad has treated them when they are staggery. They do not fight it and we have success at that time. You do not want to wait, however. Treating sub-Q or using pastes they do not immediately stand. It is a slow release, which we feel is ideal. The cow's body is not shocked and she doesn't immediately try to get up. Her body regains its strength before she tries to rise. The sooner after they go down that you treat, the better. If you wait too long an IV treatment is a better option.
I called dad and he brought down the kit. Included in our Milk Fever kit is;
- One bottle of 23% Calcium Gluconate (500 ml) or Calcium Dextrose (500 ml). We usually use the Cal Glu. You ought to track down a good calcium product that includes Magnesium. The Cal Glu is just calcium and sugar but has always worked for us. These bottles can be picked up at farm stores, on-line or through your vet.
- One IV set with serious needle. These can be picked up at any farm store and the needle comes with the set.
- One bottle of alcohol...the higher the percentage you can get, the better. They sell 90% alcohol and this is best.
To start pour alcohol through your IV set;
You want to sterilize everywhere you will be working. As the alcohol starts to come out the needle allow it to run on the side in front of the front shoulder you will start with first;
Soak a large area;
After you have emptied out the IV set pour some alcohol straight from the bottle on the other side;
You have about 15 minutes before the alcohol loses its effectiveness.
Open up your bottle and attach the IV set. Save the rubber cap if it comes with one;
Allow the solution to run down to the needle and out some. You want to avoid air bubbles under the skin;
Grab a good pinch of skin in front of the shoulder. Make your tent and insert the needle sub-cutaneously. You need to be forceful and make sure you pass through all the layers of skin. Jerseys have very thick hides. If you insert the solution intracutaneously you run the risk of abscesses, which do not generally kill the cow, but are not any fun to deal with;
Hold the bottle up high.
Check to make sure bubbles are moving through the vent area at a good steady rate. This lets you know you are successfully sub-Q;
With the sub-Q method you do not need to worry about the solution going in too quickly. With IV and the solution moving directly into the blood stream, their heart needs to be monitored closely and the rate of delivery needs to be much slower.
Massage the area downward as it goes under the skin;
You want the needle to be placed well in front of the bone being pointed to in this picture;
After half the bottle has gone into that side, remove your needle and insert it into the other side;
Allow the remainder of the solution to go into the other side. Try and maintain the same height on the bottle throughout. Nice and high.
After you have given the cow her bottle of calcium retrieve the rubber cap (if your bottle came with one) and store your needle in it for safety;
Run hot water through your IV set as soon as possible after treatment. If the calcium/sugar solution is allowed to sit, the sugar crystallizes and you could easily kill the next cow you treat with that set. Run hot hot water through the set and hang it to dry. Store it away in your kit after it has dried.
Priscilla was treated around 8:30AM. I went back around 11AM to check on her. She had moved from where she had been treated, but was still laying down.
She was more alert and responsive to her calf. I milked 2 pounds out and fed the calf. She then stood (all-be-it a little shakily at first).
Another 5 hours after that she was slamming my father into barbed wire fencing when the vet was pulling blood for Bang's testing.
We treat our Jerseys with one bottle sub-Q. As a general rule that is all they need. Dad has treated cows that were laid out flat, and in the case of Hale Bopp with her head downhill and stomach contents out her nose, and they have all recovered. The sub-Q method works well on our farm and has been used for the past 20+ years successfully. We do not call vets out and dad has not lost any he got to in time.
The key is to know what you are looking for and treat quickly and aggressively. Remember that this is a slow release method. The cow will not stand immediately. Give her a few hours. Dad wants to see improvement in 4 hours. It can take them 6-8 hours to stand. If she improves and then appears to get worse he would retreat. He would consider retreating if she has not improved in 6 hours. Some have been retreated 12 hours after the first treatment. They generally never did completely come around after the first treatment.
Since sub-Q is slower release, they can get concerned about their calf or try to get up earlier than they are ready. They will stumble while trying to get up and can end up with their head downhill. It is crucial to keep an eye on them and make sure their head is uphill. Keep the cow on her brisket and setting up. Use a halter to accomplish this if she is out flat when you find her. Offer water and keep them shaded in the heat and warm in the winter.