Post by frogHOLR on May 18, 2010 17:11:51 GMT -5
Progress report on Abbey the swollen heifer:
This morning's check-up found a sassy heifer with even more edema. At least now it just looks like she's going to be entered in the Macy Parade if this keeps up - maybe it's nothing infectious, simply edema? The area in front of her udder under her belly is swollen now and hanging heavily. The two halves of her udder don't look that bad - - if they were on different cows! Right half is still bulbous, but now it looks like the left half is getting in on the plan and starting to plump up as well. From the rear there is a horizontal line about 2/3 up her udder that sort of 'steps' out away from the top 1/3 of her udder - I'm thinking that's the edema and the upper part is actual udder? What do you think? I didn't manage to get that in a picture (not sure HOW as I took a bunch of them!).
She's eating and walking normally still - didn't manage to get a temp this morning, but somehow I doubt it's elevated. Her udder is pink, but still not red. No leakage from the teats, etc. She has a really prominent tail head with kind of flat bones on either side, so I'm not sure how much she's going to 'sink' around those parts when she's close to calving. She's not huge in the belly (she has a big frame for a Guernsey) so either she's got a tiny little calf in there, or she's holding it tucked up tight. The reason I mention this is I'm not sure I'll see her go slab sided either. Oh well. Time will tell, right?!
Thanks for all the posts of comfort and concern - I'm happy to read both as I want to be prepared for the worst case scenario just in case the best case scenario doesn't happen! I'll post a couple of new pictures that were taken this morning.
This morning's check-up found a sassy heifer with even more edema. At least now it just looks like she's going to be entered in the Macy Parade if this keeps up - maybe it's nothing infectious, simply edema? The area in front of her udder under her belly is swollen now and hanging heavily. The two halves of her udder don't look that bad - - if they were on different cows! Right half is still bulbous, but now it looks like the left half is getting in on the plan and starting to plump up as well. From the rear there is a horizontal line about 2/3 up her udder that sort of 'steps' out away from the top 1/3 of her udder - I'm thinking that's the edema and the upper part is actual udder? What do you think? I didn't manage to get that in a picture (not sure HOW as I took a bunch of them!).
She's eating and walking normally still - didn't manage to get a temp this morning, but somehow I doubt it's elevated. Her udder is pink, but still not red. No leakage from the teats, etc. She has a really prominent tail head with kind of flat bones on either side, so I'm not sure how much she's going to 'sink' around those parts when she's close to calving. She's not huge in the belly (she has a big frame for a Guernsey) so either she's got a tiny little calf in there, or she's holding it tucked up tight. The reason I mention this is I'm not sure I'll see her go slab sided either. Oh well. Time will tell, right?!
Thanks for all the posts of comfort and concern - I'm happy to read both as I want to be prepared for the worst case scenario just in case the best case scenario doesn't happen! I'll post a couple of new pictures that were taken this morning.