Post by bnb87 on Jun 29, 2017 22:39:09 GMT -5
Backstory: A little over a week ago we had a tree fall in our yard. Sycamore. It fell on a couple black walnut trees and broke a couple branches off them. So, the cows had at it for a good two days, eating the leaves of both trees. The third day, one of my fave milkers (isn't that always the one?!?) started acting off. Wouldn't really eat hay like she always had. Started coughing in a strange way, almost a sneeze cough sort of thing. Acting pukey, like she obviously did not feel right. I searched the barn for clues, not thinking of the tree leaves, and found a small bit of mold. Kicked them out of the barn and cleaned it really well. I wondered if it was pneumonia at first, but she never had any fever at all.
Anyhow, by the fifth day she had stopped chewing her cud and I was freaking out, called the vet, but with no fever she was just as stumped as I was. So, I used Rena's drench to head off any metabolic issues and plenty of beet pulp to keep her rumen full enough to prevent DA and, and and. She never stopped eating, drinking, peeing or pooing but her grain was not being digested after a few days like it always has (thinking surely the rumen bacteria must have taken some kind of hit here). The night before last I finally, in desperation, swiped a cud from her calf and shoved it in her mouth. She has been chewing her cud steadily and steadily improving since then.
So now my question -
But what in the world would have caused something like this??? Possible that the black walnut leaves caused die off of some unknown parasite>? Pneumonia without any spike in fever? Toxicity from the sycamore or black walnut leaves? The slight mold in the barn? What? I am just at a complete loss, although she does appear to be improving now, would like to have anyone else chime in on something neither me or my vet knows of that could possibly cause something like this... It has been one hairy scary ordeal!!!
Thanks in advance!!
Anyhow, by the fifth day she had stopped chewing her cud and I was freaking out, called the vet, but with no fever she was just as stumped as I was. So, I used Rena's drench to head off any metabolic issues and plenty of beet pulp to keep her rumen full enough to prevent DA and, and and. She never stopped eating, drinking, peeing or pooing but her grain was not being digested after a few days like it always has (thinking surely the rumen bacteria must have taken some kind of hit here). The night before last I finally, in desperation, swiped a cud from her calf and shoved it in her mouth. She has been chewing her cud steadily and steadily improving since then.
So now my question -
But what in the world would have caused something like this??? Possible that the black walnut leaves caused die off of some unknown parasite>? Pneumonia without any spike in fever? Toxicity from the sycamore or black walnut leaves? The slight mold in the barn? What? I am just at a complete loss, although she does appear to be improving now, would like to have anyone else chime in on something neither me or my vet knows of that could possibly cause something like this... It has been one hairy scary ordeal!!!
Thanks in advance!!