Post by Shelley (whistlingtrain) on Oct 27, 2008 0:01:36 GMT -5
I haven't posted in months. We've been so busy with the farm, then school started, then I started training to be a school bus driver to help pay the bills this winter. But here I am, alive and well, with a lesson to share.
You can't be too vigilant. That's my lesson for today. Beauty calved nearly 4 months ago, her first bull calf. I believe this was the weekend for her heat to show, and when she came to the barn last night, walking slowly and like her back end was sore, I didn't think much of it, except that Skunky must have been mounting her all day and she was bruised. But then she didn't want any grain.
This morning I went out to do chores and she wouldn't get up. I tried pulling, yelling in her ear and nothing worked. Her back hip (?) muscles were very slightly trembling. She was sleeping outside with Skunky and it was a frosty night, so her ears seemed cool. The calf was bellowing all day yesterday and this morning. I left for a few minutes and came back and she was slightly quivering all over. THen I noticed that peculiar milk fever curvy neck position.
I called my friend Stefani, who graciously answered the phone at 7:45am Sunday morning and asked her what she thought. She agreed that it deserved a call to the vet, and I crossed my fingers that they answered the emergency phone. An hour later the vet was here and agreed that it was probably milk fever. He IV'd her calcium/potassium plus a bit sub-q, and graciously explained everything to me (in case I needed to know for next time). He also put some dexamethasone in the solution for her back, in case she was injured. He gave her a shot of that in the base of her spine at the tail head also, just in case--he said it was a common injury from being mounted by a bigger cow or bull.
5 minutes later she was up, pooped, slobbering and we got her into the barn. She was stiff but walking again. I now have her separated from the calf and he is mad. He got some of Skunky's milk tonight and Im going to let him nurse a bit in the morning and separated again for the day.
Stefani said that she's noticed that bull calves eat a lot more than heifers. Since this is her first bull calf, I guess it's been a big drain on her lately as he's grown a lot lately, and she's been getting thin. I've upped her grain. The vet said to give her alfalfa too, for protein and to help with the calcium.
I'm just glad I caught it early. I was supposed to leave for a busy farmers market at 8:00am, but my hubby and I juggled the deliveries and the market so I could wait for the vet. I'm afraid of what would have happened if I hadn't called when I did. What would I have found 8 hours later, when I came home?
Got to make some cookies or something to take to the vet this week. The most stunning part was the bill--$60. He came on a Sunday morning and saved my cow's life. I gave him $100.
God bless the good vets of the world.
Shelley
You can't be too vigilant. That's my lesson for today. Beauty calved nearly 4 months ago, her first bull calf. I believe this was the weekend for her heat to show, and when she came to the barn last night, walking slowly and like her back end was sore, I didn't think much of it, except that Skunky must have been mounting her all day and she was bruised. But then she didn't want any grain.
This morning I went out to do chores and she wouldn't get up. I tried pulling, yelling in her ear and nothing worked. Her back hip (?) muscles were very slightly trembling. She was sleeping outside with Skunky and it was a frosty night, so her ears seemed cool. The calf was bellowing all day yesterday and this morning. I left for a few minutes and came back and she was slightly quivering all over. THen I noticed that peculiar milk fever curvy neck position.
I called my friend Stefani, who graciously answered the phone at 7:45am Sunday morning and asked her what she thought. She agreed that it deserved a call to the vet, and I crossed my fingers that they answered the emergency phone. An hour later the vet was here and agreed that it was probably milk fever. He IV'd her calcium/potassium plus a bit sub-q, and graciously explained everything to me (in case I needed to know for next time). He also put some dexamethasone in the solution for her back, in case she was injured. He gave her a shot of that in the base of her spine at the tail head also, just in case--he said it was a common injury from being mounted by a bigger cow or bull.
5 minutes later she was up, pooped, slobbering and we got her into the barn. She was stiff but walking again. I now have her separated from the calf and he is mad. He got some of Skunky's milk tonight and Im going to let him nurse a bit in the morning and separated again for the day.
Stefani said that she's noticed that bull calves eat a lot more than heifers. Since this is her first bull calf, I guess it's been a big drain on her lately as he's grown a lot lately, and she's been getting thin. I've upped her grain. The vet said to give her alfalfa too, for protein and to help with the calcium.
I'm just glad I caught it early. I was supposed to leave for a busy farmers market at 8:00am, but my hubby and I juggled the deliveries and the market so I could wait for the vet. I'm afraid of what would have happened if I hadn't called when I did. What would I have found 8 hours later, when I came home?
Got to make some cookies or something to take to the vet this week. The most stunning part was the bill--$60. He came on a Sunday morning and saved my cow's life. I gave him $100.
God bless the good vets of the world.
Shelley