Post by Laura G in Idaho on Dec 17, 2004 13:09:20 GMT -5
Hope is having a rumenotomy today. She has had recurring bloat, and the last few days, it has been EVERY morning. This morning she started to blow up like a balloon again, and she pooped a very foul-smelling diarrhea. It is not her feed... the pasture isn't lush, the hay is not hot. The vet came out a couple days ago and burped her, gave her some medication to get the rumen going again. He looked at the surroundings and her feed, and couldn't think of a cause. He doesn't suspect hardware, because she has no fever, and she has a magnet. This morning, and last night her milk production was off about a pint.
The vet says he'll call when he is done with the surgery and tell me if he finds anything. I do hope that a foreign body of some sort is found and that she will recover quickly. She is in calf (it's been about 5 1/2 weeks since she was bred), and I hope this stress doesn't make her lose the calf. The vet said that the stress of being bloated this often could make her lose her calf, so really, I'm doing the best thing.
The cost of the surgery will be around $200 to $250. Some friends have said that I should butcher her instead and start over with a different cow. Well, considering that option... I'd have to spend at least another $1000 to get a decent milker that is in milk and bred back. If I butchered her, I'd get maybe $300 to $400 of meat. I have a lot of time and effort invested in her, and I'd hate to lose her now. Not to mention, I consider her a friend. I might have trouble eating her.
I expect that the vet will keep her overnight to observe her. So, that means I'll be making a trip to milk tonight, and a trip in the morning. I'm hoping that I can get a sitter so that I don't have to try to keep track of all the children while at the vet's office. I already have someone lined up for tonight to watch the kids, because I was planning on going out with a friend, so I've asked her to come a little early so I can milk before I go out to eat. (Yes! I'm actually getting out of this house to have FUN with a friend... today is my 10th wedding anniversary, and since I can't be with my husband, I'm going out so that I can be distracted from missing him.)
Well, that's what's going on here... I'll keep everyone posted on Hope's surgery and recovery.
~Laura
The vet says he'll call when he is done with the surgery and tell me if he finds anything. I do hope that a foreign body of some sort is found and that she will recover quickly. She is in calf (it's been about 5 1/2 weeks since she was bred), and I hope this stress doesn't make her lose the calf. The vet said that the stress of being bloated this often could make her lose her calf, so really, I'm doing the best thing.
The cost of the surgery will be around $200 to $250. Some friends have said that I should butcher her instead and start over with a different cow. Well, considering that option... I'd have to spend at least another $1000 to get a decent milker that is in milk and bred back. If I butchered her, I'd get maybe $300 to $400 of meat. I have a lot of time and effort invested in her, and I'd hate to lose her now. Not to mention, I consider her a friend. I might have trouble eating her.
I expect that the vet will keep her overnight to observe her. So, that means I'll be making a trip to milk tonight, and a trip in the morning. I'm hoping that I can get a sitter so that I don't have to try to keep track of all the children while at the vet's office. I already have someone lined up for tonight to watch the kids, because I was planning on going out with a friend, so I've asked her to come a little early so I can milk before I go out to eat. (Yes! I'm actually getting out of this house to have FUN with a friend... today is my 10th wedding anniversary, and since I can't be with my husband, I'm going out so that I can be distracted from missing him.)
Well, that's what's going on here... I'll keep everyone posted on Hope's surgery and recovery.
~Laura