Post by mrskk on Sept 30, 2009 17:17:52 GMT -5
My cow is a pig!
We got our round bales delivered yesterday and Frank put one of them out to keep the cows and horse occupied while the rest of the hay was delivered. Buttercup must have gorged herself on the hay (I guess that means it's good stuff) because she was nearly round as a beach ball by the time evening chores came around.
I had less than half an hour to spend with her (patting her over the rumen to try to get her to burp) because we had to attend the info meeting on Rachel's trip to Washington. We got home an hour later and there was no change in Miss B. I put about a half cup of baking soda in a wine bottle, along with a dose of probiotics for good measure and some water, but we weren't very successful in getting much into her.
I called for a vet, who arrived about 40 minutes later. She could tell that it wasn't gas bloat, but suspected that her rumen was impacted with hay and could possibly be some frothy bloat going on as well.
She intubated her and got about a gallon and a half of water with surficant (sp?) in it when Buttercup started struggling violently and trying to climb out of the stanchion. The vet decided to quit there, rather than try to administer mineral oil, as she was concerned that Butter would either hurt herself or one of us.
She gave her a shot of Banamine, advised me not to give her any grain for a day, then I could gradually build back to normal levels. No human consumption of milk for three full days and keep a good eye on her.
She is passing manure today and her belly has lost that awful, tight look. She has also lost her "thousand yard stare" that I have come to recognize as deep pain in an animal. She is resting well, chewing her cud, and demonstrating a lot of interest in her surroundings.
I'm one relieved, thankful cow momma!
We got our round bales delivered yesterday and Frank put one of them out to keep the cows and horse occupied while the rest of the hay was delivered. Buttercup must have gorged herself on the hay (I guess that means it's good stuff) because she was nearly round as a beach ball by the time evening chores came around.
I had less than half an hour to spend with her (patting her over the rumen to try to get her to burp) because we had to attend the info meeting on Rachel's trip to Washington. We got home an hour later and there was no change in Miss B. I put about a half cup of baking soda in a wine bottle, along with a dose of probiotics for good measure and some water, but we weren't very successful in getting much into her.
I called for a vet, who arrived about 40 minutes later. She could tell that it wasn't gas bloat, but suspected that her rumen was impacted with hay and could possibly be some frothy bloat going on as well.
She intubated her and got about a gallon and a half of water with surficant (sp?) in it when Buttercup started struggling violently and trying to climb out of the stanchion. The vet decided to quit there, rather than try to administer mineral oil, as she was concerned that Butter would either hurt herself or one of us.
She gave her a shot of Banamine, advised me not to give her any grain for a day, then I could gradually build back to normal levels. No human consumption of milk for three full days and keep a good eye on her.
She is passing manure today and her belly has lost that awful, tight look. She has also lost her "thousand yard stare" that I have come to recognize as deep pain in an animal. She is resting well, chewing her cud, and demonstrating a lot of interest in her surroundings.
I'm one relieved, thankful cow momma!