Post by Madeleine on Oct 16, 2009 21:12:53 GMT -5
As soon as her antibiotics for pneumonia were over, April got a mild (104) fever and ketosis. Yesterday during AM milking she was fine with no fever, 10 minutes later she looked dead with a 107.3 fever. After we took care of her, we got an appointment at A&M.
When we got there, they did an ultra sound on her hart and diagnosed her with Bactesial Endocarditis of the Aortic Valve ( an infection on the heart). They said that she had had an infection, (mastitis or she could of stepped on an nail, etc.) her body walled of the infection, or she wasn't given any antibiotics, and the bacteria went through her blood stream to her Aortic valve. It then grew for a year or longer. after reaching a certain size, it started breaking of bits into her blood stream, resulting in the high fever. She felt so bad that she wouldn't eat, which is why she got the ketosis. This infection is not contagious.
The vets said that since she has been so strong through out this, she has a 60-70% chance of recovering. Once recovered, there is little to no chance of a relapse but she will have a heart murmur for life. They are going to treat her with massive doses of Penicillin and Naxcel (the only 2 I didn't try) for an extended time. She is going to spend the weekend up there so they can keep an eye on her.
I asked if this was rare, because no one has even suggested this. He said that sub clinical cases are very common, but very few cows are diagnosed with it because A) most cows die before the owners know something is wrong and B) not many vets have ultra sounds and there is no other way for to find it.
Fingers crossed that she is fine Monday when I pick her up, and she recovers quickly.
Thanks
Madeleine
When we got there, they did an ultra sound on her hart and diagnosed her with Bactesial Endocarditis of the Aortic Valve ( an infection on the heart). They said that she had had an infection, (mastitis or she could of stepped on an nail, etc.) her body walled of the infection, or she wasn't given any antibiotics, and the bacteria went through her blood stream to her Aortic valve. It then grew for a year or longer. after reaching a certain size, it started breaking of bits into her blood stream, resulting in the high fever. She felt so bad that she wouldn't eat, which is why she got the ketosis. This infection is not contagious.
The vets said that since she has been so strong through out this, she has a 60-70% chance of recovering. Once recovered, there is little to no chance of a relapse but she will have a heart murmur for life. They are going to treat her with massive doses of Penicillin and Naxcel (the only 2 I didn't try) for an extended time. She is going to spend the weekend up there so they can keep an eye on her.
I asked if this was rare, because no one has even suggested this. He said that sub clinical cases are very common, but very few cows are diagnosed with it because A) most cows die before the owners know something is wrong and B) not many vets have ultra sounds and there is no other way for to find it.
Fingers crossed that she is fine Monday when I pick her up, and she recovers quickly.
Thanks
Madeleine