Post by Tricia on Oct 17, 2009 17:40:37 GMT -5
Molly is in the field next to the house on the best pasture left for grazing. I noticed yesterday she wasn't eating as much as the day before, I give her a new spot everyday.
Well today I found out the hard way why. Too rich. Clover, alfalfa, timothy, grass, nice and lush in the fall...... too much for her.
I was doing things near the area this afternoon and noticed her acting strange. Watching me, not grazing, runny poo.... hmm I thought I better get some hay out for her. I go to milk her and she won't move. She looks a bit hunched up, then I hear her doing this little panting grunt thing. I take a good look at her, a bit rolly polly to say the least. BLOATED!!! She is on her feet and will not move. I'm shoving, pushing, even DS labrador is pulling on her lead. I have bloat medicine but the head is still tossing so I need help. DS and DH are cutting wood 1/2 mile away, I buzzed them on the walkie talkie to get home fast. THe 3 of us finally got her in the stanchion. She is burping a bit and foaming at the mouth, looking huger in the gut than before. I get her milked out fast, which lead to some belching then drenched her with the bloat stuff. Then started walking her. She is now down to normal size and actually nibbling at some grass. She is no longer in that field but the old dried up one with some hay to munch on also.
phew, now to keep checking on her.
Anyone who doesn't have bloat drench should have it on hand. A bottle is less than $4 at Jeffers. I also have something similar to this for drenching:
www.jefferslivestock.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=2&mscssid=C4WN06AA8GT18LSS46W2NW13P0570S9A&pf_id=16098
mine has more of an angle to it. You can slide it in the corner of the cows mouth along the cheek, put a bottle of stuff in the top and the liquid just slides down their throat. No wine bottle or what not to mess with. Slick and nice and no mess all over ME!!!
Of course ya'll will be smarter than me and not put your girl on lush fall pasture like duh me just did.
Well today I found out the hard way why. Too rich. Clover, alfalfa, timothy, grass, nice and lush in the fall...... too much for her.
I was doing things near the area this afternoon and noticed her acting strange. Watching me, not grazing, runny poo.... hmm I thought I better get some hay out for her. I go to milk her and she won't move. She looks a bit hunched up, then I hear her doing this little panting grunt thing. I take a good look at her, a bit rolly polly to say the least. BLOATED!!! She is on her feet and will not move. I'm shoving, pushing, even DS labrador is pulling on her lead. I have bloat medicine but the head is still tossing so I need help. DS and DH are cutting wood 1/2 mile away, I buzzed them on the walkie talkie to get home fast. THe 3 of us finally got her in the stanchion. She is burping a bit and foaming at the mouth, looking huger in the gut than before. I get her milked out fast, which lead to some belching then drenched her with the bloat stuff. Then started walking her. She is now down to normal size and actually nibbling at some grass. She is no longer in that field but the old dried up one with some hay to munch on also.
phew, now to keep checking on her.
Anyone who doesn't have bloat drench should have it on hand. A bottle is less than $4 at Jeffers. I also have something similar to this for drenching:
www.jefferslivestock.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=2&mscssid=C4WN06AA8GT18LSS46W2NW13P0570S9A&pf_id=16098
mine has more of an angle to it. You can slide it in the corner of the cows mouth along the cheek, put a bottle of stuff in the top and the liquid just slides down their throat. No wine bottle or what not to mess with. Slick and nice and no mess all over ME!!!
Of course ya'll will be smarter than me and not put your girl on lush fall pasture like duh me just did.