Post by mooo on Mar 22, 2010 9:53:31 GMT -5
I can't decide if I'm being irrational or not worrying enough. My 7 y/o Jersey Molly is due to calve. She was covered by a small 48" more traditional yearling bull last year so it took him awhile before he could get the job done - which I didn't mind because I want spring calves anyway. The last time I saw her in heat was in late May so figured anytime past late February she'd be able to go.
The worry is that she's been discharging for 9 days now. At first it was just a bit of stringy goo that got her tail dirty, then went out one day and it was a tad worse & it looked like her mucous plug was stuck on her butt. Her vulva is very, very relaxed. I can't find any ligaments on her so I can't tell you what they are doing. She's unsteady with her hind end like what can happen when they get ready to deliver. The one thing is that her udder, while full, doesn't have the look of impending delivery. Usually they'll get that shiny about-to-pop look and she doesn't have that. Yesterday before I left to go pick up my new calf she was lying down & was did the whole I'm in pain bawl almost like she was having contractions. I figured since I'd be out of town that she'd have it - nope. Got home last night and she's discharging a fair amount, more than ever, but I woke up this morning and she's still fat & sassy.
I just don't know if I'm worrying over nothing or if something could be wrong with her. She had the weird discombobulated delivery the last time, in 2008, after she'd gotten attacked by a dog at her "new owner's" house & he ended up giving her Dexamethasone, I think, because the guy at the feedyard told him that it wouldn't hurt anything. Well, nothing except the calf she was carrying. Thank gosh she was in her 9th month. The actual delivery went well except she retained the placenta. She raised her calf & the only reason I didn't breed her then was because I wanted her udder to be able to heal fully before she calved again and I wanted to make sure that she was well, and, I don't want to mess with calves over the winter.
By all appearances she's doing fine otherwise. Good appetite, I keep checking her ears, much to her dismay, to make sure that she's not getting MF.
So, am I being overly anxious (I am anxiety prone) or do I need to or *when* do I need to start worrying? Like I said, she's 7 now and had 2 live births before she had the last calf, this is her 4th pregnancy so I would like to think that she knows what she's doing but you just never can rule anything out!
The worry is that she's been discharging for 9 days now. At first it was just a bit of stringy goo that got her tail dirty, then went out one day and it was a tad worse & it looked like her mucous plug was stuck on her butt. Her vulva is very, very relaxed. I can't find any ligaments on her so I can't tell you what they are doing. She's unsteady with her hind end like what can happen when they get ready to deliver. The one thing is that her udder, while full, doesn't have the look of impending delivery. Usually they'll get that shiny about-to-pop look and she doesn't have that. Yesterday before I left to go pick up my new calf she was lying down & was did the whole I'm in pain bawl almost like she was having contractions. I figured since I'd be out of town that she'd have it - nope. Got home last night and she's discharging a fair amount, more than ever, but I woke up this morning and she's still fat & sassy.
I just don't know if I'm worrying over nothing or if something could be wrong with her. She had the weird discombobulated delivery the last time, in 2008, after she'd gotten attacked by a dog at her "new owner's" house & he ended up giving her Dexamethasone, I think, because the guy at the feedyard told him that it wouldn't hurt anything. Well, nothing except the calf she was carrying. Thank gosh she was in her 9th month. The actual delivery went well except she retained the placenta. She raised her calf & the only reason I didn't breed her then was because I wanted her udder to be able to heal fully before she calved again and I wanted to make sure that she was well, and, I don't want to mess with calves over the winter.
By all appearances she's doing fine otherwise. Good appetite, I keep checking her ears, much to her dismay, to make sure that she's not getting MF.
So, am I being overly anxious (I am anxiety prone) or do I need to or *when* do I need to start worrying? Like I said, she's 7 now and had 2 live births before she had the last calf, this is her 4th pregnancy so I would like to think that she knows what she's doing but you just never can rule anything out!