Post by goldspur on Mar 27, 2011 6:10:05 GMT -5
OK so on Mon night she had a bull calf, did not take her long, uneventful delivery, placental cleaned well. This is her 4th calf, she is 6 years old. She was in good condition, I just got her 1 week before from a dairy, previous owner sent a bottle of calcium, um,just in case, so I knew she was going to get it, Darn, it. Tues, calf is great, but cow slow, dull, not licking her nose, BANG she's down, head turned back, cold ears, temp only 98.6. Gave 1 bottle calcium iv to her, called the vet, he came out and gave her 1 more in peritoneal area, in her left flank area, have a feeling it just ran into the rumen, should have probably been given on the right flank, hum? again?, she got up ate very little, bag huge, I milked only to relieve her udder, and let calf nurse. Vet says wait on till she's down than give iv again. Wed a repeat of iv calcium, ever see a cow walk back wards, vet says, calcium per oral is not going to help, not eating or drinking, very worried, but she is up again, still cold ears, temp 100. I'm worried about that udder, milk 1 gallon out and let calf nurse prn. Thurs a repeat of Wed, but up again and eating and drinking, using her lick with vit and minerals also. Plus after the iv , I did an infusion of sub-q. Called previous owner and he said use oral calcium also but if the cow was up not to use iv or sub-q calcium, OH, I love this cow already, every one does it different, man I just want her to live. can you tell I'm stressed, I feel like I'm a new mother not a Granny. Vet says to only milk her out half way, on till she is better, but oh my what an udder, no signs of infection, YET....Fri eating and drinking, temp 100.5, ears cold yet, calf OK, only milking half way out, calf still sucking prn. I went to vet and picked up 2 more bottles of calcium, just in case.... Sat eating, drinking and appears better, but not normal yet, boy I hope were getting out of the woods soon, this is my 1st experience with milk fever, THANKS to all the previous postings about milk fever I had excellent advice, but what to do, this or that or what my vet said, plus I had 2 vets and they each told me different, CONFUSING. So I hope this is resolving, and I wanted to share my story of Bella, my wonderful cow, milk fever, Bow tie her bull calf, and a new start on keeping a dairy cow. LITTLE GRANNY..