Post by Aleisha on Mar 8, 2013 11:06:50 GMT -5
Ok y'all, some of you may have followed my thread about Ruby and her ordeal with induced calving/ pulling calf/ retained placenta... the list goes on with her.
Her bull calf, Reuben, was quite healthy despite being premature. I put him on another cow that calved 4 days after he was born. About a week after he was born he developed a golf ball sized lump in his left lower jaw. It feels like an abscess, though I can't imagine how a calf that young would get one. I thought perhaps he had gotten kicked by his nurse cow.
I locked Reuben and another calf in a stall last night and when I went down to feed cows this morning he was limping pretty badly on his left front leg. The elbow joint seems to be swollen. I didn't notice him favoring it last night. I also took an 18g needle (the biggest I have) and was able to drain some of the abscess in his jaw, and it's definitely an abscess. Stinky pus came out. Couldn't get much more than about 1/4 of it drained though.
This poor boy has just had a hard time getting started in life. He still nurses fine and seems to feel ok. So I guess my question is would it be best to take him to the vet, or try to treat him at home? I still don't have my truck out of the shop so it would be an ordeal to get him to town. (Don't even suggest the vet come to my house- won't happen around here). Should I get a scalpel and lance his jaw? Will time take care of his leg? I'm sure it's impossible for anyone to make that decision for me, but I do appreciate sound advice.
Here are some pictures of Reuben. In this one you can see how swollen his jaw is.
This one gives a look at jaw and leg.
Thanks a lot- Aleisha
P.S. Ruby is doing great! Sassy again and slowly gaining weight.
Her bull calf, Reuben, was quite healthy despite being premature. I put him on another cow that calved 4 days after he was born. About a week after he was born he developed a golf ball sized lump in his left lower jaw. It feels like an abscess, though I can't imagine how a calf that young would get one. I thought perhaps he had gotten kicked by his nurse cow.
I locked Reuben and another calf in a stall last night and when I went down to feed cows this morning he was limping pretty badly on his left front leg. The elbow joint seems to be swollen. I didn't notice him favoring it last night. I also took an 18g needle (the biggest I have) and was able to drain some of the abscess in his jaw, and it's definitely an abscess. Stinky pus came out. Couldn't get much more than about 1/4 of it drained though.
This poor boy has just had a hard time getting started in life. He still nurses fine and seems to feel ok. So I guess my question is would it be best to take him to the vet, or try to treat him at home? I still don't have my truck out of the shop so it would be an ordeal to get him to town. (Don't even suggest the vet come to my house- won't happen around here). Should I get a scalpel and lance his jaw? Will time take care of his leg? I'm sure it's impossible for anyone to make that decision for me, but I do appreciate sound advice.
Here are some pictures of Reuben. In this one you can see how swollen his jaw is.
This one gives a look at jaw and leg.
Thanks a lot- Aleisha
P.S. Ruby is doing great! Sassy again and slowly gaining weight.