Post by Shawn on Dec 11, 2007 18:58:18 GMT -5
My Holstein, Lady, is 13+ years old. She calved Oct. 11. She is a nurse cow to 3 calves. Is it possible for her to develop milk fever at this point?
She came in tonight and at first I thought she was limping on a front foot. But as I watched her she stumbled and went down in the parlor. After a bit she got back up and proceeded cautiously the last two steps to the stanchion. She ate with gusto her grain and alfalfa.
I noticed while she was in there she was putting weight on the foot I thought was hurt. She seems trembly all over. I didn't touch her ears as she is very head shy and I didn't want her bolting back out and falling. Also, it is freezing rain here and they're all wet, so figured I couldn't tell anyway.
She went out very slowly and with great care. I was careful to stay back from possible getting fallen on and moved her gently out to the lounging area. I gave her some molasses and Epsom salts water as a pick up.
I wasn't sure whether she had tried to go out around in the weather to get a drink and had fallen or if this is milk fever.
I thought I bought a tube of calcium, but I guess not.
Any advice?
Oh, and we're in the midst of an ice storm. The roads are passable, but I sure hate to call a vet for nothing.
What can I do, what should I watch for? I'll go back out and offer her more water soon, because I'm sure she won't go around to the stock tank for a drink now.
Shawn
I should add that at noon when I went out and checked on everybody I didn't notice anything amiss. She was moving around fine. I threw in some fresh hay and she turned and ate and I never noticed anything wrong.
She came in tonight and at first I thought she was limping on a front foot. But as I watched her she stumbled and went down in the parlor. After a bit she got back up and proceeded cautiously the last two steps to the stanchion. She ate with gusto her grain and alfalfa.
I noticed while she was in there she was putting weight on the foot I thought was hurt. She seems trembly all over. I didn't touch her ears as she is very head shy and I didn't want her bolting back out and falling. Also, it is freezing rain here and they're all wet, so figured I couldn't tell anyway.
She went out very slowly and with great care. I was careful to stay back from possible getting fallen on and moved her gently out to the lounging area. I gave her some molasses and Epsom salts water as a pick up.
I wasn't sure whether she had tried to go out around in the weather to get a drink and had fallen or if this is milk fever.
I thought I bought a tube of calcium, but I guess not.
Any advice?
Oh, and we're in the midst of an ice storm. The roads are passable, but I sure hate to call a vet for nothing.
What can I do, what should I watch for? I'll go back out and offer her more water soon, because I'm sure she won't go around to the stock tank for a drink now.
Shawn
I should add that at noon when I went out and checked on everybody I didn't notice anything amiss. She was moving around fine. I threw in some fresh hay and she turned and ate and I never noticed anything wrong.