Post by Jennifer on Dec 28, 2007 18:15:58 GMT -5
Hi all! I am in a huge hurry trying to make dinner and get back to the farm but I need some advice if anyone wants to send some my way. The farmer from down the road that raises angus showed up at our farm this morning needing colostrum for a calf. DH was getting him some when nosey me started asking questions about the calf. He said one of his cows abandoned a calf. He thought it was a bull and maybe 3 days max. No clue if it drank from mom but he tubed it some colostrum last night when he found it (didn't even remember how much) and it has been laying on the floor of his open machine shed since then (we got quite a bit of snow last night and it was very cold). I teased DH that we have a cow that it could go on and within 10 minutes the calf was at my feet. So here's the skinny... first it is a heifer, second it's back leg is broken but not through the skin, third it won't suck and fourth both of it's eyes are grey and seem to have pockets of liguid covering the eyes like a blister.
I kinda figured it was a lost cause but DH started running around setting up the medical center . She went into the heated shop, on a dog bed, in front of the wood stove. She was very, very cold. We have messed with her all day and she really seems to be responding. She won't suck but we used a drench gun and got a pint of colostrum in her. She warmed up and really tried moving around but that back leg is definately broke so we placed her so she couldn't get around to disturb it more. I don't know if she is blind or what is wrong with her eyes but she rarely tries to open them. It doesn't look anything like pinkeye which is the only eye issue I have ever seen.
So what do I do? She is breathing very well and moves her body around pretty well (except the leg). I figured maybe one reason why she wouldn't suck is she was just so darned cold when we got her. DH is going to put a splint on her leg. Do any of you know how long it takes a leg to set? And any off hand ideas on the eye issue?
Thank you all. I will try to check back in after milking tonight.
Jennifer
I kinda figured it was a lost cause but DH started running around setting up the medical center . She went into the heated shop, on a dog bed, in front of the wood stove. She was very, very cold. We have messed with her all day and she really seems to be responding. She won't suck but we used a drench gun and got a pint of colostrum in her. She warmed up and really tried moving around but that back leg is definately broke so we placed her so she couldn't get around to disturb it more. I don't know if she is blind or what is wrong with her eyes but she rarely tries to open them. It doesn't look anything like pinkeye which is the only eye issue I have ever seen.
So what do I do? She is breathing very well and moves her body around pretty well (except the leg). I figured maybe one reason why she wouldn't suck is she was just so darned cold when we got her. DH is going to put a splint on her leg. Do any of you know how long it takes a leg to set? And any off hand ideas on the eye issue?
Thank you all. I will try to check back in after milking tonight.
Jennifer