Post by Joyousfarmgirl on Jan 19, 2018 0:21:44 GMT -5
This is Melinda, Joyousfarmgirl's mama. Ginger is down. Miriam is at the farm taking care of her, but she doesn't have internet access.
This is what Miriam is telling me over the phone. Ginger freshened about five weeks ago with her second calf and up until yesterday, she was fine. Yesterday she didn't come up with the other cows, but Miriam took her a bucket of alfalfa cubes and hay, and she ate it. This morning she was normal acting. This evening she wasn't acting different, but Miriam noticed she was laying in the same place. Miriam went to check on her, and Ginger attempted to get up, but fell down. She tried to get up again, and succeeded, and walked off. Miriam came back to check on her a little later and she was no longer able to get up, which is not like her. She gets up immediately when you approach her. She started diarrhea this afternoon. Her ears are cold. She appears to be in pain, is grinding her teeth, and not chewing her cud. Her stomach is very empty compared to what she was earlier today. She has a low fever and is shivering. No snotty nose or cough.
Miriam and Joshua put bales of hay around her to make a windbreak, and then they covered her in loose hay. Miriam has been drenching her with molasses in just a little hot water, trying to give her some energy. Miriam got her to eat a little alfalfa cubes (six cubes) and hay (1/4 flake), by handfeeding her. The only thing with calcium in it that Miriam has is a bottle of tums, so she powdered 2/3 of the bottle, mixed with water, and drenched Ginger with it.
Yesterday Ginger was a little off, but eating and doing everything normal. This afternoon, she was a little sick. Tonight she is very sick.
Miriam talked to the two vets on call tonight. The first works at the large animal practice, but is useless. She told Miriam not to worry and that Ginger would be back to normal in the morning. The second vet, war equally useless, but made an appointment for a farm call first thing tomorrow morning. The vet coming tomorrow is a great cow vet, but I don't know if Ginger will make it until then.
Prayers and advice appreciated.
ETA-Miriam says her breath smells fine. The weather here has been super cold.
This is what Miriam is telling me over the phone. Ginger freshened about five weeks ago with her second calf and up until yesterday, she was fine. Yesterday she didn't come up with the other cows, but Miriam took her a bucket of alfalfa cubes and hay, and she ate it. This morning she was normal acting. This evening she wasn't acting different, but Miriam noticed she was laying in the same place. Miriam went to check on her, and Ginger attempted to get up, but fell down. She tried to get up again, and succeeded, and walked off. Miriam came back to check on her a little later and she was no longer able to get up, which is not like her. She gets up immediately when you approach her. She started diarrhea this afternoon. Her ears are cold. She appears to be in pain, is grinding her teeth, and not chewing her cud. Her stomach is very empty compared to what she was earlier today. She has a low fever and is shivering. No snotty nose or cough.
Miriam and Joshua put bales of hay around her to make a windbreak, and then they covered her in loose hay. Miriam has been drenching her with molasses in just a little hot water, trying to give her some energy. Miriam got her to eat a little alfalfa cubes (six cubes) and hay (1/4 flake), by handfeeding her. The only thing with calcium in it that Miriam has is a bottle of tums, so she powdered 2/3 of the bottle, mixed with water, and drenched Ginger with it.
Yesterday Ginger was a little off, but eating and doing everything normal. This afternoon, she was a little sick. Tonight she is very sick.
Miriam talked to the two vets on call tonight. The first works at the large animal practice, but is useless. She told Miriam not to worry and that Ginger would be back to normal in the morning. The second vet, war equally useless, but made an appointment for a farm call first thing tomorrow morning. The vet coming tomorrow is a great cow vet, but I don't know if Ginger will make it until then.
Prayers and advice appreciated.
ETA-Miriam says her breath smells fine. The weather here has been super cold.