Cow with Stifle injury...how do I go about treatment?

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MOClubbyGuy

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Jan 17, 2011
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Missouri
I have a cow that has come up lame today which what appears to be a stifle injury. I had a vet come out to farm and he agreed. Wanted to get your opinion on how about treating this injury so that the cow can come back as much as she can. She is a BC Marathon PB Angus bred to Bodacious so I want to make sure I see her calve out and raise her calf without problems. Please provide me your insight or experiences in handling this injury. Thanks.
 

GoWyo

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I have seen a couple that healed up enough to gimp around small pastures and do OK for a few years.  I have had a bad year for it.  Had 3 cows suffer stifle injuries this year - 12 year old cow went down before calving and had to be euthanized, 8 year old cow got stifled on one side and was gimping around - couldn't get her out and had to turn in bull and she wound up stifled on the other leg too so finally got her corralled, weaned calf and fed her for a month and made burger out of her, and third cow stifled 2 weeks ago and took her to the sale barn (she was scheduled for culling anyway).
 

all.thumbs

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Feb 8, 2011
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I'd love to hear of any treatment that works.  Some of our best have ended up this way.  We aggressively flushed them a few times and took them to the sale barn.  You want to make sure they don't get down before you sell them because you not only lose the money you would have had if you sold them, but putting them down & getting them buried is not cheap or fun.
 

MOClubbyGuy

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Missouri
I have currently placed her on the smallest flattest pasture on the place where she doesnt have to walk very far for both hay/grass and water. We can only hope for the best.  If there is anything else I can be doing, please share. Thanks
 

Gargan

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if she can hobble around to water and graze some, good chance she'll be ok to calve if she's gonna calve this spring. biggest thing to worry about is when she cycles back after calving. Have her away from the bull. she wont be able to stand for a bull, he'll ride her down. good luck
 

MOClubbyGuy

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Missouri
She is due to calve in Mid March. I am hoping she will do that without a problem and be able to raise the calf until weaning. Once she calves, depending on the severity of the injury will decide if she gets bred back or raises the calf and then shipped. She is one of my better cows on the place so I want to give her every opportunity to heal and get over this injury however your experiences with treatment is greatly appreciated so keep them coming. As of this morning, she was up grazing with other cows in same pasture and walking on it but seeming quite tender as she walked which is no change than how she was last night. Thanks!

 

DL

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Jan 29, 2007
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MOClubbyGuy said:
I have a cow that has come up lame today which what appears to be a stifle injury. I had a vet come out to farm and he agreed. Wanted to get your opinion on how about treating this injury so that the cow can come back as much as she can. She is a BC Marathon PB Angus bred to Bodacious so I want to make sure I see her calve out and raise her calf without problems. Please provide me your insight or experiences in handling this injury. Thanks.

Most stifle injuries do not completely heal - even with the best care - and are therefor prone to further injury (think 1800 pound football player) - it is likely that healing will take at least 6 weeks - the goal would be to avoid re injury for at least 6 weeks to get maximum healing - even then it may not be complete healing and down the road if she gets jumped she could re injure it

If you get nasty icy weather lock her in (unless she is an absolute fruit loop then you have to take your chances) - the stifle is not stable and prone to re injury - ice or other bad footing can be a real problem

Unlike dogs and humans most vets do not operate on these injuries - you might contact David Anderson at K State - he does some cow stifle surgery

IMHO chances are the cow is in pain or at least uncomfortable - aspirin can be given to pg cows routinely though out pregnancy - talk to your vet

The best way to manage them (from a medical standpoint) is small paddock - flat with good footing  (with out other cows or with one also pg cow to avoid riding, pushing etc) and a deeply bedded bed area in shed - if they have the option they will lie down

As she gets more and more pregnant (and heavier) there will be more stress on the stifle - even though 60% of cows weight is on front legs 40% is still carried on the back and the rear limbs are important for rising and lying down

my recommendations - separate into small paddock with good footing and deeply bedded shed or lean to; aspirin for pain; prevent further injury - good luck
 

CAB

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I agree with all the advice that you have received. Wanted to add that there will be a better chance for her recovery if she is a younger cow. How old is she?
 

MOClubbyGuy

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Jan 17, 2011
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Missouri
She is very young, she is only 3-4 yrs old. She had her first calf this last spring. My plan is to move her to my parents house either Wed or Thurs(gotta talk to boss and get off work) which has my old showbarn and a small fenced (40x40) paddock that she will be able to go into during nice weather or otherwise she will be locked into barn within a short distance to hay in a bunk and water in a tub. I can only hope for the best at this point and I greatly appreciate all the words of wisdom. Thanks again!
 
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