Help! Cow Down

kobo_ranch · Mar 9, 2013

Thought I'd write in for some help. I think its hopeless but we have a nice cow (was really nice but drought has taken effect some) now she's down and can't get up. Gets up on her front legs (hips down on ground, then gets tired again and down again. Has 'scooted' to the water pail we have for her but hasn't walked anywhere. Has been down 24 hours now and not sure what to do. Got the bucket lift just now and got her up she stood on all fours for about 5 minutes a couple different times before giving out. We've switched her sides and hoping for the best. We are really busy and no time really to mess with her 3 and 4 x a day lifting and babying her. But really upset cause she was one of our prime breeding cows (had a larger calf on her) Sure the bull must of hurt her trying to breed her. Just not sure if something broken or what. What would y'all do? Or how much more time should we give her? Would call the Vet but Saturday and not sure what he'd do besides charge us a couple hundred. These days that money goes to hay.

maineanjou87 · Mar 9, 2013

2 years ago pulled a huge calf out of a cow she couldnt get up except on front legs. we gave her a anti inflamatory for 2 days went out the third day and she was standing up in the barn eating hay that morning its not the same situation but we gave her 3 days but thats only cause she made a little progress everyday.

mccannfarms · Mar 9, 2013

Have you tried calcium/phos IV in the jugular?

We had a little Charolais cross cow years ago that got down twice after calving she dislocated her hips.. if we would get her up she would try to walk.. both times after like a week of messing with her she was fine.. after she weaned off the second calf she went to market.

cowman 52 · Mar 9, 2013

Does she move the back legs? If she is thin, 6to8. Oz of proplene glycol down her morning and night will help her on the energy department,
You can get dextrose at tractor supply and an iv kit, do it intra rumen if you have to, just stab a 16 ga x 1 in needle in the hollow spot just below the loin, big cow a bottle morning and night. Cows too expensive just to let her croak, easy on the feed you could founder. Keep an eye on urine output, bloody, or none means kidney failure, don't spare the water, sugar and a raw egg or to won' t hurt, the re sorb electrolyte is good also. If you think damage a dose of dexamethazone and ban amine would be a good try. Nothing mentioned here too expensive.

kobo_ranch · Mar 9, 2013

mccannfarms said:
Have you tried calcium/phos IV in the jugular?

We had a little Charolais cross cow years ago that got down twice after calving she dislocated her hips.. if we would get her up she would try to walk.. both times after like a week of messing with her she was fine.. after she weaned off the second calf she went to market.

What is the calcium/phos IV where you get and how administer... give me the exact steps I can do! (but no have not)

cowman 52 · Mar 9, 2013

Intraparenterial, excuse me spell check went haywire.

kobo_ranch · Mar 9, 2013

cowman 52 said:
Does she move the back legs? If she is thin, 6to8. Oz of proplene glycol down her morning and night will help her on the energy department,
You can get dextrose at tractor supply and an iv kit, do it intra rumen if you have to, just stab a 16 ga x 1 in needle in the hollow spot just below the loin, big cow a bottle morning and night. Cows too expensive just to let her croak, easy on the feed you could founder. Keep an eye on urine output, bloody, or none means kidney failure, don't spare the water, sugar and a raw egg or to won' t hurt, the re sorb electrolyte is good also. If you think damage a dose of dexamethazone and ban amine would be a good try. Nothing mentioned here too expensive.

She does move her back legs but seem stiff... I asked husband to maybe hobble her a bit in case she does try to stand but wasn't sure. I sound dumb but where exactly do you insert the needle again? Where the banamine or dex? (shot) You're right about not just giving up... thanks

loveRedcows · Mar 9, 2013

kobo_ranch said:
Thought I'd write in for some help. I think its hopeless but we have a nice cow (was really nice but drought has taken effect some) now she's down and can't get up. Gets up on her front legs (hips down on ground, then gets tired again and down again. Has 'scooted' to the water pail we have for her but hasn't walked anywhere. Has been down 24 hours now and not sure what to do. Got the bucket lift just now and got her up she stood on all fours for about 5 minutes a couple different times before giving out. We've switched her sides and hoping for the best. We are really busy and no time really to mess with her 3 and 4 x a day lifting and babying her. But really upset cause she was one of our prime breeding cows (had a larger calf on her) Sure the bull must of hurt her trying to breed her. Just not sure if something broken or what. What would y'all do? Or how much more time should we give her? Would call the Vet but Saturday and not sure what he'd do besides charge us a couple hundred. These days that money goes to hay.

After reading the replies, had to go back & re-read your post. If I understand correctly, this was not a dystocia problem but possibly trauma caused by the bull. If she's alert & eating/drinking well I'd give it a few days. Unfortunately it's not usually good news if the bull breaks them down. We've had cows down after calving come back with no problems, but if the bull catches her standing at an odd angle it can cause real damage. Keep us posted, please & good luck.

OH Breeder · Mar 10, 2013

Someone posted on here a while back that used water tank to help a downed cow. They floated her in a tank. I would have to search it to see. But the cow made a complete recovery.

Help! Cow Down

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