navel infection

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lynle1234

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Oct 9, 2008
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how do you tell the difference b/n navel infection and a ruptured navel (not sure if i'm calling this the right thing, it 's when the insides go down into the navel area)?  how would you treat this?

Currently the navel is probably the size of a man's fist, soft.
 

Sparty-On

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May 19, 2009
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If you can feel a hole up there, then most likely you have a hernia.  If it is less than the size of a quarter you can massage it and most likely it will close up.  If it is larger than a quarter it might need to be stitched up. 
 

DFSC

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How is the calf acting? Be very careful with this, we had a calf get an infected umbilical and went down hill fast! We have noticed if it's an infection they will have fever and lethargy and if it's a hernia it seems like they have a decreased appetite. Just watch him close. Good luck!

Jordan
 

DL

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lynle1234 said:
how do you tell the difference b/n navel infection and a ruptured navel (not sure if i'm calling this the right thing, it 's when the insides go down into the navel area)?  how would you treat this?

Currently the navel is probably the size of a man's fist, soft.

OK - so you either have a hernia or a naval abscess or both - I would suggest you call your vet - these are sometime difficult to distinguish without either ultrasound or surgery - if it is a hernia there is a danger of getting a loop of intestine stuck in the hole and having it lose its blood supply and die (bad deal) ...I would advise against sticking needles or other things in it - hernias can often be fixed with surgery but they are heritable (something to consider if this is a replacement animal)
 

lynle1234

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we did give him pen after we saw it.  had the vet out today, the calf has a hernia.  luckily the hole is not very big.
 

lynle1234

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I think he was a couple weeks old.  The vet said some times it'll heal on it's own or he can have surgery in a month or so.  Just depends what happens.

 

herefordfootball

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Usually you can tell by feeling the navel. If its hard, its just the normal navel. If its squishy and you can push it back up into the body, its a hernia or intestines.
 

cowzrus

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Has anyone seen the surgery done that they could do a quick explanation of what goes on.  Is it a simple surgery?  Have a 7month old calf that needs it.  Small hernia maybe 3 small finger size.
 

jbw

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If my vet does a hernia surgery he will cut the calf, if a bull or spay the hfr.
 

cowzrus

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The calf is cut already I just want to know particulars involved with surgery.  How long it takes, how long to heal, the set backs the calf might experience.  Average costs.  And really what exactly they do during surgery.  Anybody seen it or had experience with it.
 

cowcrazy

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I have seen the surgery performed.  The vet makes the incision on the belly by the navel area.  He dissects the tissue connected to the outside layer of skin to free the navel stump.  The stump is then pushed back up into the hole.  My vet then sutured the hole closed, put in a second set of sutures to close the dissected tissue and then a third set of sutures to close up the outside skin.  I watched this procedure on both a heifer and a bull calf.  The heifer was a Brahman, so there was a lot of skin involved.  The bull calf was a Shorthorn.  He did not spay or castrate either animal, and both were on a course of antibiotics, but recovered very well.  The first days were a little rough, but not too bad.  You might want to get it done before it gets too hot and the flies get bad.  As far as cost goes, I paid between $250 and $350 for my procedures.  The vet I used did not have a fancy set up, just did it outside in as sterile conditions as possible.  Good luck!
 

Shady Lane

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My cousin is a vert and I used to make some rounds with him when I was in High School and maybe in my first year or two of University?

I helped another vet do a hernia procedure on a Holstein heifer that was about 300-350#'s


Fairly simple procedure, as far as I know she reccovered just fine.
 
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