Water spots (Fluid pockets on my steers legs)

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tracyr5

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Oct 8, 2011
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Can anyone give me information on what to do for the pockets of fluid on the legs of a steer.  He has them on each leg.  Is there anything that can be done?  Any help is greatly appreciated.
 

rackranch

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Where are they located? Ie' in the hocks or diffuse over the entire leg?

Also, what is age and weight of your steer amd how long have they been there??
 

RankeCattleCo

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We had this same exact thing happen with my dairy steer.  Are your pockets right about on either side of the knee joint (inside and outside), and they're a little more noticable from the front??  Are they about the size of golf balls?  We had to have the vet cumb, knock him out, (I don't think it was necasary as he would probably just try to reach for the nearest article of clothing on youi to chew on, but he was a 1400 lb dairy steer and she was 5 foot nothing 100 lbs on a good day...  (lol) ) and then poke a small hole in each sack, draining the fluid.  Sadly, they reappeared after a few days and unfortanutly there was really nothing to do about it since no fluid drained when poked and rubbed.

Sorry about your misfortune,
RCC
 

tracyr5

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Oct 8, 2011
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rackranch said:
Where are they located? Ie' in the hocks or diffuse over the entire leg?

Also, what is age and weight of your steer amd how long have they been there??

They are on the hocks. He is a June calf approx 700 lbs.  They have been progressively growing for the last couple of months, they are now half the size now of a racquet ball and spreading to the outside. 
 

OH Breeder

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My first suggestion is to have your vet come and take a look at them. There are several things that can happen. If your steer was more mature it is not uncommon for the circulation in the extremities to become poor as the weight piles on and cause some stress around the joint causing fluid to accumulate. You can manage the discomfort with asperin bolus and icy hot rubs or liniment like they use on race horses with cool water rinses. You will reduce swelling and may improve the circulation locally in that tissue. But a vet really should examine the animal to make sure there are not other underlying problems.
 

rackranch

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X2 have a vet look at him >>>DO NOT TRY TO DRAIN THEM<<<

Don't poke anything in there and try to rub the fluid out.  Big risk for infection and it will just come back.  I would put him on a joint supplement asap.  Don't tie him up for long periods of time right now and make sure he has plenty of soft bedding to stand on.  The vet will give you something to help manage the swelling.  If you are good on weight you may try to decrease his ADG a little.  At his weight he is growing fast and stressing his joints so managment is your best bet at this time.  Hydrotherapy may help as well.. Good luck...

OH Breeder said:
My first suggestion is to have your vet come and take a look at them. There are several things that can happen. If your steer was more mature it is not uncommon for the circulation in the extremities to become poor as the weight piles on and cause some stress around the joint causing fluid to accumulate. You can manage the discomfort with asperin bolus and icy hot rubs or liniment like they use on race horses with cool water rinses. You will reduce swelling and may improve the circulation locally in that tissue. But a vet really should examine the animal to make sure there are not other underlying problems.
 

nds

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Dec 2, 2010
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We have had numerous show steers get those water pockets before.  Its no big deal really.  I was told that they are just lubrication for their joints and are caused by big boned and stouter cattle.  I for sure wouldnt drain them.  We just made sure we had good enough leg hair on them to cover them up  at the shows.  The water bubbles never seemed to affect the steers structurally or how they walked either.  I wouldnt be worried.
 

DL

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RankeCattleCo said:
We had this same exact thing happen with my dairy steer.  Are your pockets right about on either side of the knee joint (inside and outside), and they're a little more noticable from the front??  Are they about the size of golf balls?  We had to have the vet cumb, knock him out, (I don't think it was necasary as he would probably just try to reach for the nearest article of clothing on youi to chew on, but he was a 1400 lb dairy steer and she was 5 foot nothing 100 lbs on a good day...  (lol) ) and then poke a small hole in each sack, draining the fluid.  Sadly, they reappeared after a few days and unfortanutly there was really nothing to do about it since no fluid drained when poked and rubbed.

Sorry about your misfortune,
RCC

Really? You had the exact same thing when you don't really know what this steer has -- internet diagnosis is truly a wonderful thing.

Is the calf lame or is it cosmetic? The joints respond to irritation, injury and or stress by increasing the synovial fluid (joint fluid) in an attempt to cushion the joint. It likely won't go away but hydrotherapy (ie alternating warm and cold - if you have access to warm) can help decrease the swelling - also do you leave him tied and ramped? the ramp can increase the stress on the joints - it would be good if he wasn't standing on cement.

I agree with OB and others - call your vet and do not stick anything it the joint. At 700 lbs you have a ways to go ask you vet for suggestions and if s/he thinks the calf is painful - aspirin as an anti inflammatory (you need to use boluses so the steer needs to be trained to hold his head up and open his mouth) may be helpful, it can be used in cattle and has a short meat withhold - good luck
 

RankeCattleCo

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1.) Ours was a dairy steer about 15 days before fair.  Do you really think a holstein steer has an abundance of leg hair...?

2.) Our vet advised to drain them.  I wasn't the one that said to drain them, and she did it...

3.) DL- Thanks for the comment, but we did have the same thing, as far as water pockets on the hind legs.  Maybe not the same location but we had the same problem.  Is it now a crime to compare two's problems and suggest a diagnosis...?
 

DL

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RankeCattleCo said:
1.) Ours was a dairy steer about 15 days before fair.  Do you really think a holstein steer has an abundance of leg hair...?

2.) Our vet advised to drain them.  I wasn't the one that said to drain them, and she did it...

3.) DL- Thanks for the comment, but we did have the same thing, as far as water pockets on the hind legs.  Maybe not the same location but we had the same problem.  Is it now a crime to compare two's problems and suggest a diagnosis...?

Technically it is illegal for you to diagnose a problem in animals other than your own - it is considered a violation of the veterinary practice act -now I know about all the on line chatter and recommendations etc and it is likely that nobody really cares enough to do anything about it but you can ask cowboy or show heifer and a host of others about how they were treated by the state board of veterinary practice when they were doing things defined by the state as veterinary practice and BTW diagnosis is considered veterinary practice...
 
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