Has anyone heard of steers having growing pains?? UPDATED: Epiphysitis

[SlickTxMaine]

I posted on here a couple of weeks ago regarding my son's steer limping.  The vet gave us Bute and Exceed.  Thought he had pain in his foot for unknown reason.  ALong with the meds, we have been soaking his foot in epsom salt and also cold hosing his entire leg from shoulder to hoof.  Some days better, some days worse.  Took him to see a different vet today that did several x-rays and diagnosed him with growing pains (lay term- he had a long name for it).  He showed us the xray compared to a picture in a vet book.  He has a potrusion on his bone above his knee.  The vet gave us more bute and said it should disappear in a month.  My kids had growing pains when they were younger, but never had an animal with it.  Anyone ever heard of this, or experienced it??  

 

[oakie]

I have had heifer calves that had popping knees, but they grew out of it.....anything like that? They didn't limp their knees just popped. I would have guessed foot rot, but apparently not. How are you supposed to treat it other than bute?

 

[SlickTxMaine]

I have had heifer calves that had popping knees, but they grew out of it.....anything like that? They didn't limp their knees just popped. I would have guessed foot rot, but apparently not. How are you supposed to treat it other than bute?

No popping, just limping.  The bute is to make him comfortable until he "grows out of it".  I was thinking foot rot too or an abscess. 

 

[oakie]

Is he on pavement? Artheritis?

 

[SlickTxMaine]

Is he on pavement? Artheritis?

Nope, just sand.

 

[oakie]

I'm out of ideas, lol. That is weird though. I have never seen anything like that.  What breed is he?

 

[steer-guy]

what part of Tx are you in? I have not heard of growing pains but I'm not a vet either. Dr Warner is a very good show calf vet. I believe he put an article out in the past about bone spurs in show cattle that causes the limping also.

 

[herfluvr]

Did he say it was Osterchondosis or OCD?  This is a common condition in young horses  from being fed diets high in calcium and phosphorus.  Alfalfa hay is often the culprit for us.  I have seen it enough to wonder if cattle could develope the same issues when we are trying to feed them a bit much to get growth.  Here is a link you might want to see
http://www.recoveryeq.com/osteochondrosis_pro.htm
When we have a colt with this we cut down the grain, grass hay, vitamin E and a Purina 12-12 lick block.  OCD is treatable and it does go away just hard to raise a show calf when you need to restrict calories a bit. 

 

[SlickTxMaine]

The term the vet used is Epiphysitis.  He seemed to think it will go away soon....  Can you treat cattle with MSM?

 

[herfluvr]

The term the vet used is Epiphysitis.  He seemed to think it will go away soon....  Can you treat cattle with MSM?

Good news!  Epiphysitis is way treatable.  It is pretty common in the horse industry.  Often seen when a yearling or two year old is started into training for halter or riding and the feed is upped for say a halter colt or if a two year old starts it's under saddle training and or both. Did the vet tell you to decrease the calorie intake until the swelling and soreness are gone?  If not that is the first line of treatment for us.  Usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks for it to heal itself.  Not want you want to hear about reducing feed but it really is a good idea and moderate exercise. 
Check to see what is tested where you will be showing.  If you are looking for a good joint supplement that has been proven and for what all others are trying to replacate, it is Cosequin.  It was truly the first one on the market, patented and studied.  Not cheap but it works.  The cheaper ones may look similar but the size of the molecules matter and Cosequin has the small ones that are easier to get in the bloodstream.    Hope that helps.  My cousin aften calls me to see what us "horse people" are doing to keep our riders sound.  Called me about "coo-sec-in"  LOL  Told him all about Cosequin.   

 

[SlickTxMaine]

The term the vet used is Epiphysitis.  He seemed to think it will go away soon....  Can you treat cattle with MSM?

Good news!  Epiphysitis is way treatable.  It is pretty common in the horse industry.  Often seen when a yearling or two year old is started into training for halter or riding and the feed is upped for say a halter colt or if a two year old starts it's under saddle training and or both. Did the vet tell you to decrease the calorie intake until the swelling and soreness are gone?  If not that is the first line of treatment for us.  Usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks for it to heal itself.  Not want you want to hear about reducing feed but it really is a good idea and moderate exercise. 
Check to see what is tested where you will be showing.  If you are looking for a good joint supplement that has been proven and for what all others are trying to replacate, it is Cosequin.  It was truly the first one on the market, patented and studied.  Not cheap but it works.  The cheaper ones may look similar but the size of the molecules matter and Cosequin has the small ones that are easier to get in the bloodstream.    Hope that helps.  My cousin aften calls me to see what us "horse people" are doing to keep our riders sound.  Called me about "coo-sec-in"  LOL   Told him all about Cosequin.   

When I googled Epiphysitis, all I could find was info. about young horses.  It sounded very treatable for horses, but again, could not find any info. on supplements or other ways to treat it for cattle or specifically steers.  That's why I was asking about the MSM.  Is Cosequin safe for use in cattle?  I've never looked at it for this purpose, but I'll check into it.  Thanks. 

 

[herfluvr]

First line of treatment on out colts is to decrease the calories they are taking in until the swelling goes down.  No supplement will make the epiphysitis go away.  Has to run it's course a bit.  Bute can be used for the swelling also but give this time to get the growth plate area back down to normal.  I have used the Cosequin on beef and have feed it to hogs.  We were always at least a month done with it before we slaughtered.  If concerned ask your vet.  And no I did not find anything on cattle.  It can also be caused by too much exercise and kids can get it especially pitchers in little league.  So I bet it is more common than we think in cattle, especially show calves that are pushed a bit on feed to grow.  Hope that helps.

 

[SlickTxMaine]

Thanks Herfluvr.  I am surprised the vet did not say anything about decreasing feed. May have to consider that.  He's pretty much on target for our show, which is in late February.  Slowing him down for a couple of weeks may not affect him much, especially now with the cooler weather, will be easier to push him in the end if needed.  Thanks agian!