savaged
Well-known member
I really value the wealth of knowledge represented on SP. Here goes.....
On October 18th I purchased a Jan. heifer at the Bainridge Sale in Zainesville, Ohio. I paid $5000.00 for her, which represents a great deal of cash for me and my family. Our goal is to improve our genetics and breeding program, and to have a nice show heifer for this winter to boot.
I brought her home that evening in a standard stock trailer, and penned her in the barn by herself, but adjacent to another (very healthy) heifer. That was a Saturday night. By Tuesday into Wednesday she had a cough and nasal drainage, and by Thursday her respiration rate looked slightly elevated to me. Having invested what I did, I called my vet and asked him to see her ASAP. On Saturday morning he came out and gave her an injection of Baytril, and said her lungs sounded below par, whatever that means. Temp was 104. He left me a follow-up of the Baytril to give her Monday, and said she should be fine.
By the following Thursday her respiration was still up and still had drainage and a cough. I called the vet, he checked her, said her lungs sounded better, but gave her an injection of Draxxin and 4 sulfa boluses to play it on the safe side. Temp was 103. Next morning she looked great, and then by Sunday she was back to the same old deal.
That has been the pattern since. She gets treated, responds briefly, then drops back to a temp, cough, elevated respiration, and drainage. Since Oct. 18 she has had the meds as described above, plus two series of Nuflor, two series of Exceed, and another injection of Draxxin (a day ago). She has also had numerous injections of Banamine (sp) for the high temp.
Of note, except for some drop-off with the Nuflor, her appetite has remained good, with her consuming 10 - 20 lbs of show feed per day, and a flake or two of hay. She also drinks plenty of water. She was loose in her stool for a short time but generally good and solid in terms of bowels. I give her appetite express daily with feed. I also keep her as cool as possible, keeping her in a sheltered but outside air exposed area (as my vet encouraged).
What to do? My fear now is that she is over medicated, but I have equal fear that she might become seriously ill and drop off quickly without the meds. I asked my vet about mycoplasma, but he does not believe this is a factor (though I am still thinking it may be). I have NOT noticed any swollen joints, as is sometimes associated with a secondary mycoplasma infection.
I called the seller (Bain Goff) and reported the trouble. He said that she was vaccinated, but that he would consult his vet for any additional advice. That was one week ago, and I don't think he intends to call me back. I told him that in my vet's opinion, considering the onset of symptoms, she was infected when purchased. Although, she did not show visible symptoms on sale day.
Of course, we have not even been able to think about washing her, let alone get her ready to show.
(By the way, the other heifer near her did become sick about 10 days later, but required just one course of Nuflor for a full recovery)
My Questions:
First, is there anything else I can try or do?
Would you expect the seller to take some responsibility should the worst happen?
Please Help!!!!
On October 18th I purchased a Jan. heifer at the Bainridge Sale in Zainesville, Ohio. I paid $5000.00 for her, which represents a great deal of cash for me and my family. Our goal is to improve our genetics and breeding program, and to have a nice show heifer for this winter to boot.
I brought her home that evening in a standard stock trailer, and penned her in the barn by herself, but adjacent to another (very healthy) heifer. That was a Saturday night. By Tuesday into Wednesday she had a cough and nasal drainage, and by Thursday her respiration rate looked slightly elevated to me. Having invested what I did, I called my vet and asked him to see her ASAP. On Saturday morning he came out and gave her an injection of Baytril, and said her lungs sounded below par, whatever that means. Temp was 104. He left me a follow-up of the Baytril to give her Monday, and said she should be fine.
By the following Thursday her respiration was still up and still had drainage and a cough. I called the vet, he checked her, said her lungs sounded better, but gave her an injection of Draxxin and 4 sulfa boluses to play it on the safe side. Temp was 103. Next morning she looked great, and then by Sunday she was back to the same old deal.
That has been the pattern since. She gets treated, responds briefly, then drops back to a temp, cough, elevated respiration, and drainage. Since Oct. 18 she has had the meds as described above, plus two series of Nuflor, two series of Exceed, and another injection of Draxxin (a day ago). She has also had numerous injections of Banamine (sp) for the high temp.
Of note, except for some drop-off with the Nuflor, her appetite has remained good, with her consuming 10 - 20 lbs of show feed per day, and a flake or two of hay. She also drinks plenty of water. She was loose in her stool for a short time but generally good and solid in terms of bowels. I give her appetite express daily with feed. I also keep her as cool as possible, keeping her in a sheltered but outside air exposed area (as my vet encouraged).
What to do? My fear now is that she is over medicated, but I have equal fear that she might become seriously ill and drop off quickly without the meds. I asked my vet about mycoplasma, but he does not believe this is a factor (though I am still thinking it may be). I have NOT noticed any swollen joints, as is sometimes associated with a secondary mycoplasma infection.
I called the seller (Bain Goff) and reported the trouble. He said that she was vaccinated, but that he would consult his vet for any additional advice. That was one week ago, and I don't think he intends to call me back. I told him that in my vet's opinion, considering the onset of symptoms, she was infected when purchased. Although, she did not show visible symptoms on sale day.
Of course, we have not even been able to think about washing her, let alone get her ready to show.
(By the way, the other heifer near her did become sick about 10 days later, but required just one course of Nuflor for a full recovery)
My Questions:
First, is there anything else I can try or do?
Would you expect the seller to take some responsibility should the worst happen?
Please Help!!!!
Usually that would be like $2500, if not more. VERY reasonable, it seems to me. 
