[tbone95]

One of my best, she's getting older, but up to now is in great shape, good teeth, good calves, no troubles.

4 days after palpating, vaccines, and cydectin, she started staying away from the herd and not coming to the feeding. VERY unusual for her, my Dad's pet name for her was chow hound, because she was always the first in line to the feeder. I'd spot her by the feeder in the mornings, but feeding time at night, she'd be off again. Finally I noticed she had trouble walking, back legs a little out of control. She had enough mobility to defy every attempt made to get her in to the barn the first night we tried, so I thought maybe she was getting better. By Monday of this week, she was no longer getting up.

The kicker is, not only is she down, she will not drink water. She has some interest in eating, but no drinking. We are watering her by tube so she stays hydrated. She's had a round of dexamethosone. She gets amino acid treatment in the water for energy, she got Calcium in the first tube watering we gave her.

Seems something on health day would be the trigger, but maybe coincidence. Vet is stumped. First thought was swelling by a nerve from A&D injection, but no hard spots indicating that.

Any thoughts?

 

[hog987]

Winter tetany. Cows go down. Act like they have milk fever. I don't know about there but here the stuff that is bought for milk fever also has Mg and K as will as Ca. Cows go down can't get up. Not much interest in eating or drinking.

Winter Tetany - Frequently Asked Questions

 

[tbone95]

This is beef cow by the way.

Interesting. When the vet and I talked this morning, we're going to give Epsom Salt in the next watering for Mg. Just might work. He said maybe 50% chance.

We had a wheat field that went to total crap getting over run with grass. We chopped it when the wheat was dry, grass was green, but kept going late into the fall as the grass began to dry due to frost and muturity. We put a round bale of hay in with it. Wondering if there'd be high potassium in the wheat? Higher than they usually get anyway?

Kinda weird it's only 1 in the herd though.

 

[dieseldust]

You probably already did this but is her temp normal? I would pull some blood and run a CBC and electrolyte panel. If it's an electrolyte imbalance have your feed tested and review your mineral program. Make sure to keep her hydrated and good luck

 

[Haystack]

Her time is up. The reason doesn't really matter, an old cow will likely never stand after that many days. Better to just help her on her way, its the burden you bear for keeping good old cows. You'll know when she's distressed and its time.

 

[mimilkman1]

Is her manure normal color and consistency?

 

[cptusa]

If this cow dies I would recommend getting the brain sent in and tested for rabies. Rabies also mimics milk fever and symptoms include paralysis. Incubation time on a cow can be up to 3-4 months, especially if she was bitten lower on the rear leg.

Probably a long shot on it, but you have been tubing this cow and if you are like me and most other, you have cuts on your hands. If the test is negative, no harm. If positive you get shots and just saved your own life.

 

[Ed_Hunter]

What about nitrate poisoning? or other plant old batteries or twisted stomach?

 

[bird]

Or just shoot, shovel, and shutup! BSE?? We should close our border!

 

[sasksodbuster]

My thinking exactly, don't advertise.

 

[lynas]

My guess is Magnesium Staggers. Get some Magnesium into her!
Grass tetany - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[farmin cowboy]

Or just shoot, shovel, and shutup! BSE?? We should close our border!

And then find a Canadian link??Sounds like the last time prices where up. Dig a whole put her in seed some grass on top and leave it be. Cows have a number just the same as acres of corn once they are harvested it really doesn't matter which one it was. I can't say I don't have favorite cows but as soon as they aren't carrying their weight they are gone cause I can't carry theirs.

 

[caroncrest]

likely a long shot, but thought I'd throw it out there just to stir the pot...

leukosis? it is an infection of the lymph nodes (fairly oversimplified, but close enough). It's viral, not bacterial, can be spread by bodily fluid only (needles, etc) The reason it may result in down cows is that there are some nerves in the spine that have lymph nodes close by, swollen lymph nodes can press on the nerves, and it gets worse from there. Only way to know for sure is to test for it. Other symptoms would be weird bulgy eyes (swollen lymph nodes behind eyes apparently) or general poor immune response (compromised immune system in general). We know we have it lurking in our dairy herd and have been slowly working at trying to get rid of it, it will be a long process....

If you have cows old enough to succumb to just leukosis by itself, you are doing a great job on everything else!

Hope she's doing ok, or that you have at least been able to decide what you're doing with her. With prices the way they are, it's worth trying a few things!

 

[snapper21]

Or just shoot, shovel, and shutup! BSE?? We should close our border!

Long live Ralph

 

[tbone95]

I got magnesium in her on Saturday, but by Sunday she was fighting the tube so hard, I could not keep it down her and get any more. Her manure and pee is pretty much normal, normal temp.

I get that she's old, she doesn't owe me anything in that regard. BUT, #1 it happened very suddenly, making us think we did something or triggered something on health day. #2, it matters if it is something contagious or otherwise a possible herd wide issue.

I ran the tetany idea by the vet. He said maybe so, but for it to only affect 1 cow like that, she's got some other issue going on that made her the only one to fall to it.

I had the rabies thought myself and thought I was being silly....and yes I do have cuts. Good thought there.

 

[tbone95]

I should say, she is still alive, but after apparently holding her own for a good long while, she looks a bit worse as of this morning. I'm thinking we'll put her down, but I'll probably have a post done, I need to know what happened. She is 15 1/2 now, but always got around great, bright eyed, good calves, bred back again just fine this year, good demeanor, good teeth.....checked every year.

 

[Don Boles]

Long live Ralph

Do you remember when This Hour has 22 minutes did the "Crazy Daisy", the mad cow bit?
Can't find it anywhere but it was sure funny!

 

[garyfunk]

15?
Probably had a stroke. It happens you know. Time to let her rest....

 

[TSIPP]

some times its a whole lot better finding a cow with there feet in the air, saves on the stress of trying to figure out the treatment, and saves the vet bill.

 

[tjdno1]

We all would do the same, spend what ever it took if there was the slightest possibility we could save her.