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What Name?
Posts: 1994
   
| So I'm volunteering at the horse barn I board at. For experience in a professional setting, which will assist me later at getting a job in the zoology field, or at least getting my foot in the door.
Anywho.
They had a older calf ( maybe 4-6 months old ) get her head hung in a panel, did some nerve damage or something they think. Anyways, she's down. Developing bed sores and other nasties. Oddly she still has a completely healthy appetite despite being unable to move herself except marginally on her front end.
They seem to think she'll recover from it, that is simply nerve damage. I'm not very experienced with cows/calves. So I was curious if anyone has ever dealt with this situation? Normally I would say euthanizing her would be more humane, but she still maintains an appetite. Which honestly speaks volumes to me about her will to live. Opinions needed.
Thanks! |
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| How long has she been down? |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:13 AM How long has she been down?
I was told a little under a month from what I was told.
It's very strange to me how happy she is. She's even happy to be loved on. I feel for the girl. But her skin is peeling off her back hind end from bed sores... I want to help. So I figured advice from experienced owners would help. I'm probably going to sponge bath her tomorrow to clean her up real good. Hoping that will help with the sore, plus rotating her. |
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| Get her loaded and take it to the butcher... You can't take an already dead cow into the butcher! I would do it before she dies on her own from the stress. We had a heifer go down calving and caused nerve damage, couldn't move her hind end, let her lay a week with no improvement, she was still eating drinking fine but once they damage nerves I don't think it'll come back. We butchered her ourselves and ground her up for burger... the stress of her laying there made the meat to tuff for steaks. |
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| americanpride08 - 2015-03-24 10:15 AM
cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:13 AM How long has she been down?
I was told a little under a month from what I was told.
It's very strange to me how happy she is. She's even happy to be loved on. I feel for the girl. But her skin is peeling off her back hind end from bed sores... I want to help. So I figured advice from experienced owners would help. I'm probably going to sponge bath her tomorrow to clean her up real good. Hoping that will help with the sore, plus rotating her.
That's just cruel.... Leave her lay a month! and her skin is peeling off! my goodness.... |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Is anyone massaging her legs? Are they using a sling to get her standing up? Our experience is if they lose circulation in their legs, they are goners. We have saved a few but not many. We would use a tractor with a sling to get them up and encourage them to try walking. We also massaged their legs a couple times aday. They will have an appetite up to the very end. Wish I had some better advice. I hope someone else does. |
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Expert
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| americanpride08 - 2015-03-24 10:15 AM
cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:13 AM How long has she been down?
I was told a little under a month from what I was told.
It's very strange to me how happy she is. She's even happy to be loved on. I feel for the girl. But her skin is peeling off her back hind end from bed sores... I want to help. So I figured advice from experienced owners would help. I'm probably going to sponge bath her tomorrow to clean her up real good. Hoping that will help with the sore, plus rotating her.
Whoa! When you said she has been down for a while I was thinking a couple of days! Not a month! I am surprised her guts are still functioning correctly. Is she in a sling? Cattle like horses need to be able to stand up for their guts to work because the pressure and weight of their body will inhibit proper digestion. Apparently, she not the "norm".
Honestly, I would not think that her prognosis would be good if she has been down that long. I would wager she has a spinal injury if she still can't use her hind end. And if it is just nerve damage, and I use "if" loosely, it takes a month a inch for the nerves to regenerate. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| FlyingJT - 2015-03-24 10:20 AM
americanpride08 - 2015-03-24 10:15 AM
cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:13 AM How long has she been down?
I was told a little under a month from what I was told.
It's very strange to me how happy she is. She's even happy to be loved on. I feel for the girl. But her skin is peeling off her back hind end from bed sores... I want to help. So I figured advice from experienced owners would help. I'm probably going to sponge bath her tomorrow to clean her up real good. Hoping that will help with the sore, plus rotating her.
That's just cruel.... Leave her lay a month! and her skin is peeling off! my goodness....
Wow! A month?! I agree, that is cruel! Time to put her down, she is not going to get better. We never had one with peeling skin or bed sores. |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:22 AM americanpride08 - 2015-03-24 10:15 AM cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:13 AM How long has she been down? I was told a little under a month from what I was told.
It's very strange to me how happy she is. She's even happy to be loved on. I feel for the girl. But her skin is peeling off her back hind end from bed sores... I want to help. So I figured advice from experienced owners would help. I'm probably going to sponge bath her tomorrow to clean her up real good. Hoping that will help with the sore, plus rotating her. Whoa! When you said she has been down for a while I was thinking a couple of days! Not a month! I am surprised her guts are still functioning correctly. Is she in a sling? Cattle like horses need to be able to stand up for their guts to work because the pressure and weight of their body will inhibit proper digestion. Apparently, she not the "norm". Honestly, I would not think that her prognosis would be good if she has been down that long. I would wager she has a spinal injury if she still can't use her hind end. And if it is just nerve damage, and I use "if" loosely, it takes a month a inch for the nerves to regenerate.
Unfortunately, I think the idea of putting her down fell on deaf ears. The owner of the farm is from England, and very DR doo-little ( if you know what I mean ) and has the hardest time facing the fact that she is probably better off dead.
I just found out about the calf yesterday. I'm surprised she's survived this long. But from what I understand they've been manually rotating her and lifting her up a couple periods throughout the day... the sores are what get me. Once her skin started doing that, I would have had her put down. All I can really do is try to help make her comfortable, since it's not my decision to make. =/ Just looking for ideas |
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I keep my change in my pockets
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Location: MN | Down for a month, I wouldn't butcher her for human consumption. Who says the kidneys are working properly, just think of the toxins that could be building up in the muscle! |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| dawnb - 2015-03-24 10:27 AM Down for a month, I wouldn't butcher her for human consumption. Who says the kidneys are working properly, just think of the toxins that could be building up in the muscle!
I honestly don't think she could have her butchered... the woman has a hard time thinking of chickens as edible -.-
When I offered to take a couple roosters off her hand for us to clean and eat, she about had a fit. lmao |
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I just read the headlines
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| americanpride08 - 2015-03-24 10:27 AM
cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:22 AM americanpride08 - 2015-03-24 10:15 AM cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:13 AM How long has she been down? I was told a little under a month from what I was told.
It's very strange to me how happy she is. She's even happy to be loved on. I feel for the girl. But her skin is peeling off her back hind end from bed sores... I want to help. So I figured advice from experienced owners would help. I'm probably going to sponge bath her tomorrow to clean her up real good. Hoping that will help with the sore, plus rotating her. Whoa! When you said she has been down for a while I was thinking a couple of days! Not a month! I am surprised her guts are still functioning correctly. Is she in a sling? Cattle like horses need to be able to stand up for their guts to work because the pressure and weight of their body will inhibit proper digestion. Apparently, she not the "norm". Honestly, I would not think that her prognosis would be good if she has been down that long. I would wager she has a spinal injury if she still can't use her hind end. And if it is just nerve damage, and I use "if" loosely, it takes a month a inch for the nerves to regenerate.
I just found out about the calf yesterday. I'm surprised she's survived this long. But from what I understand they've been manually rotating her and lifting her up a couple periods throughout the day... the sores are what get me. Once her skin started doing that, I would have had her put down. All I can really do is try to help make her comfortable, since it's not my decision to make. =/ Just looking for ideas
Bless your heart! Hugs 'cause it is going to get really bad before the lady finally sees the light. What if a vet tells her to put the poor thing out of its misery? That is all I can think of to do. |
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| dawnb - 2015-03-24 10:27 AM
Down for a month, I wouldn't butcher her for human consumption. Who says the kidneys are working properly, just think of the toxins that could be building up in the muscle!
Yea your probably right, a month is a little long, id be too scared to eat it. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
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Location: In The Snow, AZ | The pure ignorance of some people is astounding....
I agree with above BB who mentioned having a vet come out to let her know. That is neglect. |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| GLP - 2015-03-24 10:30 AM americanpride08 - 2015-03-24 10:27 AM cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:22 AM americanpride08 - 2015-03-24 10:15 AM cyount2009 - 2015-03-24 10:13 AM How long has she been down? I was told a little under a month from what I was told.
It's very strange to me how happy she is. She's even happy to be loved on. I feel for the girl. But her skin is peeling off her back hind end from bed sores... I want to help. So I figured advice from experienced owners would help. I'm probably going to sponge bath her tomorrow to clean her up real good. Hoping that will help with the sore, plus rotating her. Whoa! When you said she has been down for a while I was thinking a couple of days! Not a month! I am surprised her guts are still functioning correctly. Is she in a sling? Cattle like horses need to be able to stand up for their guts to work because the pressure and weight of their body will inhibit proper digestion. Apparently, she not the "norm". Honestly, I would not think that her prognosis would be good if she has been down that long. I would wager she has a spinal injury if she still can't use her hind end. And if it is just nerve damage, and I use "if" loosely, it takes a month a inch for the nerves to regenerate.
I just found out about the calf yesterday. I'm surprised she's survived this long. But from what I understand they've been manually rotating her and lifting her up a couple periods throughout the day... the sores are what get me. Once her skin started doing that, I would have had her put down. All I can really do is try to help make her comfortable, since it's not my decision to make. =/ Just looking for ideas Bless your heart! Hugs 'cause it is going to get really bad before the lady finally sees the light. What if a vet tells her to put the poor thing out of its misery? That is all I can think of to do.
=/ Im going to keep saying she should put her down. But some people have blinders on to things they dont want to see. Having grown up on a farm, I'm desenstized to it, it's whats necessary. The owner, having lived the 'privaledged' aspects of owning animals.
Edited by americanpride08 2015-03-24 10:48 AM
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Location: naz, tx | FlyingJT - 2015-03-24 10:19 AM Get her loaded and take it to the butcher... You can't take an already dead cow into the butcher! I would do it before she dies on her own from the stress. We had a heifer go down calving and caused nerve damage, couldn't move her hind end, let her lay a week with no improvement, she was still eating drinking fine but once they damage nerves I don't think it'll come back. We butchered her ourselves and ground her up for burger... the stress of her laying there made the meat to tuff for steaks.
You also can't take an animal that can't walk on it's own to the butcher.... They have to be able to walk onto the kill floor. I'm sure there are shady ones out there, or do it yourself, but just an fyi.
I have to agree with everyone saying she's been down too long. We have had a few come back by lifting them often and sometimes steroid shots, but I think I month is past the point of hoping it will get better... Sorry! I'm tenderhearted and give everything a chance, but I think she's past that.... |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
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Location: Kansas | all I can say is wow.... |
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| jjhajek - 2015-03-24 10:51 AM
FlyingJT - 2015-03-24 10:19 AM Get her loaded and take it to the butcher... You can't take an already dead cow into the butcher! I would do it before she dies on her own from the stress. We had a heifer go down calving and caused nerve damage, couldn't move her hind end, let her lay a week with no improvement, she was still eating drinking fine but once they damage nerves I don't think it'll come back. We butchered her ourselves and ground her up for burger... the stress of her laying there made the meat to tuff for steaks.
You also can't take an animal that can't walk on it's own to the butcher.... They have to be able to walk onto the kill floor. I'm sure there are shady ones out there, or do it yourself, but just an fyi.
I have to agree with everyone saying she's been down too long. We have had a few come back by lifting them often and sometimes steroid shots, but I think I month is past the point of hoping it will get better... Sorry! I'm tenderhearted and give everything a chance, but I think she's past that....
Yes, I know, I didn't realize the extent of how immobile it was. But.... ours will, Shhhhh don't tell no body!! Our little local place see's us regularly so maybe they make an exception for us.. |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| jjhajek - 2015-03-24 10:51 AM FlyingJT - 2015-03-24 10:19 AM Get her loaded and take it to the butcher... You can't take an already dead cow into the butcher! I would do it before she dies on her own from the stress. We had a heifer go down calving and caused nerve damage, couldn't move her hind end, let her lay a week with no improvement, she was still eating drinking fine but once they damage nerves I don't think it'll come back. We butchered her ourselves and ground her up for burger... the stress of her laying there made the meat to tuff for steaks. You also can't take an animal that can't walk on it's own to the butcher.... They have to be able to walk onto the kill floor. I'm sure there are shady ones out there, or do it yourself, but just an fyi.
I have to agree with everyone saying she's been down too long. We have had a few come back by lifting them often and sometimes steroid shots, but I think I month is past the point of hoping it will get better... Sorry! I'm tenderhearted and give everything a chance, but I think she's past that....
It's sensitive for me considering I volunteer for experience purposes, I also board my horse here. So, hoping uncle ray can maybe get her to see reason.
Edited by americanpride08 2015-03-24 11:00 AM
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Location: fun meter pegged OK | jjhajek - 2015-03-24 10:51 AM FlyingJT - 2015-03-24 10:19 AM Get her loaded and take it to the butcher... You can't take an already dead cow into the butcher! I would do it before she dies on her own from the stress. We had a heifer go down calving and caused nerve damage, couldn't move her hind end, let her lay a week with no improvement, she was still eating drinking fine but once they damage nerves I don't think it'll come back. We butchered her ourselves and ground her up for burger... the stress of her laying there made the meat to tuff for steaks. You also can't take an animal that can't walk on it's own to the butcher.... They have to be able to walk onto the kill floor. I'm sure there are shady ones out there, or do it yourself, but just an fyi.
I have to agree with everyone saying she's been down too long. We have had a few come back by lifting them often and sometimes steroid shots, but I think I month is past the point of hoping it will get better... Sorry! I'm tenderhearted and give everything a chance, but I think she's past that....
Ditto! She is past the second chance and if she is losing flesh you could have staff infection setting in and believe me that is beyond cruel.
I wouldn't butcher her either. If you are going to a USDA slaughter house they must be able to walk in on their own. Ours offers a mobile service as long as the vet has cleared the animal. IE. we had a breeding bull dislocated a hip; vet came out diagnosed, checked his temp and cleared him with the slaughter house's mobile slaughter service. This baby needs to be put down; bottom line, even if it seems to be cruel. It's worse to let her deterioate like that. JMHO |
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Location: Texas | If cattle can't reproduce or be sold for slaughter they aren't worth a dime. IF the calf were to stand up, nerve damage will prevent her from safely having a calf or mainting weight for slaughter.
The calf should be put down or taken to a dog food packing plant and killed. |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
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Location: That part of Texas | I think everybody else has pretty much said what I would have in way of advice. I just wanted to post and send you some "good luck" vibes in the way of trying to convince her to put the calf down. You're definitely in a tough position.  |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
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Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | You have a good heart and its so nice of you wanting to help out, but the owner needs to realize this calf is not going to get better, its time to let go and put it down. |
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: Southeastern Idaho | If she were one of ours, we would put her down. Her quality of life as she is isn't great, and the bed sores really concern me that she will not improve. We would put her down. Its tough owning animals for sure. I hate this part of it. |
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
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Location: North MS | I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum- we had a mature jersey cow go down after calving and she was down almost a month. We lifted her with tractor and rotated (her job was to raise orphans I got at a sale barn when I was young). Well she actually had an imbalance of nutrients of some sort. We started a CMPK supplement and the day before the FINAL day, she got up and lived and raised calves until 6 years ago. She passed away last year of old age- 23 years old. Buttercup was a heck of a cow though. BTW- she was under vet care and did develop some sores, but fully recovered. For this situation- I guess it depends on where the nerve damage is.
Edited by bluerose2001 2015-03-24 9:53 PM
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Florida | Is anyone flipping her? She won't be able to stand back up ever, with all the pressure from her body weight not being distributed evenly & with her not standing circulation doesn't flow into her legs right. On the ranch if we have an older calf down (rare), we usually put them in a sling in the chute to keep them upright, feeding/watering, etc. and if they don't at least START to come back within a few hours, (in which case we keep nursing them until health starts to decline again), we don't keep them alive through that day. It is no quality of life for the animal.
We make the sling out of 2 saddle girths & rope ( I know, redneck McGyver as heck, but it works!)
Have there been any x-rays done? She may not be able to stand due to a fracture somewhere. |
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Expert
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| bluerose2001 - 2015-03-24 9:52 PM
I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum- we had a mature jersey cow go down after calving and she was down almost a month. We lifted her with tractor and rotated (her job was to raise orphans I got at a sale barn when I was young). Well she actually had an imbalance of nutrients of some sort. We started a CMPK supplement and the day before the FINAL day, she got up and lived and raised calves until 6 years ago. She passed away last year of old age- 23 years old. Buttercup was a heck of a cow though. BTW- she was under vet care and did develop some sores, but fully recovered. For this situation- I guess it depends on where the nerve damage is.
Milk fever and nerve damage are on a total different spectrum. Milk fever can be treated with medication where as there is not much that can be done with nerve damage that isn't incredibly costly.
Edited by cyount2009 2015-03-25 12:55 PM
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Location: Sunny So Cal | Just here to send prayers and support! Everyone here knows what is right and that you have the calfs best interest in mind.  |
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 Go Your Own Way
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Location: SE KS | CMPK will not save her. That is for when they are pregnant, and nursing.
Sounds to me the calf needs to be put to sleep.
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Location: South | Sounds like a really bad situation all together. If the heifer has been down for nearly a month, more than likely she will not get up. We have had several, like people have previously posted have calves and struggle to get up. The key is to use a tractor to get them up as soon as possible, and spend time each day lifting them. They gradually begin to build back up their strength and get up. However in your situation it doesn't sound as positive.
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Downed Calf Question