shadyhollownj":2y5unti7 said:
So to answer the questions the cow was in a head gate with two gates on either side of her. We took one side off her left so he could get better access. The system is a chute system but not a squeeze chute. He had access anyway he wanted. Her condition was probably a 5-5.5. She was out with all of the other cattle so she was treated no differently than any of our 30 mommas. She was our first and most expensive but got no preferential treatment. I get all the questions but he was actually impressed with our system and her condition he even said so. I have seen all the other half ass set ups by my neighbors but if it was anything like that I would put the outcome on myself. They are out on pasture now but nothing special. So after the answer to these questions do cows typically die 24 hours later from a c section. I mean i could see days later from infection from one reason or another but so soon makes me think she had internal bleeding or something. The wife and her friend are even trauma nurses and didnt really think it should have gone the way it did. Oh and its not our typical vet but he was the one on call. Their is only two vets in 4 counties that do large animals and deal with the dairies. We do all of are AIing, shots, palpating and anything else that needs to be done in our headgate chute system. My neighbors even bring there cattle over to use ours when they have a problem. So basically I wouldnt put it on our system at all or how we raise our cattle. We are a small producer but not a stupid one. As far as my statement about the cow moving around that was after 3 hours in the headgate and the rompin wearing off. I have seen the problems with pets and over conditioned animals. My neighbor loses at least two calves and a cow each year and he only has ten head. H e feeds them like they are on a feedlot and swears he has the best stock around. Thanks.
Hmmm .... must have participated in at least 15 - 20 C-sections in my life - never lost one. I have only done one completely by myself, but have helped the vet many times at my place - nearly 50 years of cattle - bound to have a few C-sections. Worst year we had around 3-400 animals we had three C-sections maybe only two but three seems to stick in my mind.
We use a squeeze that we can drop one side down and open up only the top half - keeps the cow in one place. Ours is pretty basic - but I do like the Hi-Hog squeeze. Had this one for at least 10 - 12 years.
Shave her back of the last rib - load her up with Lidocaine (we really like this stuff) along her back and down the full length of the incision for freezing and cut vertically. Skin first then the muscle wall. Careful to not cut into anything else. Add freezing if you think it is going to take more than 30 - 40 minutes to do the whole thing other than the final sewing up on completion
Keep the cut small enough to prevent the stomach from rolling out. Dig a little for the uterus and make as small a cut as possible to pull the calf. Assistant pulls the calf out while the other holds all the pieces in. Second person then holds the rumen while the first sews the uterine wall up. Then sew up the muscle wall from bottom to top. Dump in a couple of bottles of Pen G - right into the cavity. Finish up the muscle and then sew up the skin. Hit her with a big amount of intramuscular Pen G and leave her penned up for a week with lots of water and just a little hay - to keep the weight and bulk on her side and stomach down a bit.
We hit the cow with Pen G every day - some folks like the LA but I go with Pen G - probably just because I have always done it this way.
Confirm he went in on the left side?
If he did basically what I wrote - it sounds like he either does not do many or he made some cuts too big - making control of parts and pieces a bit difficult.
From what you say I would be disappointed - sounds like she was in reasonably good shape and healthy. This should have been a bit if a breeze for the average vet.
I know when you have livestock you will have dead stock - but this one would have p!ssed me off a bit. Especially if I had been there to help.
Hint for you. That slippery rumen is easier to handle if you have some big dry beach towels to help hold it in place. Gives you a better grip.
Anyways, if he did roughly what I outlined it should not have ended the way it did - sounds like there was some bleeding internally. He said something about a poor internal sewing job (?) - wonder what he cut into by accident that he did not mention to you?
Do it right, and the cow will stand and chew her cud while you are cutting - never even hardly twitch. If she does twitch, there is not enough freezing in my opinion. Almost everyone of the girls that we operated on and then kept was able to breed back.
Hot? Cool her with a hose on the front end and around her bag and belly - low pressure straight out of the hose and not a spray - keeping the water out of the working area. A couple wet towels will help if it gets real hot - just keep soaking them while they sit on her neck and shoulders. Steady stream works well.
Best of luck to you if it happens again
Hope you never have another one
Stay safe
Bez
