Castration Problem - Help!

[joshuaflora]

Hello All,

I am hoping that someone can give me some advice. We raised cattle years ago, and I have recently purchased some cows and had my first go-round with cutting bulls. We cut a bull calf (3 months old) about two weeks ago. He swelled up about 2 days after and I got worried and gave him a shot of LA200. I have been keeping an eye on him and he is eating and moving fine, however, I noticed today that he has a mass about the size of two large fists on/above his scrotum. The mass is not hot to the touch, but is extremely hard! I hit him with another round of LA200 and called my vet. I hopefully will get him in later this week.

Any ideas as to what that is????

 

[A.J.]

:welcome: How is the calf doing?

 

[joshuaflora]

Took him to vet and they just gave him steroid shot and strong antibiotic. Hopefully it clears up!

 

[farmboy80]

Any update on the calf?

 

[joshuaflora]

He ended up swelling up and it finally just busted....and he was fine after that.

 

[JW IN VA]

Depending on what drained out,you may have had an infection.Sounds like it.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Don't let this turn you off of castrating your own cattle. Sh$$t happens. If he wasn't running a fever or off feed, I would have just kept an eye on him. I have seen them swell all the way up the sheath. Biggest thing, if you CUT, be sure to take the bottom 1/3 of the scrotum off so there is no "pocket" for stuff to build up. Drainage is key to healing.

 

[MRRherefords]

Depending on what drained out,you may have had an infection.Sounds like it.

:nod: Sounds exactly like an infection.

 

[callmefence]

Don't let this turn you off of castrating your own cattle. Sh$$t happens. If he wasn't running a fever or off feed, I would have just kept an eye on him. I have seen them swell all the way up the sheath. Biggest thing, if you CUT, be sure to take the bottom 1/3 of the scrotum off so there is no "pocket" for stuff to build up. Drainage is key to healing.

This is exactly what I was going to post. And I believe this is probably what happened. Been there.....
I probably take closer to half than a third now.