Cow Down

[Lucky]

The wife found a cow stuck in a pool yesterday around 10am while I was at work. She called a neighbor and they pulled her out but after letting her rest for about 3 hrs she wouldn't get up. They tried the hip huggers but still nothing. I got home around 7:30pm and the neighbor came over to help try again. Once we got her up with the hip huggers she wouldn't even attempt to stand. I took a plastic grocery sack and held it tight over her mouth and nose and in about a minute she stood up. Being a cow she took off for the pool again and when I headed her off she fell. We got her back up with the huggers and bag trick and about an hour later I went and moved her to a different pasture. She seemed fine but still a little shaky. If you haven't tried the plastic bag on a down cow it's definitely worth a try.
Edit: I held the bag really tight so she couldn't breath. About 45 seconds of that and she stood up and was pretty feisty.

 

[TCRanch]

Good save! I tried it at the vet with an OB sleeve when a bull went down in the chute after his BSE (was he spent or traumatized?) and on a first calf heifer that didn't want to get up. It works!

 

[cfpinz]

I had a bull snap his back leg at the stifle week before last. I would have paid either of you to come hold a bag over his nose while I videotaped it. He was a bit sporty.

 

[RDFF]

I've done the same just with my hands... probably a little more difficult to ensure "airtight". I put the ball of my hands over each nostril and fingers over the lips to keep them closed off. Doesn't take them too long to start to fight for air and get away. They have to have enough energy left in 'em though to be able to stand.

 

[Lucky]

I'd tried it once before in the chute and didn't work. I think that cow just needed 10 minutes to rest though. This cow was down again today so if she doesn't get up we'll try her again tonight. I wonder if a shot of Banamine would do her any good.

 

[GoWyo]

I'd tried it once before in the chute and didn't work. I think that cow just needed 10 minutes to rest though. This cow was down again today so if she doesn't get up we'll try her again tonight. I wonder if a shot of Banamine would do her any good.

What is her body temp?

 

[SmokinM]

I had a bull snap his back leg at the stifle week before last. I would have paid either of you to come hold a bag over his nose while I videotaped it. He was a bit sporty.

That sucks. How did he manage to do that?

On the bright side he should have been pretty easy to step around at least to one side.

 

[regolith]

I'd tried it once before in the chute and didn't work. I think that cow just needed 10 minutes to rest though. This cow was down again today so if she doesn't get up we'll try her again tonight. I wonder if a shot of Banamine would do her any good.

Calcium (injectible milk fever dose) plus magnesium (her daily requirement or no more than twice that) plus molasses (or other energy drench). Check temp and use antibiotics if it's indicated. If she's still going down after that call a vet or cut your losses. A lot of vet bills can be saved by going in with minerals/energy boost/meds but you might never know which of the cocktail did the trick or if it was just time.

 

[cfpinz]

That sucks. How did he manage to do that?

On the bright side he should have been pretty easy to step around at least to one side.

Fighting with another bull. Slight limp for 2-1/2 weeks, then it snapped at stifle. Figure he cracked it initially, didn't really concern me as I've seen a lot worse get better. Wrong.

 

[mwj]

Were you able to savage him?

 

[Lucky]

What is her body temp?

I don't think she has a fever or is sick. One of the uses for Banamine is muscle inflammation I believe. I'm can never remember all the different med uses. Normally if we have a down cow we give a shot of Dex for an energy boost but this one is bred.

 

[GoWyo]

I don't think she has a fever or is sick. One of the uses for Banamine is muscle inflammation I believe. I'm can never remember all the different med uses. Normally if we have a down cow we give a shot of Dex for an energy boost but this one is bred.

I was wondering if maybe she is still chilled after being in the bog hole. She should be around 101*

 

[SmokinM]

I don't think she has a fever or is sick. One of the uses for Banamine is muscle inflammation I believe. I'm can never remember all the different med uses. Normally if we have a down cow we give a shot of Dex for an energy boost but this one is bred.

Yes I believe that is correct. It functions a lot like aspirin in humans. IIRC

 

[cfpinz]

Were you able to savage him?

Yes.

 

[cfpinz]

I don't think she has a fever or is sick. One of the uses for Banamine is muscle inflammation I believe. I'm can never remember all the different med uses. Normally if we have a down cow we give a shot of Dex for an energy boost but this one is bred.

I'm not a vet, and probably couldn't even spell the proper word, so take this for what it's worth. But the first thing that pops into my mind is Resflor Gold for the antibiotic/banamine combination, as well as Multi-Min.

 

[Lucky]

Had another one stuck last night. Got her out and up but she got knocked over by a cow this afternoon and couldn't get up. I'll try her again when I get home tonight. The original stuck cow is doing fine. This drought has been pretty bad. We're getting things together to put in a couple 550 gallon concrete troughs with freeze proof float valves. It won't keep them from getting in the pools but maybe it'll help. I called everywhere I could think of including the trough factory and they say big troughs are on national backorder. Who would think that's even possible. I finally found a guy that has 6 left fairly close.

Edit: not sure I mentioned this in original post but while they were getting first cow out another one got stuck. We've had cows get stuck but never one after the other. Cows are all big and healthy too.

 

[TCRanch]

Had another one stuck last night. Got her out and up but she got knocked over by a cow this afternoon and couldn't get up. I'll try her again when I get home tonight. The original stuck cow is doing fine. This drought has been pretty bad. We're getting things together to put in a couple 550 gallon concrete troughs with freeze proof float valves. It won't keep them from getting in the pools but maybe it'll help. I called everywhere I could think of including the trough factory and they say big troughs are on national backorder. Who would think that's even possible. I finally found a guy that has 6 left fairly close.

Edit: not sure I mentioned this in original post but while they were getting first cow out another one got stuck. We've had cows get stuck but never one after the other. Cows are all big and healthy too.

Knock wood, it's never happened to me. But a friend of mine lost 3 a couple years ago and yes, it was during the drought. Sometimes a pond is the only water source. I have stock tanks on well water in 2 pastures as well as ponds but half the time they bypass the (clean!) stock tank in favor of the pond. In the central pasture, they prefer the creek instead of walking to the fountain in the barnyard.

Glad you found some troughs and good luck - with that and the cows.

 

[Travlr]

Had another one stuck last night. Got her out and up but she got knocked over by a cow this afternoon and couldn't get up. I'll try her again when I get home tonight. The original stuck cow is doing fine. This drought has been pretty bad. We're getting things together to put in a couple 550 gallon concrete troughs with freeze proof float valves. It won't keep them from getting in the pools but maybe it'll help. I called everywhere I could think of including the trough factory and they say big troughs are on national backorder. Who would think that's even possible. I finally found a guy that has 6 left fairly close.

Edit: not sure I mentioned this in original post but while they were getting first cow out another one got stuck. We've had cows get stuck but never one after the other. Cows are all big and healthy too.

There's a guy on facebook marketplace selling some new-old-stock Powder River steel troughs. Picture looked like various sizes. I don't know where or how much.

 

[RDFF]

TIRE TANKS! Only way to go, IMO. Keep 'em off of the creeks/swamps/mudholes.

 

[Lucky]

TIRE TANKS! Only way to go, IMO. Keep 'em off of the creeks/swamps/mudholes.

I've never seen anyone use the tire tanks here but they'd be my first choice. The concrete trough factory is 30 miles from us so that could be the reason. I was originally looking into the 4 ball waterers but think the concrete will work better. Got a guy coming out Friday to give a bid on the plumbing. We've been saying it's time to clean pools out but you know how that goes...time gets away from you.