This is a 5 yr old cow I raised. Last year she was cripple on her front foot. Foot was swollen and got better after LA300 shot, stopped her limping. This winter I noticed 3 of her legs were swelling and she started limping. I had a vet examine her, and didn't really find anything, checked her hooves, no fever. Puzzled him that 1 front leg was not swollen. Gave her an anti-inflamatory shot, LA300, wormed, Multi-min. I got shot from vet and doctored her a couple weeks later. Not getting better and I think she's about gone. Any ideas from you guys? She has raised 2 calves, but has always been somewhat unthrifty since I got her back from a 5 month heifer development program.
Cow with badly swollen legs ?
- Thread starter Fred
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gman4691
Well-known member
Was she shipped here? Sometimes cows that have been shipped can get small lacerations on their legs that aren't really noticeable. Bacterial infections can occur from spending time in enclosed spaces from exposure to fecal matter. Or could it be blackleg? If it is, she won't last long after lameness sets in - 2 or 3 days. If caught early enough, penicillin might help but blackleg is almost always fatal. Here, we always vaccinate for blackleg as it is a soil borne bacteria and there isn't a good treatment for it. Just a couple of thoughts. Other than injury and/or infection, I don't know what could be causing that. As it was in one leg and then showed up in others, I would go with a good course of antibiotics with short acting penicillin. Of course, I'm no vet…have you had her blood tested to determine whether there is a bacterial infection?
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Thanks for the reply. She is home raised on my place. Has had all her vaccines. Vet seemed to think a blood test would not help. I am going to try to talk to the Vet again tomorrow to see if he has any more suggestions. Like I said, she has never been in real good condition since I got her off of the heifer development program at a year of age.
GoWyo
Well-known member
Appears to be inflammation going on and settling in her lower legs. She looks like an old person with bad circulation. Maybe a case of hardware that never got bad enough to kill her yet?
wbvs58
Well-known member
Can you get some more photos of her standing to see the overall condition, is she scouring? Any swelling around her brisket? Any fluid under her jaw? What is her breathing like and exercise tolerance?
Ken
Ken
gman4691
Well-known member
In that case, sounds like injury or I suppose it could be something genetic(?). If it were me, I would try a good course of antibiotics and vitamins…but then, I'm no expert. Best of luck with her. Let us know how things turn out…could be useful info for the future.
puzzled in oregon
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" Elephantiasis " or maybe a heart condition
gman4691
Well-known member
What part of Louisiana are you in? I'm on the eastern part of Nacogdoches, Texas…just a hop, a skip, and a jump from the Louisiana border.
gman4691
Well-known member
Heard of that one but never seen it. If that's what this cow has, the worming may help. Or possibly the antiparasitic mechanism of Ivermectin. Hate to make a call without knowing what the cause is though.
Southwest, Jeff Davis parish
I don't see anything about cows getting elephantias. I agree maybe something with the heart.
I agree with hardware as a strong possibility. Coronary artery disease: think of little old ladies with their feet bulging out of their shoes. I've had my share of hardware and now every cow, retained heifer & bull gets a magnet as a prevention. That said, hardware can also be caused by a shard of glass, PVC pipe, long thorns like honey locust, sharp rocks, etc.
Usual symptoms can include swollen brisket, swollen feet, loss of condition, laying on her sternum for better air flow, labored breathing, manure gets dark & hard, may or may not have a temp, loss of appetite, sometimes drooling. Your vet can check her heart & lungs and may pinch along her back for a reaction (she'll runch up).
Usual symptoms can include swollen brisket, swollen feet, loss of condition, laying on her sternum for better air flow, labored breathing, manure gets dark & hard, may or may not have a temp, loss of appetite, sometimes drooling. Your vet can check her heart & lungs and may pinch along her back for a reaction (she'll runch up).
gman4691
Well-known member
A guy on here raises cows in what I would think would be similar environmental conditions. @Caustic Burno - Caustic, have run into anything like this down there?
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Sounds like bad infestation of liver flukes .
Lucky_P
Well-known member
I'd want to rule out Mycoplasma wenyonii/Mycoplasma haemobos infection.
She gets fluked yearly. No bottle jaw.
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Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Injectable?
If not flukes my money is on CHF
Congestion Heart Failure.
Should be able to hear the arrhythmia.
Valbazen drench and Ivomec Plus rotated.
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
L
I would bet CHF then.
