branguscowgirl
Well-known member
Just wanted to give you all an update on my Dallis Grass dilemma. (Mow vs. Let ur grow.) Well, I did not get it mowed this year before it went to seed. So I took my chances, and mowed it down. One of my young cows must have ate it up like hay, (though she had plenty of other grass to choose from!) Now I have been dealing with "staggers" for a few days. :bang: I wanted to give the details of my ordeal to maybe help those that have never dealt with this before. The cow affected is a 2yr. old Brangus, with a nice big bull calf at side. (Res. Champion cow/calf at CA State Fair this year.)
I first noticed her standing very still in the middle of the pasture. She was alert, and watching everyone else. (Everyone else was grazing.) I walked out and put a halter on her, and her first few steps were a bit uncoordinated in the back legs, then she seemed to walk out of it. I put her and the calf in the corral for the night and fed them hay. I noticed that she would spread and square her back legs to keep her balance, and her neck appeared stiff or sore when she would put her head down to eat. The next morning she laid down and could not rise. She could get to her front knees, but no strength or coordination in her rear legs to get her up. The calf nursed with her laying down. She ate, drank, peed and pooped while down. She remained sternal and alert. She was drooling. The Vet came out. No temp. But we gave her Dexamethesone and Pen G IM for good measures. Still not sure if this is infection, injury, or staggers at this point. Blood work was ran, all normal. I fed her lots of good hay to counter the effect of the toxins in case it was "Staggers."
By evening she was rising on her own and walking to feed and water. She still falls over in the rear end if she turns too sharp. She walks with rear legs spread for balance. Went ahead and tubed her with Magnesium, (Just in case we had Grass Tetany, though not the time of year for it.)
Day 3 since I brought her in. No more drooling. Standing and rising well. Walking a bit stiff gaited in the back legs. Gets a bit uncoordinated if turned too sharp, but catches herself before falling now.
Two different vets believe this is Dallis grass Staggers but opt to keep her on the Pen G for awhile and give 1 more dose of Dexamethasone.
I hope this gives someone researching "Dallis Grass Staggers" a picture of what it can look like. :compute:
I first noticed her standing very still in the middle of the pasture. She was alert, and watching everyone else. (Everyone else was grazing.) I walked out and put a halter on her, and her first few steps were a bit uncoordinated in the back legs, then she seemed to walk out of it. I put her and the calf in the corral for the night and fed them hay. I noticed that she would spread and square her back legs to keep her balance, and her neck appeared stiff or sore when she would put her head down to eat. The next morning she laid down and could not rise. She could get to her front knees, but no strength or coordination in her rear legs to get her up. The calf nursed with her laying down. She ate, drank, peed and pooped while down. She remained sternal and alert. She was drooling. The Vet came out. No temp. But we gave her Dexamethesone and Pen G IM for good measures. Still not sure if this is infection, injury, or staggers at this point. Blood work was ran, all normal. I fed her lots of good hay to counter the effect of the toxins in case it was "Staggers."
By evening she was rising on her own and walking to feed and water. She still falls over in the rear end if she turns too sharp. She walks with rear legs spread for balance. Went ahead and tubed her with Magnesium, (Just in case we had Grass Tetany, though not the time of year for it.)
Day 3 since I brought her in. No more drooling. Standing and rising well. Walking a bit stiff gaited in the back legs. Gets a bit uncoordinated if turned too sharp, but catches herself before falling now.
Two different vets believe this is Dallis grass Staggers but opt to keep her on the Pen G for awhile and give 1 more dose of Dexamethasone.
I hope this gives someone researching "Dallis Grass Staggers" a picture of what it can look like. :compute:
