Deformity. Suggestions wanted (pics)

[Sir Loin]

Deformity. Suggestions wanted (pics)

The below little girl will soon become orphan- 09
if I can’t get her to stand on all fours and return
her to her mamma who wants her.
She was being attacked by two coyotes
when I found her but has no visible injuries.
She has bright yellow poop and seems healthy
other then her two front feet.

She is one day old and can stand, but she stands
with both front feet turned under.
She walks on the tops of her front feet.

Any treatment suggestions?
Pics to follow.
SL

.

 

[Alice]

From your description she has contracted tendons. IF that is the case, the tendons will straighten out. Put her with her mother and see if she can stand long enough to suck. Probably wouldn't hurt to try to get her to suck from a bottle just so it won't be foreign to her in case she can't stand long enough to get plenty to eat.

Again, if it's contracted tendons, they will straighten out. The fact that she's walking/trying to walk is a good sign.

Also, put mama and baby somewhere safe from coyotes or other predators until that baby can get around really well on its own.

Alice

 

[CPL]

Again, if it's contracted tendons, they will straighten out. The fact that she's walking/trying to walk is a good sign.

It very well could be, but the ones that I've seen were more so at the knees. Hope they straighten out so you want have to deal with bottle feeding her. Keep us posted.

 

[Alice]

Re: Pics...oh yeah, contracted tendons...and they don't look that bad. I've seen them much worse and again, they will straighten out. That's my 2 cents anyway.

Alice

 

[randiliana]

Re: Pics...oh yeah, contracted tendons...and they don't look that bad. I've seen them much worse and again, they will straighten out. That's my 2 cents anyway.

Alice

I agree with Alice. Contracted tendons. Now, when this calf is up does it walk on its tippy toes some times, or always with the hoof turned under? If it walks on it's tippy toes, then it will most likely come out of it with no assistance. If it walks on its fetlock all the time I would splint it.

Use some PVC or plastic pipe big enough to go around the foot depending on the fetlocks you may need to use larger pipe. Cut down one side so you can pull the pipe over the leg. Pad the edges of the pipe so they don't cut into the calf's leg and put it over the fetlock. Duct tape it together. I would check the leg every couple days to make sure that nothing is rubbing and to see if the leg is straightening. We have only ever done this with one calf, all the others that had the problem came out of it on their own. Will probably take at least a week for it to straighten enough for the calf to walk on its tippy toes without the splint.

 

[Sir Loin]

Alice,

Re:

From your description she has contracted tendons. IF that is the case, the tendons will straighten out.

That was my thoughts exactly. She’s a big calf for the size of her mother, but not the bull. I suspect she was just packed in there just a little to tight.

Re:

Put her with her mother and see if she can stand long enough to suck.

OH she was sucking all right! The proof is on my
seat, dash, radio, cup holder and CB.

Re:

Probably wouldn't hurt to try to get her to suck
from a bottle just so it won't be foreign to her in case she
can't stand long enough to get plenty to eat.

Done! The little girl took right to it and drank two quarts.

Re:

Also, put mama and baby somewhere safe
from coyotes or other predators until that baby can
get around really well on its own.

Fortunately there is an old barn on this lease property
where I can put them but the problem is that I will have
to carry water to them as the herd drinks from a pond
on the rear of the property and the barn is in the front. :roll:

Thanks
SL

 

[Alice]

Alice,

Re:

From your description she has contracted tendons. IF that is the case, the tendons will straighten out.

That was my thoughts exactly. She’s a big calf for the size of her mother, but not the bull. I suspect she was just packed in there just a little to tight.

Re:

Put her with her mother and see if she can stand long enough to suck.

OH she was sucking all right! The proof is on my
seat, dash, radio, cup holder and CB.

Re:

Probably wouldn't hurt to try to get her to suck
from a bottle just so it won't be foreign to her in case she
can't stand long enough to get plenty to eat.

Done! The little girl took right to it and drank two quarts.

Re:

Also, put mama and baby somewhere safe
from coyotes or other predators until that baby can
get around really well on its own.

Fortunately there is an old barn on this lease property
where I can put them but the problem is that I will have
to carry water to them as the herd drinks from a pond
on the rear of the property and the barn is in the front. :roll:

Thanks
SL

Hey...since she can stay with mom and eat, and since she took to the bottle (just in case), and mom and baby are safe from predators, then providing water is the least of your worries. It'll be worth the effort... :)

Alice

 

[Sir Loin]

Randiliana,
Re:

Now, when this calf is up does it walk on its tippy toes some times, or always with the hoof turned under?

They both are always turned under.
I gave her a little physical therapy today and they seem to have gotten a little better.
But tomorrow is another story as the vet is coming to palpate 150 more cows.
When I get that done I will decide what to do with her. Veal maybe?
Hold that thought!
SL

 

[dun]

Bumble foot aka contracted tendons. You can splint them and they'll be straightened up in 6 weeks or you can leave them alone and they'll straighten out in a month and ahlaf.

 

[Alice]

Bumble foot aka contracted tendons. You can splint them and they'll be straightened up in 6 weeks or you can leave them alone and they'll straighten out in a month and ahlaf.

Or less. C'mon, dun...they're not that bad...but then, we all know what a bleeding heart I am... :oops:

Oh, and the veal part...perish the thought!!!!!! She's a heifer, no less! :shock:

When calves like this make it, cripes! You couldn't kill 'em with a ball peen hammer!

Alice

 

[john250]

I've had some success with physical therapy. Exercise her legs. Stretch them out, fold them under. Repeat. Not a sure cure, but worth a try.

 

[Alice]

I've had some success with physical therapy. Exercise her legs. Stretch them out, fold them under. Repeat. Not a sure cure, but worth a try.

The one's I've had to deal with would kick me to death tryin' that. Those back legs are deadly...however, I'd try it...bruised and bloody tho I'd be, I'd give it a shot. I do love my baby calves... :heart:

Alice

 

[dun]

Bumble foot aka contracted tendons. You can splint them and they'll be straightened up in 6 weeks or you can leave them alone and they'll straighten out in a month and ahlaf.

Or less. C'mon, dun...they're not that bad...but then, we all know what a bleeding heart I am... :oops:

Oh, and the veal part...perish the thought!!!!!! She's a heifer, no less! :shock:

When calves like this make it, cripes! You couldn't kill 'em with a ball peen hammer!

Alice

Back in the 70s we would raise a couple of dozen bumble foot Brown Swiss calves each year. When they'ld go into the sale ring the people would whine and ring their hands about the poor little cripple. A doubt if I ever spent more then 2 bucks to buy any of them. A month or 2 later I would sell them for a better price then any other calves their age because of their size. Of course feeding them goat milk until weaning sure didn;t hurt.

 

[Beefy]

i dont guess ive ever had one take more than a week to get them straightened out.

 

[fitz]

Had a large Bull calf born (breech) 04/29/07 just like it. He could get to his mother & nurse. In a month's time he was running like a race horse and as big as most twice his age. If your calf can nurse her mother and you can keep the coyotes at bay, my money is on her being fine. Not to change the subject, but if you have them around those black buzzards can be a worse predator than the coyote. Good Luck.

Fitz

 

[Alice]

Had a large Bull calf born (breech) 04/29/07 just like it. He could get to his mother & nurse. In a month's time he was running like a race horse and as big as most twice his age. If your calf can nurse her mother and you can keep the coyotes at bay, my money is on her being fine. Not to change the subject, but if you have them around those black buzzards can be a worse predator than the coyote. Good Luck.

Fitz

Re: black buzzards...Ain't that the truth! They are freakin' evil!

Alice

 

[msscamp]

Deformity.

It's not a 'deformity', she has contracted tendons probably due to not enough room in the womb.

Any treatment suggestions?

We've had quite a few calves like this over the years - our treatment plan was always the same. Bring Mom up to the corrals, and put her in one with her baby. She and nature will do the rest, but I would keep an eye on baby - mainly because I like to watch calves, and there is nothing better than a captive subject, but also to make sure baby is getting enough to eat.

SL

 

[Alice]

Bumble foot aka contracted tendons. You can splint them and they'll be straightened up in 6 weeks or you can leave them alone and they'll straighten out in a month and ahlaf.

Or less. C'mon, dun...they're not that bad...but then, we all know what a bleeding heart I am... :oops:

Oh, and the veal part...perish the thought!!!!!! She's a heifer, no less! :shock:

When calves like this make it, cripes! You couldn't kill 'em with a ball peen hammer!

Alice

Back in the 70s we would raise a couple of dozen bunble foot Brown Swiss calves each year. When they'ld go into the sale ring the people would whine and ring their hands about the poor little cripple. A doubt if I ever spent more then 2 bucks to buy any of them. A month or 2 later I would sell them for a better price then any other calves their age because of their size. Of course feeding them goat milk until weaning sure didn;t hurt.

Dun, there's a lady here that buys every single one of those contracted tendon calves when they come thru the auction. And she does very well with them. She buys 'em cheap and they resell well. Wonder if she's on to that goat milk thing? Hmmmmmm....Think I'll sit next to her sometime and pick her brain... :)

Alice

 

[dun]

Alice: I doubt the goats milk had anything to do with it other then very good nutrition. It's basically a (I love this expression) "tincture of time".
The worst e had took almost a month and a half, the vast majority it was a week to two weeks.

 

[john250]

I've had some success with physical therapy. Exercise her legs. Stretch them out, fold them under. Repeat. Not a sure cure, but worth a try.

The one's I've had to deal with would kick me to death tryin' that. Those back legs are deadly...however, I'd try it...bruised and bloody tho I'd be, I'd give it a shot. I do love my baby calves... :heart:

Alice

My successes were 2-4 day old calves. Just getting them up and standing. Also, these were under cold conditions, where your own body is tensing up. I figured maybe some exercise was called for.