Downed cow

[dsutton96]

Last Saturday we had a 4yo cow that was staggering and by the time the vet got here she was down. Her muscles were drawn and her head was pulled around to the side. The vet said it was magnesium deficiency. So he gave her an injection of mag and calcium and said that she should be up with-in an hour.

Well she didn't get up so he came the next morning and gave her more mag and calcium. That didn't do the trick either although she was attempting to get up. The vet said there wasn't anything else to do.

It has now been 4 days and she is still alive and continues to attempt to get up. I know she needs to be put out of her misery but my husband just can't seem to accept the inevitable.

Any comments on this situation?

 

[Bez]

3 Choices:

1. Do nothing
2. Different vet asap - bloodwork and the whole 9 yards
3. Shoot her

Bez

 

[shorty]

That's a hard decision to have to make, If she's a real good cow maybe you should have another vet look at her and see if she has a chance.

 

[SPRINGER FARMS MURRAY GRE]

Last Saturday we had a 4yo cow that was staggering and by the time the vet got here she was down. Her muscles were drawn and her head was pulled around to the side. The vet said it was magnesium deficiency. So he gave her an injection of mag and calcium and said that she should be up with-in an hour.

Well she didn't get up so he came the next morning and gave her more mag and calcium. That didn't do the trick either although she was attempting to get up. The vet said there wasn't anything else to do.

It has now been 4 days and she is still alive and continues to attempt to get up. I know she needs to be put out of her misery but my husband just can't seem to accept the inevitable.

Any comments on this situation?

Tetanus??? Get another vet to check her. ;-) :cboy:

 

[TheBullLady]

We've had the same problem.. had a downed cow, treated her twice and for some reason she just never responded. The vet thought she would. I think they get too depleted, and can't bounce back at some point.

We shot her.

 

[milkmaid]

Is there a way for you to get her up - hip lifter and tractor, etc?

What kind of flooring is she on? sometimes they just can't get up on slick ground, or they can't get up on their own the first time, but after they've been lifted once or twice they're okay.

 

[Campground Cattle]

Innoculate with a big bore