Went out to feed this afternoon and saw one of my cows bloated, frothy, coughing & gagging. I immediately suspected a hedge apple. Fortunately, she wasn't far from the barn and I was able to get her in (after a little detour in the woods and me face-planting in the mud). Called the vet, hooked up the trailer, took her in. She was so bloated, she didn't fit through the alley. But she's also so docile, he & the Vet Tech just worked on her outside. Appears as if only a chunk of the hedge apple is still lodged. Vet worked on her for an hour before resorting to a trocar (with Lidocane prior) and she deflated like a balloon. Gave her a sedative, we brought her back to a small enclosed section of the barn with no access to hay/grass or water. Going back down shortly to hit her up with LA300 (she should be stoned enough I can do it without getting her in the chute). Nothing else I can really do for her tonight, except monitor her. Assuming she makes it through the night, we'll either take her back in or the vet will come out in the morning to try and completely clear her airway.
She's our quintessential red-headed step child, compliments of the neighbors bull. Bless her heart, you can spot her a mile away! But the sweetest cow ever. She's almost 11 and I've never treated her for anything other than foot rot, which was one 'n done with hand feeding Sustain boluses in the pasture.
Gonna be a long night.
She's our quintessential red-headed step child, compliments of the neighbors bull. Bless her heart, you can spot her a mile away! But the sweetest cow ever. She's almost 11 and I've never treated her for anything other than foot rot, which was one 'n done with hand feeding Sustain boluses in the pasture.
Gonna be a long night.