BeefmasterB":1ng5n2a1 said:
angie":1ng5n2a1 said:
rockridgecattle":1ng5n2a1 said:
Bez you are right, but sometimes we get shot when saying stuff like that..
Yes, Bez is right in what he is saying. However his frustration is at many people not just one, and it
should have been a seperate post. If Bez didn't want and couldn't handle our opinions he would not have asked what they were.
Bez did good in my opinion. Sometimes it's o.k. to place the comment where it might do the best good. And he did. However, I don't see anything wrong either with folks posting cattle problems to see what others think. I learn from it. For all we know, the person may not have the money to spend on a vet, the vet is just too far away, maybe they don't think the problem is too serious yet, etc. Sometimes it's a good way to check to see if what the vet is recommending sounds right!!!
You all must have some expensive vets. Ours doesn't charge a thing when we phone him to get advice on an animal. We give him the symptoms, he gives us some ideas to go on. He will ask questions, if we didn't give him enough information. Sometimes he wants to see the animal, but sometimes he doesn't.
I'm with Bez+. Call the vet, if you don't know enough to post more than just 'cow down' , what could it be. There are a thousand things it could be. Lack of energy, calcium deficiency, injury, nervous system disorder, various diseases.........and on it goes. Generally vets do know more about cattle diseases, injuries and problems than the average cattle owner does, after all, they had to go to school for 7 years to get that little peice of paper. And, you don't have to have the vet come out, he can give you ideas when you talk to him on the phone, and you can decide from there whether or not you want to have him out, or not.
I don't mind reading about people that need help with an animal, but I do like to see that they have talked to the vet or are going to within the next few hours. It never hurts to have a second opinion, and people on this board can definitely do that.
But no-one can diagnose a problem unless there is a good description of the symptoms, and 'my cow is down, her eyes are bright, she eats but doesn't drink' really isn't much to go on. We cannot see this animal, so we must have a darn good description.
Does she have a temperature?
Does she try to get up? Or does she really just lay there? Have you encouraged her?
Is she fat, thin or in between?
Is her calf still on her?
When is she due to calve? Or did she just calve?
How old is old?
What are you feeding and how much? What quality is it?
Above all, call the vet, see what he has to say. No-one says you must have him come out to look at her, but at least give him a good description of what the symptoms are so he can make an educated guess as to what is wrong with her.