Pinched nerve

[TCRanch]

Anyone ever have a cow with a pinched nerve prior to calving (as opposed to after calving because of a hard birth)? I have a 9-year-old cow that's been walking funny, lagging a little, and does this weird thing where she sticks her right hind leg out to the side and occasionally shakes it. But otherwise puts full pressure on her foot and isn't limping. Heavy bred and she's one of my bigger girls, appx 1700 lbs. She's not stifled and lucky for me, I didn't have to get her in the chute to examine her foot/leg/hock. Fat girl was just lying there with her leg stuck out and didn't even flinch while I cleaned between her toes with a flat head screwdriver. Okay, she looked at me like WTH? but didn't even try to get up; she's one chill cow. Anyway, no foot rot or abscess, nothing wedged between the toes, no unusual lumps, bumps or scrapes. Talked with my vet and she agrees it's probably a pinched nerve and will - or should - resolve after calving.

BUT. What about calving? I feel like I should bring her to the barn in case she has problems, and I have to pull it. Or am I worrying too much? Any been-there-done-that or suggestions? And that includes possibly something other than a pinched nerve, like out of alignment.

 

[chaded]

I had one that we thought had a pinched nerve before calving. She was limping (rear leg). I put her in the chute and pulled her leg up and checked her foot and it was fine.

I took her to the vet and he knocked her out and trimmed her hoof and checked her out and couldn’t find anything wrong. He gave me banamine (i think) and some other pills to give her and told me to calve her out and if she didn’t get better to ship her.

She actually got better right before she calved and all was well. Not 100% certain it was a pinched nerve but it got floated around as a cause.

If it was me I would probably just keep an eye on her but wouldn’t worry myself sick over it.

 

[SBMF 2015]

We’ve had cows be gimpy prior to calving. Not necessarily because they were pregnant but it seems like when they get rid of the extra weight. They start getting around better.
I wouldn’t be overly extra concerned about her calving. You keep a close eye on your cows.

 

[wbvs58]

Yes.
I've had a couple, one in particular was similar to what you described, exaggerated movement of back legs lacking the fine control, calved no problem and was back to normal.

Ken

 

[TCRanch]

Thanks! I've just never had this before. @chaded, I did give her Banamine Transdermal, and it seemed to help but a little concerned about giving her too much at this stage of gestation. Especially since she doesn't seem to be in pain, just more uncomfortable.

 

[chaded]

Thanks! I've just never had this before. @chaded, I did give her Banamine Transdermal, and it seemed to help but a little concerned about giving her too much at this stage of gestation. Especially since she doesn't seem to be in pain, just more uncomfortable.

Let us know how it turns out. How close do you think she is to calving?

 

[TCRanch]

Let us know how it turns out. How close do you think she is to calving?

She's one of the few I don't have an exact due date ("exact" being subjective according to the gestation calculator). But she calved 2/23/24 and I can clearly see her calf moving. And it's a big one!

 

[TCRanch]

Fat girl had a nice, big heifer yesterday. No problems at all. And yes, I had her at the barn. Calf is a maniac and is either nursing or has the zoomies. But I did see my cow do the weird leg-shake thing this morning, didn't notice it this afternoon. Maybe it'll just take some time? But I am going to let them out to join the main herd (as opposed to the heifers) later today - after I tag/work that calf. It could get rodeo!

 

[TCRanch]

Holy cow! I had to tag that calf while she was nursing, which was the only time she was somewhat still. Hit her with the Inforce 3 when she came up for air. Kicked them out with the main herd, but not before I noticed Kubie (fat cow) did the leg-thing again. I might have to keep this heifer - she's a little pistol!

 

[Texas G@l]

Yes.
I've had a couple, one in particular was similar to what you described, exaggerated movement of back legs lacking the fine control, calved no problem and was back to normal.

Ken

Same thing has happened here.

 

[simme]

My brother had a cow close to calving last fall. Found her down in the pasture. She had no control over her rear legs. She could crawl/drag herself around on her front legs. Suspected a spinal injury, but no external evidence of any injury. No down trees or big fallen limbs close by. Carried her hay, feed and water for several days. Around day 3, she calved but still not able to get up. Gave the calf away. Gave her banamine transdermal. Tried lifting her with the loader, but no progress. Then one morning she was up walking around like nothing had ever happened.

 

[whisperingpinesnh]

Anyone ever have a cow with a pinched nerve prior to calving (as opposed to after calving because of a hard birth)? I have a 9-year-old cow that's been walking funny, lagging a little, and does this weird thing where she sticks her right hind leg out to the side and occasionally shakes it. But otherwise puts full pressure on her foot and isn't limping. Heavy bred and she's one of my bigger girls, appx 1700 lbs. She's not stifled and lucky for me, I didn't have to get her in the chute to examine her foot/leg/hock. Fat girl was just lying there with her leg stuck out and didn't even flinch while I cleaned between her toes with a flat head screwdriver. Okay, she looked at me like WTH? but didn't even try to get up; she's one chill cow. Anyway, no foot rot or abscess, nothing wedged between the toes, no unusual lumps, bumps or scrapes. Talked with my vet and she agrees it's probably a pinched nerve and will - or should - resolve after calving.

BUT. What about calving? I feel like I should bring her to the barn in case she has problems, and I have to pull it. Or am I worrying too much? Any been-there-done-that or suggestions? And that includes possibly something other than a pinched nerve, like out of alignment.

I am absolutely no expert, but I have seen this happen before after a heifer was in the catch for a hoof trimmings. Anti-inflammatories and time was the cure. In that case anyhow.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

You are only supposed to give Banamine Transdermal one time and no more and not to close up (to calving) cows. My 14 year old pet Jersey is heavily pregnant, due any day and she has been lame behind for a for about a month. She in good condition but not fat. I trimmed the hoof and no problem between the toes. So I've been giving her 30 pills of meloxicam in grain every day. The vet said she has given this to her own pregnant cows. Heck, I take one myself for my shoulder.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Anyone ever have a cow with a pinched nerve prior to calving (as opposed to after calving because of a hard birth)? I have a 9-year-old cow that's been walking funny, lagging a little, and does this weird thing where she sticks her right hind leg out to the side and occasionally shakes it. But otherwise puts full pressure on her foot and isn't limping. Heavy bred and she's one of my bigger girls, appx 1700 lbs. She's not stifled and lucky for me, I didn't have to get her in the chute to examine her foot/leg/hock. Fat girl was just lying there with her leg stuck out and didn't even flinch while I cleaned between her toes with a flat head screwdriver. Okay, she looked at me like WTH? but didn't even try to get up; she's one chill cow. Anyway, no foot rot or abscess, nothing wedged between the toes, no unusual lumps, bumps or scrapes. Talked with my vet and she agrees it's probably a pinched nerve and will - or should - resolve after calving.

BUT. What about calving? I feel like I should bring her to the barn in case she has problems, and I have to pull it. Or am I worrying too much? Any been-there-done-that or suggestions? And that includes possibly something other than a pinched nerve, like out of alignment.

Yep I did !
About the last two to three weeks old girl could hardly get around.
She would be fine after.

 

[TCRanch]

Keep forgetting to update. She lays down a lot but when she's up, gets around no problem and kicks it into high gear when I show up to feed or put out a new bale. BUT she still occasionally does the weird leg thing. My plan is to just monitor her, see if it ever resolves on its own, and decide at weaning whether to ship her or try for another year. Oh, and her maniac calf is adorable and my only baldie (pic is a few weeks old).

 

[Hippie Rancher]

cool white spot inside of her black eyespot, don't think I have seen one like that