about 10 days ago i had a cow with a really bad watery eye and the start of the white ulcer. I have been having a lot of trouble with pinkeye this year for some reason.. This particular cow was off by herself, standing in the shade.. i called the rest of the cows up and she finally decided to come.. She had her head held high and was swinging it around almost like one that has something lodged in there throat. I took her to the vet and she ruled that there was nothing stuck in her.. All her cardiovascular tests checked out good. the vet said it could be the start of rabies? She gave her some antibiotics and i took her home and put her in a lot by herself.. she seemed perfectly fine, she ate, drank and grazed on the little bit of grass there was. her eye has cleared up and looks fine, so i was beginning to think her eye was really bothering her, causing her to thrash her head? well today i noticed the her brisket, where the skin hangs down between her front legs has swollen. she also has diarrhea that has just developed in the last day or two.. Any ideas what the problem could be? She is a 850 lb black angus heifer that should be bred... thank you
sick cow any ideas?
- Thread starter Tbrake
- Start date
she told me that it was a possibility... i was informed to avoid contact with it and keep her away from other cattle. she said to keep and eye on her for 2 weeks and see what she does.. I'm starting to lose faith in my current vet so i was coming to you guys for advice. thank you
Usually when nothing can be diagnosed, its hardware or johns. If you have a metal detector you can sometimes find the metal in them...alive or dead....
We had a calf with rabies. Showed no signs pointing to rabies. It was a bottle calf at the age where i was trying to get it to eat grain. So i had my hands in its mouth the whole time it was coming down with rabies. Our whole family had to go through shots. A skunk got in the pen with the calf and a dog who was blind. We knew the dog died of something weird and took her body to the vet where he sent off her head. Then the calf got sick, lethargy is all we could tell something was not right so sent its head off. No one would have gotten rabies from the dog. But our kids were young and we were afraid they'd not remember letting the dog lick them or messing with the calf. I would have gotten rabies from the calf. I couldnt get those shots in me fast enough...
We had a calf with rabies. Showed no signs pointing to rabies. It was a bottle calf at the age where i was trying to get it to eat grain. So i had my hands in its mouth the whole time it was coming down with rabies. Our whole family had to go through shots. A skunk got in the pen with the calf and a dog who was blind. We knew the dog died of something weird and took her body to the vet where he sent off her head. Then the calf got sick, lethargy is all we could tell something was not right so sent its head off. No one would have gotten rabies from the dog. But our kids were young and we were afraid they'd not remember letting the dog lick them or messing with the calf. I would have gotten rabies from the calf. I couldnt get those shots in me fast enough...
LauraleesFarm
Well-known member
That is terrifying. If he in the least suspected rabies he should have quarantined the animal immediately. There is no cure for rabies once a human gets it. However, vets around here, are vaccinated for it. Rabies is absolutely fatal if you don't get the series of shots, and sometimes the shots are ineffective. There was a recent case in this area of a person that died of unknown causes and the organs were harvested for transplant. Then all of the organ recipients died of rabies. It was terrible. One of the kidney recipients was a young man in our home town. Later they figured out that the donor had been exposed to a bat.
I did some research a while back and was interested to learn there are different types of rabies carried by different animals.
I did some research a while back and was interested to learn there are different types of rabies carried by different animals.
branguscowgirl
Well-known member
I have also been exposed to rabies and my daughter and I went through the series of shots. I had two dogs attacked by a rabbit skunk.
I was required to quarantine the dogs, (who were vaccinated) for 2 weeks. However, I was told that rabies can take up to a year to show up. Depending on where the animal was bitten, and how long it takes to reach the brain.
Could she have been thrashing her head around in an attempt to get more air. Could it be "Brisket Disease"?
One of the vets on here could probably give more insight. But it is my understanding that a swollen brisket could indicate cardiac failure.
I was required to quarantine the dogs, (who were vaccinated) for 2 weeks. However, I was told that rabies can take up to a year to show up. Depending on where the animal was bitten, and how long it takes to reach the brain.
Could she have been thrashing her head around in an attempt to get more air. Could it be "Brisket Disease"?
One of the vets on here could probably give more insight. But it is my understanding that a swollen brisket could indicate cardiac failure.
wbvs58
Well-known member
Yeh the altitude would quickly rule in or out for Brisket disease. We get oedema of the brisket here from a plant poison, Pimelea sp which affects the heart muscle. As already mentioned hardware disease can produce heart failure and oedema of the brisket.
Have a good look at the jugular groove for signs of a pronounced jugular pulse as you often get with heart failure.
Have a good look at the jugular groove for signs of a pronounced jugular pulse as you often get with heart failure.
branguscowgirl
Well-known member
Where are you located Tbrake?
I live in se Kansas.. About 20 min from the Missouri line.. Right now I am out in the lot watching her and it almost looks like she might be swaying just a little.. I wouldn't call it shaking but a real slight sway. I'm not sure if that is normal or not? Thank you
branguscowgirl
Well-known member
I don't think so. Is she having any trouble breathing? Mouth open?
The diarrhea could be from the antibiotic. Did the do any blood work at the vets?
The diarrhea could be from the antibiotic. Did the do any blood work at the vets?
No blood work.. Her breathing seems fine.. She haven't gotten any shots in atleast 10 days.. Could the dirraha possibly be from her getting more feed than she is accustomed too? The more I look at her the less I think her brisket is swollen? She has been acting normal ever since she got back from the vet.. I don't know what I should do? Thank you
branguscowgirl
Well-known member
Is the diarrhea normal in color and just loose? It very well could be due to a change in feed.Tbrake":3t9ruulq said:
If there are no more definitive symptoms, just watch and wait. If she seems fine after 2 weeks, turn her back out.
If she had "symptoms of Rabies 10 days ago", she would be dead by now. Confirm with your vet, but I think that you can rule that one out.
Eye pain and photo sensitivity from the sun can explain why she was in the shade and swinging her head. :2cents:
Lucky_P
Well-known member
Hmmm. Somebody'll probably be offended. Sorry, I couldn't help thinking of Ray Charles.
Ever watch him perform? I's jes' sayin'...
Ever watch him perform? I's jes' sayin'...
Yes her poop is normal color just real runny.. Other than that I think she is acting normal.. I'm going to watch her a couple more days and if nothing looks alarming I think I will turn her back out with the others. Thank you guys again
branguscowgirl
Well-known member
Yep. I can visualize that Lucky! Do you agree, this could have been just the eye bothering her?Lucky_P":tdn3lxud said:
Workinonit Farm
Well-known member
My first thought (I'll get to the Rabies later) was that the eye was causing her to shake her head and the diarrhea was possibly from the antibiotics.
As for Rabies......that's a virus, an antibiotic will do nothing for a virus. Rabies in incurable. If the vet thought it was Rabies, even possibly, and sent you and the heifer home,something isn't right.
I too have had the series of shots, I was bitten by a bat. Periodically I have my titre checked, and when low, I get a booster vaccine. We figure I went through all the hassles of the shots and spend enugh time outside and around all kinds of animals, its a good idea to do it.
Katherine
As for Rabies......that's a virus, an antibiotic will do nothing for a virus. Rabies in incurable. If the vet thought it was Rabies, even possibly, and sent you and the heifer home,something isn't right.
I too have had the series of shots, I was bitten by a bat. Periodically I have my titre checked, and when low, I get a booster vaccine. We figure I went through all the hassles of the shots and spend enugh time outside and around all kinds of animals, its a good idea to do it.
Katherine
