I have a cow about 10 yrs old and under her jaws it looks like a build up of fluid, it is all puffed out and floopy like it is filled with water, she also has diarrhea, it is pure water, she has had no grain and there isn't much green grass yet either. all she has had is fescue and orchard grass mixed hay and the trace mineral salt block. any help on what to do for her, she has lost alot of weight as well. Thanks for any help given
Sick Cow
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Arnold Ziffle
Well-known member
The first thing I think of with cows that have the squirts, have lost a lot of weight and have what appears to be under the jaw growth or excessive tissue (as well as a shaggy, off-color hide) is worms. That's not to say your cow doesn't have some other problem --- but when did she last get a good de-worming, and with which product?
Running Arrow Bill
Well-known member
I'd probably suspect worms too. Also, possibility of fescue toxicity. Call the Vet. Put her on straight (non-fescue) hay + usual minerals/salt/water.
Farminlund
Well-known member
I hope more inputs are forthcoming, as I too have just today noticed that a young cow (~3 yrs) has a drooping "mass" under her jaw (doing a fantastic job raising her 1st calf). Have not noticed any other issues, just this hanging skin thing below the jaw. Doesn't look so bad, but not normal - hoping it is nothing bad - had a cow with a couple of large lumps on the neck that were nearly baseball sized that went away after about a year.
certherfbeef
Well-known member
Farminlund":3lv6u88j said:
In this case, it sounds like she is looseing weight feeding that calf and just has excess loose skin now.
Its very common this time of year for cattle with a large load of various worms to display "bottle jaw", a fluid-like accumulation under the jaw. I recommend first deworming with a broad spectrum dewormer such as ivomec and see if this helps. You should really deworm cattle before they get to the point that they exhibit bottlejaw from heavy parasite load.
Farminlund
Well-known member
Beefy - thanks for the input. I know that most on the boards worm cows routinely - I've never wormed cows (except those with issues like poor body condition or rough hair coat), however, we do the calves & yearlings. Our local extensions folk don't even recommend it.
Shouldn't I see other symptoms like body condition, hair coat, lowered milk production? If you say no - then that is likely the reason & she will be wormed within the next few days - again thanks for the valuable input.
I do learn much each week I monitor the boards - thanks to all for the sharing of knowledge. I will as my communal responsibility for the lessons learned try to repay as much as possible with my limited knowledge.
Shouldn't I see other symptoms like body condition, hair coat, lowered milk production? If you say no - then that is likely the reason & she will be wormed within the next few days - again thanks for the valuable input.
I do learn much each week I monitor the boards - thanks to all for the sharing of knowledge. I will as my communal responsibility for the lessons learned try to repay as much as possible with my limited knowledge.
different signs for different cows. some have bottle jaw and otherwise you wouldnt know they are wormy. some get thin. some get scraggly looking. some get potbellied. some have a rough or dull hair coat. we deworm in the spring and fall and use a different product every couple of years to help prevent resistance. however we got screwed last year using some generic product. "they" are saying now that its better to deworm in the summer so that the worms dont have time to complete their lifecycle--dont know if they are suggesting that it gets too hot and/or dry or if the grass is so tall that the cows are less likely to ingest them or what. The problem with only worming the wormy looking cattle is that the others that are wormy and dont look it just keep pooping (can i say "pooping"?) out worm eggs to be picked right back up by the ones you wormed...
Farmer Kevin
Well-known member
I have also heard that is is caused to due a stroke by the cow. That was the only explaination a vet told me once.......
Hey it could happen I guess
Hey it could happen I guess
Bottle jaw, watery scours, excessive weight loss - all points to Johnes. Although, you would think it would have shown up before 10 years old. Still, as serious as Johnes is, I would have her checked. If she has it. her daughters in your herd may also have it.
Sometimes, real good management can mask Johnes indeffinately.
Sometimes, real good management can mask Johnes indeffinately.
Farminlund
Well-known member
Beefy":1p30oiut said:
Wormed her with Eprenix (sp?) shortly after reading the post. "Bottle jaw" completely eliminated as of about 2 days ago. Wonderful advice, thanks again.
TheBullLady
Well-known member
Have to agree with Jeanne.. it sounds like Johne's to me as well.
She may very well seem to recover, but I suggest you keep a very close eye on her. Many times they seem to get better and will put on weight, only to go through another "spell" at a later date. The longer you keep her without having her checked, the more risk you run of contamination on your farm.
She may very well seem to recover, but I suggest you keep a very close eye on her. Many times they seem to get better and will put on weight, only to go through another "spell" at a later date. The longer you keep her without having her checked, the more risk you run of contamination on your farm.
One thing I would like to point out - if the cattle have not been DEGRUBBED back in the fall - it can be very dangerous to use a product that kills grubs this time of year. At least here, it's too early. If the cattle have migrating grubs, they can be in a location in the body that can kill the cow if they die.
There is a different date for different locations depending the the "heel fly" cycle. Here in NY, we are not supposed to use degrubbers after 11-5 in the fall.
There is a different date for different locations depending the the "heel fly" cycle. Here in NY, we are not supposed to use degrubbers after 11-5 in the fall.
I have also read that you should never use a dewormer that kills grubs in the winter. When I had the vet out in mid December I told him I didn't want to use the dewormer I had because it had the degrubber in it. His answer was -- Oh we don't worry about that - we use it all year round. Never have any problems. How many other vets think that way?
Kelly":2pfdxupw said:
And, that's perfectly fine - IF - the cattle are wormed "all year round". In other words, if the cattle don't have grubs in their system, you can worm with any product any time. And, there may be parts of the US that don't have a grub problem at all.
sidney411
Well-known member
I'm confused - why would degrubbing the cows cause a problem in the winter? Wouldn't it help them keep condition better?
