Sick Cow

[Air gator]

I have a cow who had a calf on Saturday. Big Brahman-Holstein cross...it's her third calf.
Her two front teats are big and hard...too big for the calf to nurse.
She stayed in the same place last night and didn't move.
I got her moving this morning and she drank some water.
The calf is nursing the smaller teats.
I don't know what I can do by hand with those two big teats.
There's no way I could milk them empty.
I have one dose of Banamine left...and I think I have LA300 at home.
Any advice?

Is there a way to soften those teats with hot towels or cold towels?

 

[M-5]

Could be milk fever , better get a vet out.

 

[TexasBred]

I have a cow who had a calf on Saturday. Big Brahman-Holstein cross...it's her third calf.
Her two front teats are big and hard...too big for the calf to nurse.
She stayed in the same place last night and didn't move.
I got her moving this morning and she drank some water.
The calf is nursing the smaller teats.
I don't know what I can do by hand with those two big teats.
There's no way I could milk them empty.
I have one dose of Banamine left...and I think I have LA300 at home.
Any advice?

Is there a way to soften those teats with hot towels or cold towels?

Try to milk them.....if you get clabber she has mastitis and will need treating but you'll still need to get her milked out.......if you get milk she's ok but your feed store should have teat infusion cannulas you could use. Simply clean the end of the teat with an alcohol prep and insert the cannula. It should begin to drain milk and get at least small enough you could then finish milking her out.

 

[pdfangus]

TB gave you good advice.....

 

[TCRanch]

TB gave you good advice.....

Agree. I use the nickle plated brass infusion tubes and Bag Balm to help soften the teats.

 

[angus9259]

In the meantime, if she's not eating or drinking she probably isn't really milking in the back quarters either. Might serve you well to make up a bottle a day for the calf to make sure it doesn't dehydrate till momma gets back on her feet.

Check her temp too. Regular mastitis isn't so bad on a cow but toxic mastitis is a long hard road. Had one this year barely survive it. Key is getting the infection out of her front quarters that is now rotting. If that's what it is....

 

[Air gator]

Thank you all for your help.