Sick heifer

[leegillh]

I have a 18 month old heifer that was shaking and breathing fast when I found her today that had trouble standing when she got up she was very unsteady.She walked into the woods and had trouble picking her feet up to cross a limb on the ground. She was eating every leaf she walked by. Hard to get a vet out here so I just asking for suggestions

 

[TCRanch]

Possibly ate something toxic. Or anaplasmosis, pneumonia, rabies, tetanus . . . . . Sorry, but you're going to have to get her in and take her temp for starters. And really, it could be anything. I empathize the dilemma on getting a vet to come out, especially on a weekend, but that's your best bet. Or even a neighbor that is well versed in cattle and familiar with the forage in your area.

 

[Lucky_P]

And...you are located where?
Age/weight class of this 'heifer'?
Availability of forage/drought situation?

 

[leegillh]

The heifer is located in west central ga by the Alabama line. They have grass and hay available. She is 18 months old Brangus angus cross

 

[Mark Reynolds]

Don't let the heifer lay down if you can help it. Keep her moving and get a vet, now. Forget the cost of the vet or write the heifer off. Most likely anyway. Get her out of the woods. There are literally 8-9 times as many toxic plants in the woods as open pasture. Make sure she has all the water she wants. If she wants to eat, let her eat forage that you know what it is. Not random leaves. Limit her diet to known hay for the time being.

 

[4hfarms]

If your weather is anything like ours, only a couple hour north, it may be heat induced. We have watched the whole herd pant like dogs for the last week. It's been over 100deg most days and haven't had a good rain for weeks until yesterday. They don't eat much in the heat, we don't see them during the day much. Laying under the trees. They get up for clean water every couple hours.
Kind of like heat stroke... weak, dry mouth, hard to breathe, may be confused even. If it gets better tonight after the sun goes down.....

Try clean cool water and shade, may be the reason she is in the trees.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

If your weather is anything like ours, only a couple hour north, it may be heat induced. We have watched the whole herd pant like dogs for the last week. It's been over 100deg most days and haven't had a good rain for weeks until yesterday. They don't eat much in the heat, we don't see them during the day much. Laying under the trees. They get up for clean water every couple hours.
Kind of like heat stroke... weak, dry mouth, hard to breathe, may be confused even. If it gets better tonight after the sun goes down.....

Try clean cool water and shade, may be the reason she is in the trees.

It doesn't strike me as heat induced as she is readily eating every leaf she can, which is the opposite of what I would expect for heat. I'm not saying it's not heat, but seems inconsistent and not what I'd expect.

 

[Louthelivestockguy]

What about blackleg or white muscle disease from selenium?! Has she been vaccinated? Maybe give her some LA200 pretty quickly and check her early morning with some grain and water and hay!

 

[Warren Allison]

@leegillh , you need to go into your profile and enter your location. You too, @Louthelivestockguy .

 

[kenny thomas]

I have a 18 month old heifer that was shaking and breathing fast when I found her today that had trouble standing when she got up she was very unsteady.She walked into the woods and had trouble picking her feet up to cross a limb on the ground. She was eating every leaf she walked by. Hard to get a vet out here so I just asking for suggestions

Any update?