Sudden onset of Arthritic-like symptoms in 1st calf heifer.

[Rlb2532]

I have a first calf heifer that is barely moving when she walks. I originally thought quick pneumonia, but after further inspection she has no symptoms other than gaunt and lethargic. The symptoms just started a day ago. She does not keep up with the herd, and has trouble getting up. I have her on pasture grass in KS with pond water and protein tubs that do have a low dose of urea in them. She gets cubes or hay every 3-5 days. She walks incredibly slow, but has a great appetite. The longer distance she walks the more agile she becomes. I'm stumped at her age and why this sudden onset. I am thinking possibly a slight urea poisoning? Our heifers are in great condition all the others are fat and will calve in March. Could it be and infection? I have eliminated many illnesses because of her good appetite. I gave a dose of LA300 and might give her Banamine for pain and possible fever. Stumped, please help?! Of course she is one of the nicer heifers in the herd! Any recommendations for medicating? Thank you!

 

[inyati13]

If she just had a calf, you could logically suspect some inflamation or damage of the pelvic or spinal nerves in the vicinity of the sacral vertebra caused by the trauma of the delivery. An anti-inflamatory may help and something to reduce pain. She would recovery if there is no permanent damage. I had a first calf heifer do that in March as a result of a stressful delivery. She is fine now and I have seen her run and kick her heels up when the joy over-takes her. I had an older cow come out of calving with a stiff right back leg. It did not recover and I sold her. Good luck.

 

[Rlb2532]

Thank you for the response! She is due to calve (first calf) this coming March, so it is not due to calving. I wondered if she slipped a calf though. I don't see any signs of that, but she is not near as pregnant as most of the others. I have talked with the vet on the phone, but I may just need to take her in. I'm concerned if it was the protein tubs, possibly not mixed right or something, that I should take it out of the pasture. Most people I've talk to say they would be dead if that was the case? They are black sim/angus heifers. Always amazes me how you can ranch all your life, and family has as well, yet still see things come up that stump you?! I thought maybe she has some sort of infection and needs a pelvic exam. She acts like her feet hurt and yet it is in all her joints. it does remind me of something that had calving difficulty though, is all I can compare it to.

 

[aprille218]

Could she possibly have Lyme's Disease? If so a few weeks of the LA300 should help. There has been many cases lately due to the past years hot dry weather.

 

[Chris H]

I just shipped a heifer that had been confirmed due to calve in March. Ten days or so ago, she suddenly looked gaunt and looked to be in pain when she walked. Thursday I saw a bloody discharge on her tail & rump. I penned her with another cull cow. By that night the discharge was gone and she didn't appear to be in pain. By Monday she looked pretty good again, although she'd lost a bit of weight. I assumed she slipped the calf.