Wisteria Farms
Well-known member
Hi all.. I have a cow that's down... To answer all the questions... she's 5 years old, pregnant with calf #4... due March 29 (AI). I had her seen by the vet today...she received Calcium/Selenium/Banamine, etc. "just because" (NO DEX). Because she has feeling in all extremeties including down her spine AND she was able to energetically crawl away from the vet coming at her with a halter...
The vet thinks she has a fractured pelvis. She is currently bedded VERY deep (manure on bottom/deep straw on top) and I bring her buckets of water (which she drinks).. grain (which she eats) though she's not eating as much hay.
My question is: The vet said to get her in a sling. Now we've done this BEFORE... a couple years ago we had "Granny" go down with twins. The difference is, this vet says we need to leave this cow in the sling for 12 hours a day. HOWEVER... I was reading about the best sling for a cow with a pelvic fracture...trying to see if I should modify my setup at all... and it says DONT DO IT! That slinging her will actually make it worse....that as long as she is moving HERSELF side to side, that TIME, DEEP BEDDING and good nutrition is what is needed.
Thoughts???
Thanks for your input... Im just conflicted about the best route.
The vet thinks she has a fractured pelvis. She is currently bedded VERY deep (manure on bottom/deep straw on top) and I bring her buckets of water (which she drinks).. grain (which she eats) though she's not eating as much hay.
My question is: The vet said to get her in a sling. Now we've done this BEFORE... a couple years ago we had "Granny" go down with twins. The difference is, this vet says we need to leave this cow in the sling for 12 hours a day. HOWEVER... I was reading about the best sling for a cow with a pelvic fracture...trying to see if I should modify my setup at all... and it says DONT DO IT! That slinging her will actually make it worse....that as long as she is moving HERSELF side to side, that TIME, DEEP BEDDING and good nutrition is what is needed.
Thoughts???
Thanks for your input... Im just conflicted about the best route.