Lame cow

83-1203866593 · Post by **83-1203866593** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 3:32 pm

I have a seven year old short legged cow that went lame in a back leg seemingly after being out with the other seven for a day earlier in the year. I separated her from the others in the barn with a gate so that she was not pushed and didn't have competition for food but I have no idea what is wrong with the leg. It is not hot or swollen anywhere you can rub it and touch it and she doesn't mind I have had her feet trimmed and there is no problem with abcess or anything else. I called the vet and she has had two double doses of Ketofen and a jab of another anti inflamitory but to no avail. For the past two months I have been dosing her twice a day with a herbal remedy which in the past has been a 'miracle' cure for all leg problems but so far no improvement at all. She is boss cow and I am concerned that when I put them out there will be a lot of pushing and shoving to re establish the order of the herd and thereby put even more pressure on the leg. I read with interest the idea of vinegar being a deterent for bullying but would this work on the boss cow would the others keep away from her do you think? I would be grateful for any ideas or help.

Rob & Alison Kirk · Post by **Rob & Alison Kirk** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:05 pm

Suzie - Vinegar is working well with our cattle when we're putting one into another group to stop the others bullying that new animal.

If you keep your boss cow away from the others for a while and then return her she may not be top dog any more, so I would try putting vinegar on her in any case and see what happens. It won't actually stop a boss cow within a group bullying others and being boss.

Re the lameness, has she gone arthritic? It does happen with short leg Dexters. We've had one or two arthritic ones, but they've been 12-14 years old.

Good luck.

Robert & Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters

ann lea · Post by **ann lea** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:32 pm

I have had to send two dexter cows off for slaughter this week, both arthritic, one was 8 and the other only 7 years old. In both cases it came on suddenly. For the last few months, while they reared their calves I kept them away from the main herd and gave them some sugar beet with 70ml of cider vinegar every day, this made things better for them for the short term. Ann

83-1203866593 · Post by **83-1203866593** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:27 pm

Thank you Robert and Alison I will definitely give the vinegar a go. Someone had mentioned to me the possibility of her being arthritic but I thought she was too young! Reading your reply Ann I see that this is not so, would you mind telling me how did the arthritis present itself in your cows? I was hoping that some warmth and fresh grass would improve Honey's condition but if it goes on I am concerned that she might be in pain but I don't know how to tell if she is. Inside she seems ok although she has started to look lop sided as one hip bone sticks up higher than the other where she isn't putting so much weight on the bad leg.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:32 pm

When did your vet last see this cow? Most of the lameness seen in cattle is the result of pain, be it from foot trouble or arthritis of some sort. Sadly anti-inflammatory treatment long term is not a realistic possibility, and culling has to be the answer. If there is distortion of the hindquarters this is not good - have your vet look again and be up front with them on what you should be doing with her. Try to be sure the same vet comes as saw her earlier so they can compare her condition then and now.

Pain in lame cattle is frequently underestimated. If it can't be cured or properly treated, she needs to go.

Duncan

ann lea · Post by **ann lea** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:01 am

Suzie, Difficult to discribe their gait but generally slow and not lifting the hoof up as high as usual. The muscle tissue around the hip joint does begin to atrophy/waste so the joint is more visable. Hope that helps. ann lea

83-1203866593 · Post by **83-1203866593** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:00 pm

Thank you Ann that is just like Honey walks, slowly and not picking up the hoof properly so looks like it is arthritis. I shall take your advise Duncan and get the vet back to look at her. I can see that Honey is considerably worse than she was a few months ago and I do not want her plodding round the fields in pain, see what he thinks is the best solution for her.