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Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered #8545494 03/02/22 12:51 PM
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Found one of my heifers down on Sunday(about 9 months old) and not sure why she is down. Called my Vet Monday and they were booked solid where they said they can come to me and described situation. Heifers is down-no physical signs of trauma. She is alert, eating and drinking but makes no effort to stand-even if pulled to her feet. Vet asked me to come by and pick up Dexamethasone to be given twice 24 hours apart with last night being the 2nd dose. Having to haul fresh water and hay to her-has very little movement in her front legs and no real movement in her rear legs but they are not stiff. Tried to sling and lift her with front end loader last night-she would paw and the ground but no weight bearing support. I personally have never had a cow recover after being down longer than 48 hours. The vet said she has seen them recover on rare occasion after a week. How long have yall had one down and still recover? When has it been long enough-keep trying as long as eating/drinking or just delaying the inevitable? Another concern would be Why-would a otherwise healthy young heifer go down, but thats something that may not get answered.

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545503 03/02/22 12:59 PM
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This time of the year is always hard on them. I lost a momma cow during the freeze and then a newborn got stepped on at a hay ring this week and broke rear leg. When they get down like yours it is usually the end in my experience.


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545516 03/02/22 01:07 PM
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I had one go down for no reason. The vet said after 2 days I needed to put her down. I wish you luck.

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: stinkbelly] #8545522 03/02/22 01:16 PM
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After being down 3 days and no signs of improvement I butcher them if they are young enough and in good shape otherwise. Get something for my money. Ran cattle all my life and never seen many come back after 2-3 days. Many causes.


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545523 03/02/22 01:16 PM
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I have never had one get up. Like flushing hundred dollar bills down the toliet.

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545532 03/02/22 01:32 PM
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It won't end well, sorry to hear this. frown

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: fishdfly] #8545540 03/02/22 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by fishdfly
I have never had one get up. Like flushing hundred dollar bills down the toliet.

Same


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545561 03/02/22 01:59 PM
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Damn that sucks.






Please for give me, but I have to say it.......ground beef? whip

I honestly hope for a full recovery and hope there is no suffering and feel for ya.


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545580 03/02/22 02:19 PM
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How long to leave down: Totally your call. 3 days down and still alive, nobody knows, But I don’t she will get up now. Might try front end loader again, but probably nerve damage.

Why: Cause they are animals. No rhyme or reason why. Cause they breathe and live in the wild. Some get sick and die, some recover you thought never would. Do the best you can and move on.

Hang in there. Life is hard enough, with cattle, some days it’s harder.

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: Stompy] #8545590 03/02/22 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Stompy
Originally Posted by fishdfly
I have never had one get up. Like flushing hundred dollar bills down the toliet.

Same


Hate to agree but I do.
I was at a ranch years ago they built a contraption that held the calf in the air like looked like a cot with holes for the legs. I laughed at it but the guy said it has saved many a downed cows.

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545592 03/02/22 02:29 PM
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If you have them, you are going to lose them.

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545599 03/02/22 02:35 PM
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It's usually never good when they are down like that.
Sounds like nerve damage or possibly a broken back even.
Is it possible a bull topped her and broke her down?

I'll say what my favorite uncle told me God rest his beautiful soul......you can't lose em if you aint got em.

I wish you the best but you may want to salvage some ground beef if she doesn't get up today.


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545616 03/02/22 02:48 PM
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FWIW, I have a story. My pasture guy had one down that he had doctored with Dex and some injections to no avail. He had tried and tried getting her to her feet but no go. On day 3 I saw him with her down by the pond and me and the pizz hound drove down to check on progress. My guy was getting his gun out to shoot the animal when out of no where the pizz hound goes ballistic barking at this cow...and barking....and barking....AND THE COW GOT UP! Now up to this point the dog had never paid any attention to the cattle so it was kind of extraordinary. This was 3 years ago and she has birthed some nice calves then.


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545667 03/02/22 03:30 PM
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Thanks-that is what my gut and past experiences have showed me that they usually will not get up, in all the years just haven't had one this young go down. Stay in it long enough bound to see all sorts of new things . Just wanted to hear others experiences as far as younger ones. Thanks for sharing

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545709 03/02/22 04:26 PM
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Take care.

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545719 03/02/22 04:31 PM
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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8545750 03/02/22 05:04 PM
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i would try to get something like this down her, https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/vets-plus-power-punch-32-oz
We've used it a time or two with lethargic cows and even 1 that wouldn't get up after calving.


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: TCM3] #8545776 03/02/22 05:44 PM
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Originally Posted by TCM3
i would try to get something like this down her, https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/vets-plus-power-punch-32-oz
We've used it a time or two with lethargic cows and even 1 that wouldn't get up after calving.

What does it taste like?
I might try some.


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: pdr55] #8545788 03/02/22 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by pdr55
Originally Posted by TCM3
i would try to get something like this down her, https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/vets-plus-power-punch-32-oz
We've used it a time or two with lethargic cows and even 1 that wouldn't get up after calving.

What does it taste like?
I might try some.

I haven't tried it, but it smells like Sweet Feed/ All stock feed


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: TCM3] #8546780 03/03/22 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by TCM3
Originally Posted by pdr55
Originally Posted by TCM3
i would try to get something like this down her, https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/vets-plus-power-punch-32-oz
We've used it a time or two with lethargic cows and even 1 that wouldn't get up after calving.

What does it taste like?
I might try some.


I haven't tried it, but it smells like Sweet Feed/ All stock feed



Add in banamine…

On downers when pre conditioning, my last resort was to main vein with banamine. About 50% chance they would get up.


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8546784 03/03/22 05:14 PM
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This time of year grass tetany can be bad if running on green WW, rye etc. Acting Crazy is dead give away.

Main vein rig with cmpk or any other high magnesium solution reverses it quickly


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: fishdfly] #8546966 03/03/22 09:15 PM
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Originally Posted by fishdfly
I have never had one get up. Like flushing hundred dollar bills down the toliet.


That has always been the case with all the men I know who raise and sell cattle.


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8546970 03/03/22 09:16 PM
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any word on how this turned out?


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Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8546985 03/03/22 09:50 PM
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Thanks for the information TCM3 and Bobo. She was still alert and drinking yesterday morning-eating slowed down quite abit. I had to run into the shop for afew hours to get some work done and on the way back out stopped at TSC to pick up Power Punch. When I got back early yesterday afternoon she was gone and passed on her own.

Pulled them off WW/Triticale about month ago due to lack of rains and was getting grazed pretty low.

Re: Downed Heifer-how long down and still recovered [Re: tr22johnson] #8546995 03/03/22 10:06 PM
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Dang. hate to hear that...
Power Punch is handy to have around.


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