Stupid me

Yes, I hope the calf is better today.

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~Carla~

And respond by going off topic. People go 'offtopic' all the time, it's called the course of conversation.

Oh, sorry...the snow is messing with my computer today. Let's go off topic some more...

The OP asked a question that was not answered by some of the experienced responders. That's the part that bugs me when people don't answer a question directly but instead, shift off topic to another topic they chose and then answer their own "off topic" subject. Clearly a conversation will move to another course but one could hope that the original question would be addressed first, right?

This is enough thread drift for me...how about you? I'm off the soapbox now.

__________________
~Carla~

Well. I can tell you that you.may have the either/or option with a calf. Not always the case when they get some size. Try processing hundreds in a crowded chute where some ring a ding has ran their head under another's belly. Ya just might pick that huge muscle close to you. But babies are babies. It hurt. Might or might not have hit a nerve. We might do better discussing technique for shots and when to split doses.

Interestingly enough, some of us experienced hands ask a few questions for a reason. The question as I read it, led me to believe that the member was assessing a few things which would have generated a thoughtful answer that would have been beneficial to many.

Questions relating to calling a vet and what kinda ailment might have led to the suggesting a hip shot or clarifying something that might have been misunderstood and realistically, none of us claim to be more skilled than a vet so it's way better to ask if a vet has been consulted rather than offering conflicting advice.

After being taken to task, I'm sure you can understand why a highly respected member with a great deal of bovine experience join a couple other highly respected members and refrain from asking questions or offering helpful advice.

I realize sometimes the written word is misinterpreted but it's pretty clear in this thread that the question was about whether or not a calf would have permanent or long lasting damage from a shot given incorrectly. Asking why the shot was given, or suggesting the OP is inexperienced doesn't address the question that was posted and the tone of some of the answers given was condescending in my opinion. Maybe we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

__________________
~Carla~

What a shame to jump to conclusions. When posting it is usually best to provide as much detail as possible. It is so easy to misunderstand or come across as a know it all when posting. But the one thing we all have in common is cattle, working together will really help everyone. Folks we all need to provide specific details so there is no confusion.
PS. I hope your calf is ok - please give an update.

We don't know the shot was given incorrectly. Perhaps a vet made the call or perhaps the instructions were misunderstood and we won't know because the guy that tried to ask questions got shot down.

Some drugs are administered IM and others sub q. Perhaps a vet wanted the calf injected in this manner for a reason but we don't know. Like yourself, that was my first conclusion too but we could be wrong because when someone asked further questions, they got shot down.

The flip side of this is that perhaps there is an inexperienced owner who did follow vet advice and we have no way of affirming that they did the right thing and just had undesirable results.

It’s quite obvious that a number of people take issue with my response to the OP. Maybe it’s time to put an end to the controversy and perhaps even the thread. It appears that my brusque reply has offended not only the OP but others as well. I appreciate the support of those who agree with my reply. When I respond to a post, I tend not to sugarcoat my responses. If I offended anyone, I apologize.

Beyond the age and gender of the calf and the fact that it wasn’t acting right for a couple of days, the OP provided no information about the calf itself, other than age and gender. Having taken care of my small herd for a number of years as well as having been an employee for a bovine practice during most of that time, I tend to look at the whole picture, so I ask questions that I consider pertinent in offering suggestions and advice. To my way of thinking, merely responding to the badly placed injection and subsequent effects on the calf without knowing what prompted that particular course of action would be irresponsible.

Had the OP stated that his vet had recommended he inject penicillin in his calf’s hip, I’d have been a little surprised, but I’m not a vet; perhaps there was a good reason to do so? However, the OP merely indicated that he’d given a shot of penicillin in the calf’s hip and subsequently it was not able to stand. This stood out like a sore thumb to me. Why penicillin? Why in the hip? I stated that I did not know why the calf would be unable to support itself and suggested that the OP contact his vet. I suspected this was an inexperienced person who pulled a haphazard solution out of his hat – better to do something rather than nothing, right? (And, as is so often the case, the questions went unanswered.)

I have a great relationship with the vets that care for my herd, and I am lucky to be able to rely on their judgment and assistance; I sometimes forget that not everyone is so fortunate. I’m also very curious, so I usually wonder what is going on with an animal and why a certain course of action is being taken. Above all, I place the highest regard for the safety and well-being of my own cows and calves and do not generally administer anything without the advice of my vet unless I’ve had personal experience with the condition that I observe and have treated before.

I believe many people who frequent this board hope to obtain veterinary advice from non-veterinarians and, sadly, much of this can be useless or even harmful. There are a number of experienced cattle people here who can offer helpful suggestions. But this is the Internet not the vet’s office, so advice on a chat board is worth precisely what one pays for it – absolutely nothing!

Sadly, we may not know what the outcome for this calf is.