To call the Vet or not?

Hexe · #1 06/14/07, 07:40 AM

My Highland heifer has been looking "off" for about a week. Nothing that I can put my finger on since she's still eating, chewing cud, normal stools etc. I've noticed that she drinks a lot and sometimes it seems she "leaks" urin, esp. when laying down. This morning I saw that she has a bit of a snotty nose and there is a little bit of bloody discharge from one nostril.
I got her last November and she's been an absolute delight and the picture of health. My plan was to breed her in about a month together with the the other cow I have. I'm torn between wanting to "make her better" and call the vet or let the problem "develop" and see if she gets over it on her own. Any suggestions?

crazygoatgirl · #2 06/14/07, 07:46 AM

I would start her on Biomycin or LA200. This sounds like a respiratory issue. If nothing else I would start her on Auerymycin 4g on her feed...it will take longer to kick in and you will have to use it longer than giving her the biomycin or LA200 injections. JMHO...thisis what I would do.

ozark_jewels · #3 06/14/07, 09:10 AM

Will the vet give advice without seeing the cow?? If it was me, I would call my vet, describe the symptoms as you have done here, and she would tell me what she thought I should give.

Up North · #4 06/14/07, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazygoatgirl

I would start her on Biomycin or LA200. This sounds like a respiratory issue. If nothing else I would start her on Auerymycin 4g on her feed...it will take longer to kick in and you will have to use it longer than giving her the biomycin or LA200 injections. JMHO...thisis what I would do.

I would do just this, and I would do it Yesterday! We just had a heifer with exact same symptoms, vet was here anyways so did exam in our case it was Pnemonia.
Just know that treating with LA-200 or BioMycin has a slaughter withdrawal period - read label B4 using.
Good Luck with'er.

Hexe · #5 06/15/07, 09:11 AM

Thanks for the suggestion/advice, I medicated her last night - what a rodeo that was! She's halterbroke and very tame, but she did NOT want to have anything to do with that shot! You should have seen us: we put her in a boxstall, gave her some grain to keep her busy and did the injection. The label says not to inject more than 10 cc in one spot, so I had to do three different sites - not fun. By the time I was done with the first site we about had to hogtie her for the others. My poor DH is suffering with herniated disks in his neck and a hernia, I don't know who was groaning more: him or the cow...
Anyway, do I have to repeat the injection? If so, how many days?