Sick Miniature Jersey Bull

luvncountrylivn · #1 09/23/10, 02:41 PM

We have a miniature jersey bull that is 14 months old. A couple days ago we noticed he was keeping his eyes closed accept to eat. We researched and concluded it that it was probably pink eye. We got a gel eye treatment from TSC and today went to put it in his eyes. When we went out there we noticed he had blood tinged mucous dripping from his nostrils. We have the vet coming out but not until tomorrow since he's not down. He isn't coughing, he does act disoriented like he can't see, and he looks skinnier. I'm worried about him and want to see if anyone else might know what's wrong with him.

Madsaw · #2 09/23/10, 02:51 PM

Simply put its a form of pnumonia. Very low grade to start out then the coughing will come on later. I have seen it sometiems come on like this before. The bull is not opening his eyes because they are sore, its because he is sick and weak.
Bob

luvncountrylivn · #3 09/23/10, 02:52 PM

His eyes look blue and filmy like he's blind?

Ronney · #4 09/23/10, 04:14 PM

Do you have Malignant Catarrhal Fever in the States? Normally associated with deer but also cattle.

Symptoms are what you describe including the sudden loss of condition and he will be going blind. This is caused by oedema. Are there any other signs of oedema such as his ball bag or under the chin? Diarrhoea? High temperature?

If the States does have MCF, it is invariably fatal and there is no cure for it so you really need that vet out there NOW to tell you what is wrong with him so you can make an informed decision sooner rather than later.

Cheers,
Ronnie

luvncountrylivn · #5 09/23/10, 04:54 PM

How do I find out? Our county extension agent takes weeks to return phone calls so that won't help me right now.

What are the signs to look for on his ball bag, I can tell they're really saggy. Also, he doesn't have diarrhea right now. I was just out there and he went and it was hard. I'm thinking he's dehydrated?

Ronney · #6 09/23/10, 05:33 PM

Bugger it, I forgot to save the link but yes, the States does have it. And yes, if his ball bag is noticeably droopy that is oedema. When I had this in my bull the first two things I noticed were his eyes, and his ball bag which was down around his knees. This was followed by a runny nose and mouth but no diarrhoea. His condition went down almost overnight, he stopped eating but would still drink. It was awful. The vet took one look at him and said MCF, shoot him now before he deteriorates any further.

I am not trying to put the fear of God into you, I'm hoping that MCF would be the absolute worst case scenario but it all sounds horribly familiar and I really think you need to lean on that vet and impress upon him/her that you need them asap.

Crossing my fingers for you.

Cheers,
Ronnie

luvncountrylivn · #7 09/23/10, 05:51 PM

Yeah, I have been googling it and all the pictures I've seen resemble what he looks like

If the vet comes out tonight it will be an emergency call which is more money. If there is nothing he can do and he's just going to tell my husband to shoot him than I don't see why it will matter if he doesn't come out until tomorrow.

From what I've been reading this is a common disease in Bison. Our neighbor had Bison and one died and then he got rid of the other two. Anyway, he gave us all of his hay he had left over. Could it be possible that our bull could've gotten it that way?

luvncountrylivn · #8 09/23/10, 05:58 PM

Is the meat even edible if we do have to put him down?

MARYDVM · #9 09/23/10, 09:58 PM

I've seen several cases of MCF in dairy cattle. Each of these farms had one or more sheep. They can carry the virus without symptoms and shed it during lambing.

luvncountrylivn · #10 09/24/10, 12:10 AM

We don't have any sheep and no one around us does either. We have goats, chickens, and a dog.

Ronney · #11 09/24/10, 05:55 AM

No, if it is MCF it won't have come via the hay. It is thought that MCF is a herpes virus carried by sheep which are unaffected by it but pass the disease to deer (and in your case Bison and other animals which we don't have) and occasionally to cattle. It is also thought that it can be windborn so the fact that you don't have sheep doesn't necessarily rule out their input.

Yes, the meat is quite edible if this is what he has and you have to put him down. My bull was 2.5 years old and we got the home kill out as soon as the vet had confirmed the MCF. He was put into corned beef, sausages, mince.

Cheers,
Ronnie

luvncountrylivn · #12 09/24/10, 11:29 AM

Our vet had no idea that MCF was even in the states and had to call his lab people to find out about it. He said they think that's what it has to be that is wrong with him. We asked him about eating the meat and he said because he has a fever of 105 that we wouldn't want to eat the meat. I'm not sure if he really knows though. Do you know for sure that it's ok? My husband is a little freaked out about eating meat from a sick animal.

luvncountrylivn · #13 09/24/10, 12:03 PM

The more I'm reading it looks like goats could be carriers and we do have goats

.

francismilker · #14 09/24/10, 01:15 PM

Time out! Has your vet done any blood work?

luvncountrylivn · #15 09/24/10, 01:28 PM

He drew blood but it wouldn't be until Moday to get the results. He said he's pretty positive that MCF is what he has.

Madsaw · #16 09/24/10, 02:55 PM

Did he treat teh bull with any antibiotics and drugs for the fever? I have seen this associated with pneumonia in cattle too.
Bob

Ronney · #17 09/24/10, 04:18 PM

Luv, animals that contract MCF go to the works if it is caught early enough so that they are still well enough to travel. I had a discussion with the vet at the time as I knew nothing about this disease, and he assured me that were edible and they certainly wouldn't be accepted at the works if they weren't. That was 10 years ago and me and mine are still here. However, if he gets filled up with AB's and drugs, you won't be able to eat him.

If your husband is unhappy about eating him, he can still go as dog tucker so he won't be a complete waste.

Cheers,
Ronnie

luvncountrylivn · #18 09/24/10, 04:19 PM

He listened to his lungs and said they were fine which they wouldn't be if he had pneumonia.

Madsaw · #19 09/24/10, 04:49 PM

A little back ground on jerseys minis or regulars. If they get fart cross ways they will act like they are dieing. In your case your bull may just be coming down with a infection that has not yet settled into teh lungs. At the least teh vet should have given banamine for the fever and pain. Also a high dose of pencillin to help counter any infection. I am trying to remeber what my vet told me that will also cause the blue/white eys in cattle to. It is alot more common and easy to treat.
Bob

luvncountrylivn · #20 09/24/10, 05:13 PM

He had all the symptoms of the MCF and looked exactly like the pics I found of other cattle with it. He was very sick. He obviously couldn't see, was disoriented, had bloody mucous coming out of his nostrils, was salivating out of his mouth, wouldn't eat or drink (wouldn't even consider it) and was just completely in misery. He could barely walk. He would but he was way off balance. We ended up taking him to the butcher which probably would've happened at some point anyway since we didn't want to keep him and weren't having any success selling him. We only needed him to breed our heifer which he did. We're hoping that we can get the meat from him at least.