Injured Jersey cow

HomersGoatLady · #1 01/07/12, 03:57 PM

I had to be away from home all day yesterday. I left shortly after milking my 6 year old Jersey. When I got home lastnight, I found her with a severe horizontal laceration on the right side of her neck. It is a large, deep wound high on the neck close to the withers, about 5-6 inches in length and 4 inches in width. I called the vet, but he wouldn't come until this morning. I irrigated and cleaned the wound lastnight and barely slept at all for worrying. This morning the vet sedated her, thoroughly cleaned the wound, applied honey to the wound and gave her Excede (antibiotic). He recommended cleaning the wound and re-applying honey 3 times a day. She is eating and drinking well. She is swollen and sore and limps a bit on her front leg on the injured side. We have no idea what happen to her and could find nothing in her pen to explain her injury. We chose not to sew up the gaping wound because it had been too long since it occurred and the vet felt it would increase our chances of infection. Any suggestions on anything else I might do to encourage healing of this large open wound or to boost her immunity to infection and keep her well through this horrible ordeal?

homersgoatlady

Madsaw · #2 01/07/12, 04:10 PM

Find a better antibiotic then exceede. Never been pleased with results of it and exnel. As for the area of the wound. Is it deep or skinned open? My first idea would the cow slipped and hit a sharp edge on a tin building.
Bob

Cindy in KY · #3 01/07/12, 04:14 PM

Oh my gosh. I see this product on RFD TV all the time, have not tried it but wanted to show you the link. Clinton Anderson endorses it.

Vetericyn

HomersGoatLady · #4 01/07/12, 09:52 PM

I have ordered the Vetericyn and am waiting for it to arrive. I have heard good things about it. As for the antibiotic, I could put her on an over the counter antibiotic once this one wears off. And we do have tin on the shed she stays in. I looked for jagged or up-turned edges, but could find nothing. This wound is deep and large, not just a scrape. I suppose I may never figure out what happened. At this point, I am just hoping to get her healed without infection. She is still milking fine (dumping milk due to meds) and is still eating and drinking as normal. So far...so good.

homersgoatlady

Callieslamb · #5 01/07/12, 10:06 PM

Home raised honey will be better. It has antibiotic properties as well as seals the wound. The store-bought honey has been pasturized. Hope she heals well.

Madsaw · #6 01/07/12, 10:15 PM

If you are already dumping milk get her on penicillin now. Its the best safeguard against blackleg. With a deep wound that is one of your biggest concerns right now. Is it a straight cut or a jagged tear. Even a dull feeling edge on the tin hit just right will cut.
Please get some penicillin into here tomorrow. It will not hurt giving it with exceede. Also some banamine will help with the swelling and pain.
Bob

Valmai · #7 01/08/12, 03:56 AM

Obviously we can only go by what you have told us, the vet however has seen her wound and has years of training behind his/her advice. I personally would stick with what the vet says. If you can get natural unprocessed honey that would be the best.

HomersGoatLady · #8 01/08/12, 10:31 PM

It has now been a little over 48 hours since the wound was discovered. I am irrigating with chlorahexadine solution and applying non-pasteurized honey 3 times daily as per the veterinarian's instructions. She is still eating and drinking and milking as usual. I am totally amazed that she is doing so well thus far. The wound is beginning to look somewhat better, but its gonna take a long while for a wound like this to heal completely. I think I will start her on penicillin, just in case. When I asked the vet yesterday morning, he said she wouldn't need anymore antibiotics, but I don't want to risk infection. In fact, I think I will step up the wound treatments to 4 times a day.

Thanks for the suggestions.

homersgoatlady

Madsaw · #9 01/08/12, 10:40 PM

Please start her on penicillin. Use a high dose the first week every day. Then taper her down to a lower dose till she is healed. Many underestimate colsridial/blackleg infections. Seen a healthy cow eating hay one I night dead the next morning from it. The neighbor lost 7 head when he done some major excavation. He stirred up a old bury pit from the previous farmer. They ingested it and was slower to effect them then if they get infected from a wound.
Bob

HomersGoatLady · #10 01/09/12, 12:16 PM

Thanks for the advice, Bob. She is now on Penicillin and continuing to do well. This is my only cow. She isn't just a cow to me...she's part of the family. Heck, I'd bring her in the house to recover if my husband would let me!

Madsaw · #11 01/09/12, 12:53 PM

I lost a beautiful 4 yr old to a freak accident. It was 2a months after the injure. I had her off penicillin now for a week. She still had a small opening and we done some excavation. That yr. To say the least I was very made. So I am very weary of it now.

Bob