MAnaging pain in a bull

Rob30 · #1 08/14/12, 07:06 AM

I just bought some 18 month old angus bulls. One is going to be my new bull, the others are being grass finished for our meat business. The nicest one, that I planned on keeping has developed a limp. I had them on some rougher pasture and I think they started fighting and he hurt his front left knee. The knee looks a little swollen. I moved them to a smoother and smaller pasture so I could watch him, and so it would be easier on him. However I am bringing the cows in tomorrow to seperate two that are ready to go. I am looking for ideas for pain management, to help him heal up quicker. I will have them in a handling system that I can hold him still. I also thought about giving him some asprin and putting him on hay for a few days. Any other ideas.

G. Seddon · #2 08/14/12, 07:13 AM

Check with your vet. Anything you give for pain now could impact his future as a food animal even though you're planning to use him for breeding at this time.

Cliff · #3 08/14/12, 07:28 AM

I'd think banamine would be much more helpful than aspirin but don't know details about using it in cattle. You'd have to pick it up at the vet.

Kato2010 · #4 08/15/12, 04:26 PM

Banamine is off label here, but it does work. Maybe too well. We'd just use an anti-inflammatory to bring down the swelling if it was our bull, and if the swelling was bad. Something like Predef or dexamethasone. We don't like to completely eliminate pain in a leg injury, because if the leg doesn't hurt, he won't favour it. He'll use it like he normally would, and that can delay healing. Likely resting him would be good enough, unless his knee is huge.

unregistered41671 · #5 08/15/12, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kato2010

Banamine is off label here, but it does work. Maybe too well. We'd just use an anti-inflammatory to bring down the swelling if it was our bull, and if the swelling was bad. Something like Predef or dexamethasone. We don't like to completely eliminate pain in a leg injury, because if the leg doesn't hurt, he won't favour it. He'll use it like he normally would, and that can delay healing. Likely resting him would be good enough, unless his knee is huge.

Agreed. Sometimes pain is good. It is there for a reason. Maybe he will rest his leg.