Heifer acting strange

Citychick · #1 02/27/13, 12:53 PM

My jersey x heifer is right at 1 year old. I went out to do morning chores yesterday and she was hunched up with her tail out straining. No runny poop no nothing. She still wanted grain and hay so I waitied and watched. Took her to the vet they treated for hardware gut. And sent her home she is still active but stops to strain off and on. She is pooping now and drinking. Appetite seems good but I think she is also going into heat. Any ideas?

Bret · #2 02/27/13, 01:38 PM

I am only guessing, but I would go along with hardware gut. Did the treatment include a magnet? I am a poop watcher. Has she been too solid?

G. Seddon · #3 02/27/13, 02:44 PM

The only cow I've seen with hardware disease went completely off feed, was lying down, very depressed. She had a one-month old calf and could not nurse it. She got a magnet and penicillin and within 24 hours, was almost back to normal. Our farm is old and pastures have plenty of metal things that work their way to the top of the soil.

I also had a heifer who displayed frequent straining behavior...she was pastured with a few older cows, no bull. The vet could find no spinal or muscular injury and figured it was a urinary infection. Ten days of penicillin and she was all better!

Your heifer sounds more like she has a urinary tract infection or perhaps an injury from another cow or bull mounting her. Could also be an internal injury if a bull did try to breed her. I'd keep an eye on her and check with the vet again if she doesn't stop the straining.

Citychick · #4 02/28/13, 07:29 PM

She did get a magnet was better for the rest of the day but kind of hid in the barn. She was not real interested in feed this morning and seems depressed. They gave her more banamine and two more boluses and she is covered with a long acting antibiotic. I'm keeping a close eye on her and hoping we have got it under control.

G. Seddon · #5 03/01/13, 07:20 AM

Is she still straining? What are the boluses? I don't think the magnet will hurt her in any case (all of our heifers get one).

Hope she improves!

wvdexters · #6 03/01/13, 07:56 AM

We had a jersey/angus heifer with hardware a few years back. Our pasture is very old too. Things work up. She stood all hunched up and didn't want to move around or eat. She looked bad. We put 2 magnets down her and she came out of it.

I hope your girl is feeling better soon.