HELP:Calf with Abscessed Ankle - *UPDATE* Graphis Pics pg2

[rodriguezpoultry]

Having the maggots isn't always a bad thing. They will only eat necrotic tissue and can help increase blood flow to healthy tissue.

But, you can get some spray from the vet's office that is used specifically for wounds and to keep flies away from it. There's also a salve for flies on wounds that you can use that you can get from any TSC.

 

[Bleenie]

Does that Blue-cote(sp?) stuff help keep away the flies?

I am not so much worried about them getting rid of the bad tissue as i am about them getting INto the would.. it just seems kinda deep and i cringe at the thought of having to flush out larvae later on..

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I am just a little paranoid about her getting dirt in it or flies getting on it! (flies = maggots!!

It's better to let it drain than to worry about dirt or flies.
You can flush it with Hydrogen Peroxide and that will keep flys from hatching.

Your farm store will probably have some fly repellents that can be used on wounds also.

And a Tetanus shot couldnt hurt either

Good luck​

 

[Bleenie]

I was going to talk to the vet about vaccinating her after her leg gets better (at least a little better anyway). We don't vaccinate any of our cattle because we raise them for beef but with her injury it's surely not going to hurt.. and she's a heifer

When i bought her i thoguht i was buying a bull calf.... imagine my relief! last thing we need is another bull calf!

The more time i spend around her the madder it makes me about the place she came from... I grabbed the pitch fork to scoop out her area this morning and as soon as she saw me she almost hurt herself trying to get away from me and hide behind the hay bales.. poor baby.

I also noticed that her other back leg is now "thoroughbred" because of not being able to use the other one. One of our old heifers had legs like this and did fine but hopefully this wont cause problems after her bad leg heals.

 

[Chickygirl55]

When our horse hurt her leg in a similar way we sprayed iodine on it and that seemed to really help keep the flys off.

It amazes me on how cruel people can be to animals.

I want to say again how great i think it is you taking her in.

If shes timid try giving her a little bit of treats or cow cake and stand next to her while she eats she will soon get used to the company and petting that way, thats what we do once a day with our newbies.

 

[cassie]

Quote:
Sometimes cattle are skittish around things they are not familiar with. Doesn't always mean they were abused. If I were you I would tie her up short and slowly move things like the pitchfork around her so she gets used to it. Look up something about training horses not to spook and you will see what I mean. You see the trainer waving blankets and all sorts of things around them. There is a technique to it and if it works on a horse it will work on a heifer. While you have her tied up you might brush her. They get so they really like this and it creates trust. It will be time well spent.

 

[arabianequine]

Medical stuff sold in the feed stores for livestock usually have the instructions for dosing on the container they come in. Just because she is a heifer does not mean she is not sterile. I just took a year old holstein I have that I was told it was a heifer well yeah I can see that but she has no ovaries that can be felt so she is sterile. It was just an office visit charge so was worth it to know. I don't want to lie or misinform anyone about stuff like that when trying to get rid of her. I would say let air get to it it will help dry the wound out, soak it, eventually when not so deep start putting bag balm on it the best stuff ever, and of course antibiotics, and I would vaccinate all your animals, also a shot of selenium is necessary in young calves just once though and then start offering the trace 30 w/selenium salt block. I am in eastern washington and selenium is not in the ground naturally not enough for livestock. I would think be the same issue over there. I also give out calves/cows probias you can get it at the feed store too same with the selenium.


Good luck!

 

[Bleenie]

Here's some pictures of her leg, bandage off & after the Epsom Salt soak. It Really helped open it up and get the icky stuff flowing out of there. it feels like the puss is more in the back of her leg than the front, the front feels more like tissue swelling than fluid-filled swelling...

 

[WingingIt]

Poor baby.

I'm so glad you were at the auction.

 

[chickenzoo]

Poor thing, the epsom salt baths really help draw it out. had a dog that was bit by a snake on the throat, kept compressing it with epsom salt and it pulled it all out. Glad you are helping her, don't know how people can let an animal suffer like that.