calf with a broken leg

[bert]

3 week old calf, broken just below the knee on a front leg, had the vet out who splinted it, has been unsuccessful and the bone has split the skin. Is it repairable or not? Thought about a bit of guttering or something with some vet tape.

Calf is thriving, and doesn't seem to be fazed by it.

Opinions please?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Must of been a bad vet if they couldn't do a proper job on a 3 week old calf! did he pot it?!

 

[johnspeehs]

if you can keep the infection out it might come ok with a bit of home fracture repair but usually not a good sign.

 

[bert]

He's a good vet, he didn't come to do the calf's leg, but we only realised it was broken when he was here, so he didn't have his stuff to pot it.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

You don't stand a chance with a break unless it's potted

 

[milkloss]

You don't stand a chance with a break unless it's potted

And if it's broken through you're going to be cutting that pot off every few days to take a look. I'm not overly positive about the situation here

 

[bert]

You don't stand a chance with a break unless it's potted

We have done 2 in previous years with a split with good success, but this time it hasn't worked

 

[Northeastfarmer]

We have done 2 in previous years with a split with good success, but this time it hasn't worked

Done about a dozen here over the years and potted them all with 100% sucsess...but never had the bone split the skin before so it could go either way

 

[bert]

And if it's broken through you're going to be cutting that pot off every few days to take a look. I'm not overly positive about the situation here

Done about a dozen here over the years and potted them all with 100% sucsess...but never had the bone split the skin before so it could go either way

I'm not overly confident, its either ring the knacker man up, or pot it up, how strong are the pots?

 

[milkloss]

I'm assuming 'potting' refers to the self amalgamating bandage. It's pretty strong stuff and lightweight. Dip it in water, roll it on and it's cooks off hard. We did a calf a while back and hadn't noticed between us that the bone had damaged the skin so we were confident he'd be fine for at least a week. Calf looked fine pegging it about and doing well. Wasn't so pretty when we took it off. Gun job unfortuanately.

If the bone has broken through I would cut the plaster off in two days max to check it out and put a new one on. Do this for a month. AB's also a necessity.

Edit: on second thoughts, I suppose you could cut a viewing hole in it where the injury is so you can look and sniff for infection.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I'm not overly confident, its either ring the knacker man up, or pot it up, how strong are the pots?

Put enough of those pot bandages on (3 or 4) with splints and they're like concrete

 

[bert]

I'm assuming 'potting' refers to the self amalgamating bandage. It's pretty strong stuff and lightweight. Dip it in water, roll it on and it's cooks off hard. We did a calf a while back and hadn't noticed between us that the bone had damaged the skin so we were confident he'd be fine for at least a week. Calf looked fine pegging it about and doing well. Wasn't so pretty when we took it off. Gun job unfortuanately.

If the bone has broken through I would cut the plaster off in two days max to check it out and put a new one on. Do this for a month. AB's also a necessity.

Edit: on second thoughts, I suppose you could cut a viewing hole in it where the injury is so you can look and sniff for infection.

That's what has happened here
Its on penstrep and metacam and looks really well....

Put enough of those pot bandages on (3 or 4) with splints and they're like concrete

So you think splints to strengthen the pot up? How quick do the pots set?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

That's what has happened here
Its on penstrep and metacam and looks really well....

So you think splints to strengthen the pot up? How quick do the pots set?

Yea wooden splints not alkathene pipe....pots sets within 5 minutes

 

[Nearly]

Can get proper green plastic splints, foam lined like little gutters.
Break near the joint is a bugger.

 

[bert]

Can get proper green plastic splints, foam lined like little gutters.
Break near the joint is a bugger.

They sound good, where from?

 

[Nearly]

They sound good, where from?

Vet should bring some? Vet might prefer just to use setting bandage?
Dark art really.
Did a few goats and kids but mixed results.

 

[bovine]

For f**ks sake (unsure on rules re swearing and if there is a filter) if the bone is through the skin the animal needs putting down today.

I expect farm vets to carry potting materials, we do. The modern synthetic casts are amazing, but no good if bone through the skin.

This is a welfare issue and should be destroyed without delay