Constipated dry cow

[fiat100]

I have a 7th lactation dry cow that is not eating much because she is constipated. Anybody got any idea what I could give her to free her up?

 

[milkloss]

It’s probably a vet job because there almost certainly will be an underlying reason for the constipation. The question is how bad it actually is.

A hand up the bum to fetch out what you can and inspect, dose with paraffin oil and give a feed with molasses perhaps to help feed the bugs to break down fibre.

 

[bar718]

Working from memory so I might be wrong but we used to drench cows with a blockage like you are describing with Epsom salts. Can anyone confirm this for me before the op takes my advice and gives his cow the wrong drench.

 

[Suckndiesel]

Heard of using paraffin oil but think a kg of sugar dissolved in water also works, think that’s what we gave the last one [emoji848]

 

[bovine]

DONT give sugar, will cause an acidosis.

Have never given a cow Epsom salts but they are used in horses.

I don't like liquid paraffin either as it forms an oil slick on the rumen and depresses things.

1. find underlying cause
2. manually evacuate rectum
3. lots of oral fluids. Old fashioned 'Stomach powder' loosens them up but is stupidly expensive for what it is.

There will be an underlying cause.

 

[Cowcalf]

seen them with rumen compaction. one guy had good success with putting beast in the float and taking for a ride otherwise not a good problem

 

[cowsmart]

make sure there is no twist...lost a cow 2 months ago with a twisted Uterus that blocked everything...she was only 7 months in calf..

 

[ollie989898]

Coffee...

 

[lazy farmer]

2 sugars no milk please

 

[ollie989898]

2 sugars no milk please

Seriously, ask your vet coffee works!

About time I bought you a pint one day thinking about it.

 

[milkloss]

Coffee...

Used for yew/acorn poisoning too, helps stimulate the gut into action I believe.

 

[dinderleat]

Heard of using paraffin oil but think a kg of sugar dissolved in water also works, think that’s what we gave the last one [emoji848]

'Pound of sugar and a cup of salt' used this the other day as a last resort it did save a cow. She had an internal blockage of sorts not constipation.

 

[Cowcalf]

'Pound of sugar and a cup of salt' used this the other day as a last resort it did save a cow. She had an internal blockage of sorts not constipation.

was that given orally ?

 

[dinderleat]

was that given orally ?

Yeah stomach pumped with 40 litres of warm water