Emegrency Caesarean, umbilical was pulled

[PuG]

I had a heifer who sadly 5 days ago was injured internally by another cow. Kept going but rapidly deteriorated early evening yesterday. I took the decision to shoot her and cut the calf out as no vet was available. Managed to save the calf but whilst pulling out the umbilical was pulled from the calf itself rather than cutting (on my own before I get any detractors! and I was pushing over a couple of minutes). The calf I've nursed, its had two tube of colostrum and its starting to stand, in the house with me but I'm noticing a little watery blood occasionally dripping (not allot) from were the umbilical attached. Will that heal on its own? or will that need further attention this morning?

Thankfully it's not too premature by the looks of it, perhaps week or two but it could have still have been another 4 - 5 weeks.

Cheers, James

 

[Farmer Fin]

Picture says 1000 words! As long as there are no intestines hanging out then it should be ok. Hernia is the risk. Blood clots or a small bit of bleeding are usually fine. Have you iodined it?

 

[PuG]

Sorry too dark to get a pictures in here even with a torch but will investigate in due course. Good idea on the iodine, I will go and put some on. Nothing hanging out and its clean, the calfey that is

~~ Update, checked it out and all looks fine, stopped weeping ~~

 

[Sharpy]

It sounds like you have done a good job, but as for the umbilical if there is any cord at all left try tying thread around it as a tourniquet. I have done this several times on natural birth calves that kept bleeding or started bleeding after birth and it worked well.

 

[czechmate]

I had a heifer who sadly 5 days ago was injured internally by another cow. Kept going but rapidly deteriorated early evening yesterday. I took the decision to shoot her and cut the calf out as no vet was available. Managed to save the calf but whilst pulling out the umbilical was pulled from the calf itself rather than cutting (on my own before I get any detractors! and I was pushing over a couple of minutes). The calf I've nursed, its had two tube of colostrum and its starting to stand, in the house with me but I'm noticing a little watery blood occasionally dripping (not allot) from were the umbilical attached. Will that heal on its own? or will that need further attention this morning?

Thankfully it's not too premature by the looks of it, perhaps week or two but it could have still have been another 4 - 5 weeks.

Cheers, James

Crikey, that sounds a fun evening
Hope the calf makes it

 

[PuG]

So the calf went for an operation two weeks ago on her umbilical, vet said it was touch and go. She slowly recovered, happily drinking, running around until three nights ago, when she all of suddenly started holding her rear left leg off the ground and hunched forward. Edda was actually drinking at the time (and still has an appetite).

I had noticed this last weekend but only for a short period of a few hours and not to this extent of discomfort, and muscle twinges. She has been suffering from constipation, though still pooing I've given her 30cc of olive oil and a enema which seemed to clear it up (but I know this can cause similar problems). I had thought of perhaps an infection on the spinal column but her temperature ranges from 38.4 to 39.2.

So my wife phoned the vet today, they have no idea, I asked about a pinched nerve but the lady mentioned she would be holding her leg straight out behind if this was the case.

Reality Edda has to get better on her own, hopefully - given a difficult start and surgery to get this far is an achievement. Just thought it might be worth asking if anyone else has know of a calf to suddenly become a tricycle? any suggestions. I've felt the leg, no swelling or heat, no direct pain. If you run your hand inside and down towards the umbilical area you can feel muscle spasms. Scar tissue or some other side effect of the operation.

Cheers, James

closest to the camera.