Sick bull, help!

[Old Spot]

My senior stock bull has started going backwards.
fine two weeks ago went with 22 cows 11 days ago on good pasture.
he was mating until Friday, but looked a bit knackered
got him in on Sunday, temp 104 gave him pain killer and antibiotics (5day course) and pumped 40 litres of fluid into him.
vet came Sunday and then will visit again today
looked a bit better yesterday.
this morning- looking worse
he has not drank any water, nibbles a bit of hay and oats but basically nothing
he now appears to have an abdominal swelling around and above his sheath
any thoughts please

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Can he pee? Properly? Maybe a blocked or ruptured penis, or even waterbelly? Is the abdomen cold

 

[Chasingmytail]

def call the vet back out

 

[eyeball41]

Ruptured his penis I’d guess, defo get the vet back out.

 

[M-J-G]

Firstly, have you access to another bull, because if this one lives he'll be subfertile for a while at best with a temp like that, and you still need cows served.
Sorry to sound negative, but long term plans still need to be upheld.

He's definately a Vet job, I'd guess @Kiwi Pete isn't far off the mark with his suggestion.

 

[Old Spot]

Yes I have a young bull I was running with 15, he may have to step up. We are AI ing the best 40 so I could do that for a second cycle.
water belly vet says, he is unlikely to be any good if he lives

 

[yellowbelly]

water belly vet says,

As in Urolithiasis (Kidney stones)??

Has he been at the Mag buckets you may have out for the cows?

 

[Old Spot]

Yes I have min buckets out but not high mag.
never had it before (don’t want it again).
i haven’t seen him gorging on them,
what do other breeders do?
anybody had any success with any treatments

 

[Blaithin]

If he’s ruptured and has fluid in the belly already then I’m not sure much of anything can be done.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I’ve had one snap his prićk before....had to have him shot as I’d jabbed him

 

[som farmer]

years ago, old man bought a Charolais bull, no idea why, as his brother, had trialled Charolais on CIsland, for a firm, with the most horrendous results, any, back home, put a cow in with him, served a bit keen, and went over on his back, and never served another cow, but we got 1 calf, we have had bulls damage them selves, or suddenly stop 'stopping' cows, that's the hassle, and fun, of running bulls. I expect, on larger herds, if you added up, the costs of running bulls, and the disasters, it might not be that far adrift from AI everything. Sat here, thinking back, through one cause, or another, there have been quite a few disasters, mostly unpredictable accidents.

 

[Old Spot]

Thanks all,
I’m off to wtf and offensive jokes to cheer myself up!

 

[M-J-G]

@Old Spot did your bull make it?

Mag tends to be an issue with male sheep, particularly young ones which are more likely to get restrictions due the small size of their urinary tract.
It's highly unlikely to cause problems with bulls because of their size and ability to pass crystals.

I have high mag buckets with the bulls 365 days of the year.

 

[Old Spot]

No had the vet again on Tuesday, he was actually peeing a bit, gave him the steroid that has hit the headlines for Covid.
dead Wednesday morning. Absolutely gutting way for a magnificent bull to go.

 

[Friesianfan]

Sorry to hear that @Old Spot . these things are gutting but happen to us all

 

[Al R]

No had the vet again on Tuesday, he was actually peeing a bit, gave him the steroid that has hit the headlines for Covid.
dead Wednesday morning. Absolutely gutting way for a magnificent bull to go.

Gutting for you! Do you have a replacement lined up? I know someone near merthyr who has some fantastic ( and quiet) limousin bulls.