What would you do with this calf’s leg

tr250

Member
Location
Northants
Born by itself 2 weeks old we thought it would come normal in a few days but it’s not. Nothing is broken and it can walk ok but will it get worse

4053AE59-1374-43D8-A688-C9B6DF0F76DF.jpeg
 

shumungus

Member
Livestock Farmer
No it was just a bent leg but it’s making it walk funny and making it’s spine crooked
Looking at it again if you straightened the bad leg a bit it might take the bend out of its back and teach it to walk straight. I would try a full splint on the leg to see if it would straighten it a bit. If there is no bone deformation you are just looking to stretch muscle and tendons to get it back to shape. For splints we use split 3 inch down pipe, pipe insulation and sticky bandage.
 

shumungus

Member
Livestock Farmer
That’s not the same as the OPs though...loads of calves have front legs like that and come right
I understand that but just trying to show an example of splinting as I have seen calves ruined with bad splints rubbing holes in them, getting infections or cutting off blood supply etc. you can end up with a bigger problem than you started with. Theres not much give in two bits of brush shaft wound tight with bale tape.
 

wb00090

New Member
Agree with most of the above time and see. We have done something similar to what they do in foals which is to place an lateral hoof extension for a deformity that is outwards which has worked well. Best to contact your vet before doing that however as if its ligamentous not bony then splinting/correction can do more damage than good. If he's sucking and managing otherwise as said above sometimes it is best left.
 

Beames

Member
Location
South wales
Born by itself 2 weeks old we thought it would come normal in a few days but it’s not. Nothing is broken and it can walk ok but will it get worse

View attachment 957032
I had an Angus calf born the same a week ago. Had the vet out for something else and got him to take a look. He said give it some time and see how it goes. Was skipping about the field today quite happily.
 

tr250

Member
Location
Northants
I had an Angus calf born the same a week ago. Had the vet out for something else and got him to take a look. He said give it some time and see how it goes. Was skipping about the field today quite happily.
This one is sucking and ran round the yard to the pens for de horning and is fine but it seems to be making it’s back funny now didn’t want it to get worse but I think we’ll turn it out and see
 

JSmith

Member
Livestock Farmer
Had one two years ago looked like it had dropped its hip, vet said might come right run it on, got worse if anything, got to twelve months old, had the rspca in the yard one day about it, next day I shot it!! Last year had one born with the top of its shoulder blade missing, got to six months an I had a job for it to go on the hook, two days before pick up day I found it dead in the field :banghead:
 

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