How do I get a magnet in a cow?

[northstar]

I've bought the magnet, and the plastic balling gun, now what? Should her head be up, do you just slide it in her mouth? No one around here has ever done it, and my books just say "put a magnet in them when they're a year old". Even though I've been careful with nails, and anything else around the barn, the crazy cow ate one of my ice cleats. It's a small one that balled up would fit in your hand, but has 1/2 inch pointy metal grips on it. Why in the heck would a cow that turned up her nose to Christmas cookies, eat something like that? Anyway, any suggestions?
Marsha

[lakeportfarms]

Marsha, in practice it's pretty hard to hold a cow's head in a particular position when you're inserting something with a balling gun, so my suggestion would be to just make sure you get it inserted fully, and by that I mean rather than forcing it get her to initiate the swallowing reflex when you've placed it in her throat. Then try to hold her mouth shut for a bit. It may take more than a few attempts but you'll eventually get the hang of it and get her to successfully swallow it.

[dexterfarm]

here is how I do it. halter tied. stand next to her arm around her head and hand under her chin. head down put the pill gun in the side of her mouth and all the way back. Raise her head up and push the magnet out. Keep her head up for a second. I would give her some food and watch her eat it just to make sure she doesnt get it back up.

[northstar]

Thank you, Mike, I knew someone would know how.
Marsha

[northstar]

Success! Somehow I had missed Lakeport's reply-so armed with both of them, I got it in her-only 4 or 5 tries. What keeps it from coming out the other end?
Marsha

[zephyrhillsusan]

Mike, after reading your explanation, I think our vet did it the hard way!  If you scroll down here you'll see him having a bit of a wrestling match!  It did get done, though.

Northstar, I'm not an expert, having just had the vet put our first ones in, but I believe the weight of it makes it fall down into the reticulum and stay there.  We watched them for a second to see that they weren't mouthing them or spitting them out, so apparently they were in.

[northstar]

Susan, it's probably better that I didn't see your photos before I tried it! First I tried giving her alfalfa cubes and she chewed them too much and the magnet kept coming out. Then with the alfalfa pellets it went down much easier. My non-farmer, but supportive husband helped by handing me the balling gun, cubes, and magnets. Gloves would have been a good idea, but a little cow slobber to the elbow is probably moisturizing. Also good info about not putting your fingers in the holes of the balling gun.
Thanks for all the info

[dexterfarm]

zephyrhillsusan, I would not put my hand in the mouth like he did. They can bite hard. push the pill gun in the corner of their mouth.
northstar, If she is getting the magnet back up try getting it in further before releasing it. The weight and size keeps it in place.