|
Post by Fran on Feb 21, 2014 6:43:12 GMT -5
Olga, that was a great article! Very interesting and informative. Now I'm off to check out that weaning halter that Northstar's talking about..
|
|
|
Post by Fran on Feb 21, 2014 6:43:53 GMT -5
By the way, Susan, I hope Siohban is doing ok this morning and that you are too. I understand you've got some nasty storms over your way...
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Feb 21, 2014 16:49:10 GMT -5
Sorry I haven't gotten back to answer you all. It's been hectic around here with lots of other non-mastitis things going on. By the time I finished everything yesterday I was too tired to sit up answering.
I think she's doing better. In fact, I know she is. On the advice of the KFC ladies I'm milking her out every day in the other three quarters and twice a day in this one. In theory flushing her whole system out will keep things flowing through the affected quarter, but I'm not sure that's happening. If there was any amount of milk at all, I would do up to four times a day on the affected quarter, but this morning I got all of a teaspoon. There was one, short, tiny little string and what I think everyone refers to as "flakes." So a definite improvement, but I think that quarter might be done for as far as lactation. I'll have to see when she freshens.
Thanks for the very interesting link on calcium deposits, Olga. I think I can say that I don't believe that's what is going on. This teat has maintained its usual flow like two others, although there is one that has a tiny orifice and a tiny stream, but it's been that way from day one.
Dexterlady, in the spirit of Patti's ideas on boredom and your ideas, I'm just going to turn her loose in the Home Pasture with the little boys, the steer and bull. She's bred, so no danger there, and it's right across from the barnyard so she can see Macree and I'll have easy access to her. It's two acres, no grass right now to speak of, but she can move around and nibble a bit.
She's eating fine and shows no signs of pain when I massage her udder. My arsenal all arrived today: CMT kit which I'll use tonight; Dynamint (I found another mint balm at TSC and have been using it); and the test kit from TQML which I plan to do tomorrow and run it up there--if Susan tells me that a teaspoon of milk is enough for her.
Thanks for your suggestions and asking about my girl!
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Feb 21, 2014 16:50:47 GMT -5
Marsha, I hadn't seen your post before I replied. That's a wonderful idea, and I'll look for it! I had thought of constructing some sort of "udder bra," but I don't see how I could leave something like that on her permanently. It would get soiled and be a source of infection.
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Feb 21, 2014 17:02:12 GMT -5
And Sheri, I may break down and spring for a Mas-d-tec, but at least I can get started with the CMT.
I'll add one thing that I'm thinking of here. I have heard of people who dry off by milking three times a week, then two, etc. That's what I was going to do until I was advised to stay with OAD (once a day) for now and then dry her off all at once going cold turkey. Of course, since she's had mastitis I will definitely have to use Tomorrow, at least in that quarter. However, I'm very thankful I did NOT start by going cold turkey, or I would never have caught this. She would have been dried off with mastitis and freshened with it. I really want to get this cleared up so she freshens clean, but I'll also be checking her for awhile just to be sure.
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Feb 22, 2014 22:53:30 GMT -5
Quick update on Siobhan. I got the milk samples collected and spent the day driving to Knoxville to deliver them to the sweet lady (6 hour trip altogether). Got distilled water on the way home and mixed up the reagent for the CMT so I could use it when I milked this evening. The RF definitely shows mastitis. It was harder to tell for the other quarters since I have no normal to compare to, but I think they look okay. I'll do it again tomorrow. Monday I'll go to the vet armed with the CMT results, and hopefully will get the lab results on Tuesday. I'm sure she's getting tired of seeing me twice a day, but she's being so sweet and letting me knead away pretty hard on her quarter. I got a teeeeny bit more than before today, and by that I mean maybe 2 tsp! It looks okay, no clots or flakes that I can see, so I'm glad I now have the CMT to tell me it's not.
|
|
|
Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 23, 2014 6:49:14 GMT -5
Susan, how set are you on continuing with your current vet? Any others close by? In your first post you mentioned the vet doesn't believe you, and basically didn't help and you have to prove to them it is mastitis...that's not a good sign in a vet! Nobody knows your cows as well as you, and I think that needs to be considered by any vet when discussing possible problems or treatments.
As an example, we had a heifer that was close to calving a few days ago. She was showing lots of signs of discomfort, appeared to be having contractions, udder and teats were very hot, but nothing was progressing. We called our vet and explained the signs, suggested there may be an issue with either the presentation or perhaps a torsion, and he agreed and said he'd come take a look, which he did at 8 pm. even though he wasn't the vet on call at that time. But he was the most experienced...so he came, along with an intern student and the on-call vet. We felt a bit silly having all three of them looking at her, but he checked her out and said everything was fine, it was in position and ready to go, which was a relief, and Sheril could finally get some sleep...lol And the other two got some helpful experience. The next afternoon she calved a little long legged heifer. We did help out a bit as she was a bit stuck at the head. It probably would have been fine but we figured why not help just a bit.
Anyway, he trusted our observations that he too was concerned there may be an issue, and he was there. We've had other situations where we describe the symptoms and our thoughts, and he's always helped with any medications, etc...that we may need even if he hasn't come out to see the animal. He has TONS of experience and knowledge, yet he's always listening. That is the kind of vet you should strive for if you can. I dread the day he may decide to retire. I might just get out of livestock if it happens!
|
|
|
Post by Fran on Feb 23, 2014 10:00:22 GMT -5
Susan, so very glad to hear that things are looking up!
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Feb 23, 2014 21:51:23 GMT -5
Thanks, Fran! I hear you loud and clear, Hans! The jury is out on this vet. I've already "fired" the closest one to us because he was too passive and never wanted to do anything. He also forgot to come once or twice; fortunately it wasn't an emergency. I really like this guy, and usually he listens to me and my concerns. I'm hoping it's just a bit of "training" him so he learns that I do know what I'm talking about (in some cases, at least) and that if I'm not sure what I'm talking about I'll say so. I really do hope this will have been a good lesson for him and that I can keep him. The only other practice in our area is quite far, probably an hour and a half. Also, they used to be my horse vets until my girls were stolen and one got badly injured before I got them back. When I called the clinic, I was told that they were both out because "it's cow day." If I had a bad presentation in a calving cow, I could not tell her, "sorry, girl, just put a cork in it--today is horse day!" A friend gave me the name of her horse vet that day, and when I called him, he said,"I'm on my way!" He literally dropped his daughter somewhere and came--and he will be my horse vet until one of us dies! Unfortunately, he is strictly equine.
|
|
|
Post by Fran on Feb 24, 2014 8:58:01 GMT -5
A lot of vets will no longer do large animals (equine or bovine). They say the real money is in small animals, and the risk of injury is less.
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Feb 25, 2014 22:32:49 GMT -5
Thank you all for your support! I have some good news about Siobhan--it was about time! Yesterday evening I got the number of a roving vet, and today we connected. He had Pirsue on his truck and said she also needs an injection of Exceed (sp?), and could I meet him somewhere? sSo I made an hour and a half round trip to meet him and get the box of Pirsue and the injection. He talked at length with me and explained how to do the infusion and the SQ injection behind her ear. Then we chatted, and I am SO EXCITED! He has his own dairy and sells milk via cow shares, and he and his daughters raise and train and sell family milk cows!!! Could such a vet really exist, and in my neck of the woods? He understands and sympathizes with what I'm doing, and he gets how much my girl means to me! So we officially have a new cow vet, and things are looking up for Siobhan as a result. She got her first infusion of Pirsue today and acted like I wasn't doing anything--such a good girl! DH made arrangements to be home early tomorrow afternoon, and we'll do the injection then, just to be sure I have help. I don't want it wasted if she kicks up the fuss I expect because she does NOT like needles. So now we just keep up with the Pirsue (I plan to do the full 8 days they say you can on the label), wait three days and re-test her milk at the lab. But I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders because now we have someone on our team, and Siobhan is getting what she needs. I'll keep doing what I'm supposed to do and try to leave the outcome in God's hands. Thank you, thank you, all of you for your advice and support!
|
|
|
Post by lakeportfarms on Feb 26, 2014 11:52:58 GMT -5
Well said Gene. We love our vet, and he knows so much about cows. We have a pretty big herd so we have his attention from that and we treat him well like you, but for those with a small size herd it is a very good idea to do a little extra something to help them remember you when you'll need them the most! Pay the bill promptly or better yet on the spot. When we need some medications, we purchase them from him rather than Valley Vet, as one example. I don't think their prices are much different either! Valley Vet won't be out right away to treat your animals if you have an emergency. I love your idea of Dexter steaks, or fresh eggs, etc... Ours had some work to do on the vet compartment in his truck this winter, and I have a large heated space in the building for him to pull in to do the work in the warmth along with any tools he needed.
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Feb 26, 2014 18:21:45 GMT -5
Good ideas, Gene and Hans. I'll have to save a few steaks for my new vet!
Gene, that is such a gracious offer! I'm completely overwhelmed and humbled that you would make such a kind offer! I won't take you up on it at this time because I have a cow freshening in a little over a month (A2), and I would hate to disturb your girls for such a short time. But you are very, very sweet to offer, and I can't thank you enough!
|
|
|
Post by carragheendexters on Mar 6, 2014 16:41:12 GMT -5
Hi Susan, how is Siobhan and her mastitis going? I have followed your saga through here and KFC but had not time to post to you. I'm hoping it is all under control now.
Staph aureus mastitis is hard to clear, the bugs hide away in small pockets of scar tissue and the antibiotics can't get at them. Then they rear their ugly heads again when you stop the ab's.
Don't give up on her. Staph aureus is contagious from person top person , animal to animal, but mastitis as such isn't contagious. There has to be a way of getting the bug up the teat to cause the infection (sounds like her self sucking was the cause). Just be very careful of your personal hand hygiene. The most common way to transfer Staph aureus is on people's hands. Think MRSA in hospitals and the issues there.
Did you try a halter barrier from her sucking? I don't think that will break the habit, it will just physically stop her. I'm wondering more along the lines of making it unpleasant for her to suck, something horrible like Bitterbite or Wound Guard , that is if you have things like that there. They are products used in dogs that are into self mutilation or licking chewing on wounds stitches etc. They taste just awful, and it lingers, very unpleasant. You would have to be careful not to contaminate the milk with it, a very small amount would make the milk unuseable. so very thorough udder washing would be necessary, even hosing the udder after washing to get all traces. Maybe it would be something you could do when drying her off.
We have gone up the path investigating ? amputation ?killing a quarter in one of our old cows that has recurrent mastitis, plus other issues which resulted in the ligaments going in her left rear quarter.
We have a great cattle vet that cares for all the dairies round here and discussed option with him. Amputation isn't possible in a cow. Too many blood vessels and the cow would probably bleed to death during surgery. He said just never done because of this.
He has killed quarters, he flushes formalin up into the quarter. However this isn't without risks too, it is very painful, so has to be done along with pain killers/anti-inflammatories , there is a great risk of infection leading to systemic infection, so has to be done with antibiotic coverage.
Our vet will do it, but not keen to, mostly as a last resort when all other options have failed, and with lots of tlc and drug coverage to help the cow through the process. And, some will still die from it( if you are unlucky)
regards Louise
|
|
|
Post by hollydzie on Mar 6, 2014 19:37:12 GMT -5
Hi Louise, there is actually someone who posts here on the boards that did have the entire udder removed. So it is possible, and as far as I know she had no problems after the surgery. She may post and give you more info.
You can also kill a quarter with silver nitrate.
|
|