Heifer having a bad day

[diogi23]

Hi,

I have a 3 year old heifer who has been showing signs that she is ready to drop a calf for about the last week. Today I came home at lunch and found her standing in the pond in 40 degree weather and soaked from head to tail. I had to pull her from the pond by the horns and as soon as I got her out all of the other cattle came running from across the pasture. The bull and several steers were trying to mount her and all the older cows were roughing her up pretty badly. I roped her around the horns and got her pulled up to a corral where she fell against the fence and seemed to be spent. I offered her food and water and she was voracious like she hadn't eaten in days yet she came up for food when this morning with the rest of the herd. I got her in with the vet this afternoon and he checked on the calf which seems to be fine. He said from looking at it she had basically been raped by the bull and for some reason it appears that she is giving off a hormone that is telling the rest of them that she is in heat. They obviously gave her a real working over this morning and we figure that the only place she could escape was the pond. The vet said she felt warm so he gave her 200 cc of Excede and told me to keep her in the coral.

Now for the odd part. Came home this evening and she was trying to eat from a hanging fence bucket but she couldn't quite figure it out. She kept chewing on the rim and I had to help her get her head down in their to get some of the pellets. She just couldn't figure it out. She eats well and drinks but seems to be having trouble with basic eating functions and licks incessantly. I tried feeding her by hand but she just couldn't control her mouth. After a couple of good finger chomps we went back to the bucket and she got a couple of pounds of 12% cubes in her.

We normally do not have any problems with our Dexters and have never seen this kind of behavior. She seems to be aware and all other systems seem to be functioning normal. She just seems to have lost a ton of IQ points in the past 12 hours. Anyone seen this before?? If so I would love to hear what we might be looking at with this little girl.

Thanks!
Greg
Small Stakes Dexters
 

[carragheendexters]

Oh, the poor girl. Maybe she is just plain tired and sore from being roughed up. Did the vet say what her temp was? perhaps she may also have gotten in the dam to cool because of a high temp, (that would have been a good thing)
Have you checked her mouth that there isn't anything in there bothering her?
It was good that you got the vet out, best thing you can do. Some good nursing and TLC and hopefully she will be better tomorrow and calve soon.

[diogi23]

Hi Louise

Vet didn't take her temp but when he checked on the calf he said she seemed really warm and her mouth is clear. The confusion is the thing that bothers me.
Sleep always seems to cure my problems so hopefully that'll do the trick. Hate to see any off them having a rough time.

[carragheendexters]

Hmmm, fever can cause confusion. In humans people with high temps can become quite delirious. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in if she has an infection of some sort. As you say, sleep cures lots of problems, perhaps tomorrow will be another day and she is feeling better in herself.

[diogi23]

She's looking much better today. At least she figured out the feed bucket straight away and seems to be content to be away from the rest of the herd. Looks like I'll be building another coral this weekend just for my girls who are near calving. She in with an immature bull and my son's Shetland. They've never been on the same side of the fence together but are getting along well. Don't need a repeat of yesterday. Poor girl went through it......

Looking forward to a little calf any time. Always love this time of year!

Thanks for your wishes Louise!

[zephyrhillsusan]

Something is niggling in my brain about a condition that causes confusion like that. I've got shingles, and between that and the medication I'm on, I have "foggy brain," so nothing is coming any clearer. Sorry. legendrockranch, kansasdexters, hoperefuge? Anyone's brain functioning better than mine?

Anyway, good job getting her separated, diogi23. I have seen a young heifer try to mount a cow that just calved, and last year my best guide of when one cow was ready to calve was when she hung on the fence line mooning over another cow's calf. I always separate my cows before they calve and for a week or two after, at the least, because I think the hormones can excite the other animals and I'm not willing to take chances.

[carragheendexters]

So glad that she is much better. Hopefully all will settle and she will safely calve soon.
Susan, there are a few different things that can cause confusion and unusual behaviour in cattle that I know of, but they are pasture/grazing related and I didn't think that they would be relevant for you guys at this time of year.
Magnesium deficiency(grass tetany) in it's mild form can change behaviour, as can rye grass and phalaris staggers. I am sure that there are others as well.
I lost a heifer's calf this last year with unusual happenings with the heifer. I might post a separate thread on it.

[zephyrhillsusan]

carragheendexters , actually we can get grass tetany with feeding fescue hay in the winter. We've never had a problem with it, but some farmers in our area feed a special protein tub even in the winter to prevent it.  

[hoperefuge]

I can't think of anything else right now, either.  Milk fever can make them act "out of it", but usually you have a low temp with MF.

Glad to hear she's doing a bit better.  Hopefully she gets back to being herself.  I would keep an eagle eye on her though.

Kim

[hoperefuge]

How is your girl doing diogi23?

[carragheendexters]

I have been wondering too whether she has calved safely. Any updates?