Last Time ,,,,, ain’t gonna do it again !!
Snowing like crazy, and the veterinarian can’t get to my buddy’s for 2-3 hours. He has one of his cows down with bloat, breathing heavy and won’t get up.
Got there, and of course that wench was laying on her left side in the mud. Pulling, tugging and lots of grunting , with a couple of ‘choice words’ and got her flipped over.
A quick stab and lots of ‘sweet’ smelling gas, as in gag aroma, a quick shot of antibiotic and the ol’ gal was on her feet in an hour.
Did get a cup of coffee and a big slice of delicious apple pie. ,,,,,,, makes it worthwhile !! 😉
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Good on you, Forge.
"A quick stab and lots of ‘sweet’ smelling gas, as in gag aroma, "
"It's just grass" the vet told me once. That's after he put a length of hose down her throat and began to spit.
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You're a good man forge. As for it being the last time, we'll see.😀 Bob
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Your saying it is the last time is about like my last time going out late at night to repair heating system on a chicken brooding farm at 28 degrees .. The main part of the unit is outside the house. . No heat with 1 week old birds equals 20 000 dead birds . Not a good combo ..That's just what neighbors do .
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Dad use to have cattle,did I say I hate cattle farming?
We had a cow get down with bloat, we used a long water hose down the throat to relieve the pressure.
Whoosh and she got right up and went to drinking water.
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You're the kind of neighbor most folks would appreciate, good job forge!
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Well done Forge.
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I been in a similar situation forge but in a much smaller animal. I raised, bred, and showed Bullmastiffs for about 25 years. They were family to me as since my wife and I worked on different shifts. I was home alone with them except every other weekend. One started blowing up and when I noticed I took her to my vet only 20 minutes away. He knew right away what the problem was. I left her and he did surgery right away. After it was over he explained the next day how it happened. Large chested dogs that are very active can have their stomach turn within their body. Gastric torsion he called it. He stitched a bit of her stomach to her chest wall and told me not to let her out to play right after eating. Fortunately, I wasn't there to witness the event that forge did. Sure miss those dogs.
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For the last several weeks I have been watching the original series "All Creatures Great and Small" which is the story of a couple of veterinarian English brothers and the main veterinarian partner James Hariot. In just about every episode one of these guys has to put his entire arm down a cow, sheep, or horses rear end for something or another.
I always make sure that I'm not eating a meal or snack while watching! 😁
You the man Forge!!
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Well no late not snack for Jeff tonight. Thanks for the info Brookwood. 😕
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Ah yes, the sweet, sweet smell of rumen contents (gag, bleh, gag).
Been there, done that! Not something I care to repeat. Did you at least have a decent trocar?
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NeoBlackdog: 30415023229851/comments/30415041065243
Ah yes, the sweet, sweet smell of rumen contents (gag, bleh, gag).
Been there, done that! Not something I care to repeat. Did you at least have a decent trocar?
Nah ,,,,,,, 7” narrow bladed knife, dedicated for such. No trocar handy ,,,,,😉
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forgemonkey: 30415023229851/comments/30415041086875
https://forums.gunbroker.com/discussion/comment/11367751#Comment_11367751
Nah ,,,,,,, 7” narrow bladed knife, dedicated for such. No trocar handy ,,,,,😉
That works. I've only had the 'pleasure' of having to do it twice but both times had a trocar. Cool thing about the trocar, when you jab it in it tends to direct the gasses right towards one's nose and face. The first time, anyway!
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Good job Forge!!
Reminds me of the late 1950's.......when I helped my uncle "pull" piglets.......all the way up to yer armpits. Some were small enough to fit in your shirt pocket.
Cold December nights in the farrow house.......great old memories. 🥲
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What causes this bloat?
If cows have four stomachs how do you know which one/ where to poke a hole? Do you have to stitch up the stab wound?
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Shoulda lit that gas would have warmed you right up.
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montanajoe: 30415023229851/comments/30415052970651
What causes this bloat?
If cows have four stomachs how do you know which one/ where to poke a hole? Do you have to stitch up the stab wound?
Joe, 90+% of bloat is in the 4th rumen, usually caused by intake of forage that ferments causing gas that is usually relieved by burping. Just behind the last rib(3-4”) and below the tenderloin (3-4”) A vet shoves a hollow trocar in, screws it to the hide with very course threads and then removes the insert from the trocar, that vents the gas,,,,, problem solved.
No there is no need for stitches, the stomach wall and hide heals itself ,,,,,, although I always use a shot of antibiotics for good measure ,,,,,, and some cattle that have been ‘down’ for a while can be subject to pneumonia.
Here’s a pic of a type of trocar ,,,,,,
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Thanks for the lesson Forge, don't plan on ever having to use the info, but was really curious.
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Way to go Forgemonkey, but you already know that's just what neighbors do.
I was once helping a neighbor scald and butcher a hog. He asked me if I had time to help him lance a cyst on another hog. Sure, no problem. We got the hog caught up, he lanced what he thought was a cyst and it was a rupture. Build up the fire, scald and butcher the second one that day.
I had a heifer that couldn't have her calf. It was almost midnight when I called the vet. He decided she had to have a caesarean section. It was one in the morning in a loafing shed with a Coleman lantern. He said this won't take long if she continues to stand up. Of course she immediately laid down and went back in labor. He cut about a 10 inch incision on her side and had his arm in into his elbow. I had my hands around his arm to keep the guts in. She did a good hard push and her entrails came out and into the straw bedding. I kept pushing them back in and he got the calf out. He threw me the calf and told me he was a little busy then. She stood up, he sewed her up with what looked like a shoe string. The calf survived and I had the heifer rebred the next year and she never had trouble again.
If you keep animals you'll have adventures you never expected.
I was working 4-12 one night and my wife and the same neighbor pulled a calf with a clothesline rope. The cow walked around a barn post and they held the rope. I guess the cow really did the pulling. After that I bought my wife a set of O.B. chains.:)
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Livestock= pooped on, peed on, stomped on, and the list goes on and on
Thought my name was go get the cows or go check the fence.
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