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new calf questions?!?

R

rustynail

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Joined
Apr 14, 2006
Messages
282
Location
east tennessee
New calf today, spotted him while feeding and when we went to tag him he was trying to walk on his first joint above the hooves. Good looking little bull calf, about 85 pounds, out of one of my best mama cows. I have read about this in the past but can not find anything on it again. He is trying to straighten them out but just wobbles and they fold up under him.

Seems like this was due to the tendons not being long enough or something.

Best I can remember some said if left alone it will fix itself and others said to splint the legs out straight to stretch the tendons. I just can not remember and could not find in searches.

Any suggestions?? :???: :cry: :???:
 
Contracted tendons.

If he is walking on the hoof part of the time, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Keep an eye on him and make sure he is getting around well enough to suck. They should straighten out in a week or so.

If he can't walk on the hoof some of the time, or if he isn't getting around well enough to suck, then you might have to splint him.
 
thanks I will keep an eye on him, just did not want him to end up as coyote crap.

He is trying his best to walk just right, and is sucking good.

thanks again.
 
Would be very easy to put the splints on if you wish. Just get a 6 or 8 inch flat stick, like a piece of lathe. Put a chunk of cotton under the stick in front of the joint where it will want to rub. Wrap the whole thing with some vet wrap or whatever that elastic wrap is. Wrap fairly tight. It will give him a nice boost toward straight and functional legs. Won't take you 10 minutes.
 
Duct tape works good too. I just had one like that the other day. Duct tape a path for a day and he is as good as new. Today I had one doing the same thing but with his back feet. Must have got his back hurt during calving.
 
My experience with broken legs and constricted tendons is to leave them alone as long as they can suck. They will heal and straighten out just fine.
 
Just thought I would post an update on this little fella. I did nothing to him and about three or four days later you could not tell anything had been wrong.
 
High Plains said:
Would be very easy to put the splints on if you wish. Just get a 6 or 8 inch flat stick, like a piece of lathe. Put a chunk of cotton under the stick in front of the joint where it will want to rub. Wrap the whole thing with some vet wrap or whatever that elastic wrap is. Wrap fairly tight. It will give him a nice boost toward straight and functional legs. Won't take you 10 minutes.
Click to expand...

i tape this with paper 'freezer' tape---(yup, i'm lazy)--it's good for two or 3 days, falls off. i put a little tension, but don't force it
 

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