Need Advice on Calf with Contracted Tendons

[farmchick897]

Please watch video:

History: He was born 10 days ago, was stuck in birth canal for ?? and vet had to pull him out with chains. We thought he was dead, tongue was hanging out. Next morning he still hadn't moved and mother cow was still licking and trying to get him up, at this point he was cold and barely alive so we took him from mom and nursed him back to health. He could not get up without splints on his front legs. Splints were removed after a day and he was standing on his toes so I thought it was better to let his muscles do the rest. In all of my research it says that this problem will get better as his tendons stretch but this is day 10 and you can see from video his movement. Also his face appears uneven, like he had a stroke?

Will he outgrow this or do you think he has other problems?

 

[they'reHISchickens]

He's not cavorting like a 10 day old so he's had a rough start. Yes, it's a bad case, but he is still willing to use his toes. Let's face it, your alternative is putting him down. I'd keep him on ground ( better traction)loose, not tied, and let him grow and work it out himself. I think you may see a different calf in 30 days. It may take him a few months to look normal, but I don't think he's at the put down stage. Keep him healthy, fed and growing, let him loose and let nature do its magic.
Babies of all sorts do a lot of changing and growing the first month.

 

[arabianequine]

Has the calf had bo see?

 

[lockedhearts]

I have no bovine experience, but I know in Equine when they are born this was, it is caused by the calcium not binding and the tendons being tight. They used to do a Tetracycline drip (which took an hour) now my vet says they use LA200 (not sure the dosage on calfs but foals are 3mg) this is injected every 3 days until it corrects.

Why do I know this? My last foal born was like this on all 4, vet wanted me to wait until she was 3 days old before doing anything and luckily it corrected.

I think I would call and ask the vet if this is possible to do in calves. It may take longer since he is a little older.

 

[farmchick897]

The vet said it was nice of me to make him splints and nurse him back to health, most would have let him die. Thanks for the advice though I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens.

 

[lockedhearts]

If a few days of LA200 would fix him, then why not give that a try? I do not know that it would, but I am sure a vet could tell you. I would think if it was going to correct by itself it would have by now.

 

[Katy]

We often leave the splints on for a week or two. You have to keep checking to make sure they aren't getting too tight.

The swelling from being stuck in the birth canel can take quite awhile to subside.

 

[learycow]

Sometimes that is caused from the pulling process. You said that he was stuck in the birth canal for a while? if the vet was trying to pull him out for a while, it could have hurt his legs. I've seen this where the chains aren't put on properly, and it damages their legs like this. Sometimes they come out of it, other times they don't. It's not really life-threatening as long as they are mobile enough to get around to drink and eat.

 

[farmchick897]

I was concerned that it could be from the chains damaging the nerves, his ankles do appear to be big (maybe swollen). I did have splints on him and that was the only way he was able to stand, but I took them off to check for rubbing and resplint and he was able to stand on his toes and was more fiesty about staying still, so I figured it was better to leave them off. He eats good and is doing well otherwise, I guess I will have to wait and see. Thanks for the inputs!

 

[farmchick897]

Just wanted to give an update for those who may have a similar problem and ran across this thread. "Friday" is 5 months and completely normal you would never know he had a rough start.