| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 18 2011 : 1:31:13 PM
well just had emergency vet visit. belle had bumped her head a few weeks back. well she broke or cracked her tmj. i am so sad. she is off food and was 95 temp this am. i am hoping to make a poultice for bone healing. any help or ideas appreciated. i have to chop her hay. i have no idea how yet. she is 3 months pregnant. we will probably dry her off. so her food can go for her and baby. i am devastated for her and me. any nutritional ideas or ways to make hay edible??? sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| amomfly |
Posted - Mar 28 2011 : 05:30:55 AM
So glad!
Come visit my blog
http://angieruralliving.blogspot.com/
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 4:25:05 PM
hey there girls, i think the girl will make it. she is eating with gusto. the goats were trying to take her pellet and she had the energy to push them to their own bowl.she did cud up the dead grass that is still in the pasture this am. but its the only one i see. it was huge. probably weighed 2 pounds wet in a clump. so i have an offer on sophie. i was not going to sell her. i need money to pay for my cow. she is belles baby. i am going to ask $1000.00 for her. she is halter trained and a pet. the gal wants her for her daughter for 4 h. she said i could have the calf. i think unless something weird comes up i can stop this thread and go back to goats and cow posts. i really think if i can eventually dry her off she will do good. like some have said the green grass is coming. it will help her too. but for today snowing sideways. so i think she will be ok. happy days for belle. thanks to all you farmgirls for supporting us along the way. i felt lifted up each time one of you posted. thanks for the love from belle and me
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| Alee |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 03:54:52 AM
Sherry- I hope she is doing better!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 26 2011 : 12:34:17 PM
so amother day is good. she had no cud on barn floor today. she ate her food happily. we then proceeded to go to the hay stack. well we are out of alfalfa today. the hay was no good. she ran up to the electric gate and stopped. turned her head and looked at mt. the sun WAS out and she was going to pasture no matter what. so i walked her over. she is thin but i think she will live to have her calf. we will see if she cuds up the pasture grass tonight. i hate to have folks on the road see her so thin. we are needing feed today. she finished her colicleanse. it cleans the rumen and digestive tract with psyllium and good bacteria. so i am again encouraged. thanks to all you girls for the support and checking on us. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| HealingTouch |
Posted - Mar 26 2011 : 08:00:06 AM
Good for both of you.  It's so hard tosee our animals hurting. Baby steps...1 day at a time.
Be Blessed,
Darlene
Sister 1922
God first, everything else after!
When Satan's knocking at your door, just say "Jesus will you get that for me?"
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| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 11:45:51 AM
he did not think it would. he suggested putting her down. so this is a good sign. she ate her concentrates with gusto. i see NO cud on the barn floor today. thanks alee
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| Alee |
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 10:15:42 AM
Sherry- I am glad the swelling is going down. I hope she is on the mend. How long did the vet think it would take her to heal?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 07:37:41 AM
thanks so much kris. she is a sweet old girl. i will feel honored the day i can turn her to pasture. she has not seen grass for awhile. she was not even digesting that. well when she is dried off i am going to turn her out to pasture. it will be her rebirth day. i will never milk her. i will let her just be a mommy. she is such a good mommy cow. i am going to bump the hog thread up today. happy days sherrrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 07:05:22 AM
My pigs are going the 11th of April. I am counting down the days. I will not be sorry to see them leave at all. I am already getting tired of feeding them. But it has not been as bad as the last 4 I had. These are really good pigs. The electric fence isn't even working and they stay right where I can see them. they are tearing up the goat yard bad but they are happy pigs. And it will grow back soon enough. I'd like to put them up front to eat all the clover before they go.
I am so glad Belle is somewhat better. I guess it will be a slow road for her. Poor girl. SHe has had a rough life til you got her. I hope she does get better.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 06:58:24 AM
well kris i sure hope not. it is SO expensive. her swelling has gone down. i think it will always hurt some. if i can get her stable i will let her just grow calves. i found another cow on cl. closer than idaho so i will call about her today too. we shall see how it all goes. she had bumped it on the tractor bucket. so i am hoping it will settle down. i sent my pigs to butcher. yipee happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 06:51:37 AM
That's good news, Sherrye. I can't even imagine doing all that. Do you think you will always have to feed her like this? Or will her jaw improve some? And why can't she eat grass? Just wondering. I hope you have a great day.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 06:00:38 AM
well one more day. she is still not well. i do think she is better. i was gone yesterday, that was hard. i have been checking her and feeding her 3 times a day. oat hay was suggested for her to try. i will look for some. she has such a sweet easy spirit. i do think she will make it now. i think its a matter of continuing the food. wow expensive for all the concentrates. sure hoping she can go back to hay soon. the cud on the barn floor is less now. so i am thinking we are on the up side. i sure hope so. thanks for all the help girls. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| amomfly |
Posted - Mar 24 2011 : 6:11:40 PM
I am praying for you both.
Come visit my blog
http://angieruralliving.blogspot.com/
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
| rksmith |
Posted - Mar 24 2011 : 5:26:10 PM
Try adding some hay-extender maybe?
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet--Dr. Kioni
http://www.mynsp.com/rksmith
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 24 2011 : 08:04:12 AM
today is not a good day for belle. i am worried once again. we are going to chop her hay today again. another kind. she is not tolerating ANY hay so how do you feed her without it. go figure what a dilemaa. so gotta go feed the girl her concentrates. they are what is keeping her alive. normally she would eat 30 to 40 pounds hay a day. she is eating about 10 if i am lucky and cudding it back up , choking it out of her mouth. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 22 2011 : 10:05:35 AM
well thanks angie, it is a hard one. so today i am encouraged. she has lost condition but she ate well. since she is getting so pellet i worry about acicdosis. so i have been giving her huge amounts of molasses. any thoughts? so today we are going to soak new hay chopped in molasses water and see if she keeps it down. i so hope so. i just cleaned the barn with the tractor. i am keeping her in so she only gets what i feed her. i put pine shavings down on the barn floor. so one more day. thanks girls sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| amomfly |
Posted - Mar 22 2011 : 04:31:12 AM
Sherrye- I was nearly crying. I feel for you both so much. I think you are doing everything right. I would do less hay, more beet pulp, feed and pro bios. I would do this for two meals. Then at the third do more hay then beet pulp. I was just thinking of a way to allow her jaw time to heal. Remember, Beet pulp has a lot more calories then feed or hay. It is a super food. I am praying for you both and sending you both all the love and hope for healing I can.
Come visit my blog
http://angieruralliving.blogspot.com/
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 21 2011 : 7:45:55 PM
thanks girls, i will check into the hay replacement. she got through the day. she ate and drank and pooped. we fed her sloppy wet molasses filled beet polp fine chopped hay ( different hay) double dose large animal pro-bios twice today added to her alfalfa pellet and horse senior pellet. she is loving the grub. i feed 3 times a day right now. she says bring it on. so we will see if she is choking in morning. thanks so very much to all my farmgirl sisters supporting me through this. i think i found a cow in idaho. i found her on kfc. happy for that sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| rksmith |
Posted - Mar 21 2011 : 7:23:38 PM
There is an ad I saw in a magazine recently (and I can't remember which one right now) about some type of hay replacement; it is supposed to be used when hay is unavailable (or anytime really) to add forage to your animal's diet. I believe the company was called lucerne or something similar. I'm not sure if that would help or not, but may be worth checking into especially if it is more finely chopped than regular hay. Might consider just taking her off hay for a while and just do the pellets--I would make it super mushy for her, almost like a smoothie. Kefir would probably be really good to add as well. This might seem crazy to you, but when giving my critters (and the human ones too) herbs or anything I muscle test for the dose (and so far have had great results) When I muscle test for my animals, I put my hand on it and just concentrate on the animal and think "what does she need" then I take my hand off and whatever it is I want to test, I hold at my belly button. IF she needs it, I lean forward, if not backward. Then to check the dose, you pour some either in your hand or a bucket, cup, etc and check again until you lean forward. While you're testing for the dose (and for the herb )I concentrate and think "does (belle) need this" and if I get a yes, I then concentrate on "how much does (belle) need". Sounds crazy, but like I said it works very well for us--and I've not had any signs or symptoms of overdose or ill side effects from giving doses according to what I muscle test for.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet--Dr. Kioni
http://www.mynsp.com/rksmith
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Mar 21 2011 : 5:15:52 PM
Oh Sherrye I am so sorry to hear all that is going on and that Belle is still struggling!!! I have you and her in my prayers and know that this is a horrible time. Just remember you are doing all you can and that is all anyone can do - it is so very hard to have to go thru this type of situtation with someone you have cared for but even during this hard time you will be gaining special moments. I am there with you in heart and spirit. Hugs, Big Big Hugs
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 21 2011 : 3:07:21 PM
thanks girls, what a roller coaster ride for sure. you would think after losing buttercup to cancer i could keep this one. we think it is an old injury that she hit on the tractor. it is sore and hurts her. she doesnot want to chew the hay cause it hurts. so my sis brought horse hay. papa is going to chop it up. i will soak it and try it. she wants to eat. she eats then hacks undugested hay up. so she was not getting any grain before. jake said she would die if she did not get senior horse and the pellet. she is having a hard time eating enough to stay well. she usually eats 35 pounds hay a day. well we are not getting that down. so she is not over eating she is starving. i gave her a double dose of pro-bios and will do again tonight. they will help balance her upset rumen. i so hope we can over come this sherrye thanks so much girls for your love. i feel it.
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| Bear5 |
Posted - Mar 21 2011 : 12:57:49 PM
I am so very sorry hon, wish I could be there for you. I know you will do what is right for Belle, when the time comes, and she will thank you for it...I will pray for the best outcome for all involved...
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 21 2011 : 10:10:36 AM
Sherrye, this is so sad to read. I am so sorry for her and you. It does not sound good at all. Cows can and do survive without hay all the time. It's just that we don't plant the right kinds of grasses and legumes for them to eat through the winter. It can be done. But I guess it's easier to just get hay for them. Don't you have pasture where she can go and eat grass right now? Maybe she's just getting so much grains and other feed she needs some grass to even things out. I don't give hay after the pasture grows out. Maybe when it rains I throw them some. But not during the summer.
I sure hope she gets well. You are doing so much for her. But if this is her jaw bone that's broken I don't know. I can't even imagine what that could mean for her. I'll be praying for you both. I'm so sorry. I think the kefir would be good for her anyway. But it has to be so painful for her to be chewing.
Hugs, Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 21 2011 : 09:44:42 AM
ok just about had to shoot her. got the gun out. she was going down choking to death. oh man this is tough. the old girl wants to eat. i am getting pro-bios today for her. i stood there and called jake the vet. he said she had her neck and mouth impacted with cud. i stood and waited while we talked on phone. down she went then cud chunks came out, spit ran. then she got up came ate her senior and pellet food. i gave her rescue right after hacking. she got her homeopathics too. any ideas for food for her welcome. i posted on craigslist for dairy grade alfalfa hay. i am told it is finer and richer. heres hoping sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| sherrye |
Posted - Mar 21 2011 : 07:23:09 AM
angie i did go buy beet pulp. i am adding it today. i think i should start with 1/2 pound. what do you think? i will soak it with the alfalfa pellet etc. she is still choking. she could easily die any minute from this. she chokes SO bad that spit just runs out her mouth she twists her head. it is not good. i am so saddened and yet i am going to keep trying. she is hungry wants to eat. can she live without hay????would alfalfa be enough for her rumen to run right. it appears its all hay she is hacking out. swelling is down some. bone sticks out for sure. oh darn it anyway. i feel like some one tied me up and threw me in a closet. i want to fix this for her. so i need to figure out HOW MUCH of all this is needed. she is eating 15 pounds alfalfa pellet and 5 pounds senior now. free choice alfalfa hay. she licks the leaves off. i saw her cud some yesyerday. she is up walking around. still slow as molasses though. no energy. good poop a little thick. i figure its the seior feed. so maybe some epsom salts to thin her manure. i am buying strong pro-bios today. or do you think my kefir would be enough? its her milk. i gave her 120 cc of kefir about 3 days ago. any thoughts ???? sherrye my concern is if i am feeding enough senior and pellet?
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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