Gus is a 9 year old Jersey/Holstein cross and is a 'backyard' pet. He goes to a farm every summer to be turned out with two other cows and always comes back fatter than he should be. This past Oct. the farmer where he goes called to say he needs his feet trimmed, not mentioning why. when I brought him home he barely walked. The trimmer came. Gus had a chunk of sole missing between 2 front claws and the trimmer put medicine on it and said it would be fine. He never got better and I realize it is his back feet that bother him the most....he keeps shifting weight and has them tucked under his body. My equine vet gives him shots in the spring but other than that only does horses. there is ionly one old fashioned farm vet . He will not come to see him since I don't have a stantion. He told me to give him aspirin, which I did for 4 days. He also said bute doesn't work well with ruminants. I think Gus may have laminitis (his feet feel warm). What other ailments do 'cows' get? arthritis? ?????. what meds are safe and helpful for pain or inflammation. What is one to do when vets are not available? I am concerned about him going down. He walks minimally...he used to like to play! All he eats is hay, water and 4-6 oz. of low carb forage pellets which I feed my horses.
Ruth, I agree with you - this sounds like laminitis. I found some good information on laminitis in cattle in this article:
http://www.promatinc.com/images/uploads/sweden.pdf This doesn't really talk about treatment other than trimming, at least that's all I found in a quick look through, and I'm no expert on treating lame cattle. But, I am going to consult my colleagues and I will get back to you on this.
I conferred with Dr. Chuck Estill here at Oregon State. He offered to take a look at your ox but you'd have to be close to Corvallis, Oregon :) Aspirin is a good way to go with ruminants and Dr. Estill suggested oral aspirin at 0.45 mg per pound (100 mg per kg) twice a day. Ideally at some point getting radiographs to see what is happening inside the hooves would be ideal. But keeping him comfortable during this episode and hoping it clears soon, and then having a good hoof trimmer, should help.
