Abscess in one month old calf

Green Acres Farm

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That is an issue @Green Acres Farm any animal with an abscess should be quarantined until either it is lanced and cultured or bursts.
When our doe had an abcess we did just that. Quarantined her, drained it, cleaned it, and sent the abcess off for identification. It ended up being nothing, thankfully, but it sure scared us!
Sadly not all vets take Bio-security seriously
One vet we had come out took temps from 2 of our does. He did not disinfect the thermometer in between does, and did not clean it when he stuck it back into his pocket. I'm really worried that there could have been paratuberculosis bacteria on it. Am I right to be frustrated?
 

cjc

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When our doe had an abcess we did just that. Quarantined her, drained it, cleaned it, and sent the abcess off for identification. It ended up being nothing, thankfully, but it sure scared us!

One vet we had come out took temps from 2 of our does. He did not disinfect the thermometer in between does, and did not clean it when he stuck it back into his pocket. I'm really worried that there could have been paratuberculosis bacteria on it. Am I right to be frustrated?

Our vet pregnancy checks our herd with the same glove! One after another haha. I always thought it was a little gross but assumed he knows what he is doing.

Our vet did not pull our calf away from the other calves when he drained the abscess. He told me it was no big deal and no harm to the other calves. When my calves get sick I always take them away from the herd until they recover but in this case the vet said I didn't need to. Not saying that's right at all just sorta odd he didn't worry about it. He told me if an abscess or lump on the jaw or around the mouth can be slid away from the bone and moved freely under the skin its not a bad one, if it cannot it's bad. Not sure how accurate that is.
 

Mikethepigman

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Well been trying to get a picture but he won't stand for one lol. However I had a cow farmer that i know through a friend come by and get a better look. He said it wasn't nothing to lance and probably just hay or straw poked it. Idk how or why but it has gone down and is almost gone thankfully. I did panic lol not gonna lie. But after talking with all of you and him I can sleep at night. I probably should get blood work to make sure it's nothing. But yea golf ball size day and the next can't even really tell it was ever there. So clueless as to what or why still, but it's gone and calf doing good. Like the old saying " if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I was preparing myself for the worst tho. Had plans of making a box with a tarp to lance it open and burn afterwards. Definitely a whole nother world from pigs lol not a 100% on keeping or getting more. I think the few bucks for a weaned cow might be more up my alley. However I do kinda like the bottle feeding and the cuteness of the little buggers lol thanks again to everyone for the thoughts, information and words of know how.
 

Latestarter

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Hope you'll stick around, even though the "issue" became a non-issue :clap Most of us really enjoy following along with others on their journey(ies) :D Sucks to cry with the losses, but a real joy to share the successes! Hope your little guy grows up to be a freezer full of tender meals for you :drool
 

farmerjan

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Well been trying to get a picture but he won't stand for one lol. However I had a cow farmer that i know through a friend come by and get a better look. He said it wasn't nothing to lance and probably just hay or straw poked it. Idk how or why but it has gone down and is almost gone thankfully. I did panic lol not gonna lie. But after talking with all of you and him I can sleep at night. I probably should get blood work to make sure it's nothing. But yea golf ball size day and the next can't even really tell it was ever there. So clueless as to what or why still, but it's gone and calf doing good. Like the old saying " if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I was preparing myself for the worst tho. Had plans of making a box with a tarp to lance it open and burn afterwards. Definitely a whole nother world from pigs lol not a 100% on keeping or getting more. I think the few bucks for a weaned cow might be more up my alley. However I do kinda like the bottle feeding and the cuteness of the little buggers lol thanks again to everyone for the thoughts, information and words of know how.

Most all the ones I have had in calves over the years have gone down in a week or less and only a couple have ever burst. I know that there are alot of things out there that can cause problems, but I just think that sometimes it's better to just ride it out a little and not get too upset, and see if nature will take care of it. I'm very glad that it went down on it's own and as quickly as it did. Sometimes we are too quick to try to fix things. After countless bottle calves, I may even be a little lax, but I can tell when something is not right and will jump on it. Lumps, not so much unless they are there for more than a week or two. Glad you could get someone local with experience to look at it too.
 

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Some of those "abcesses " are actually swollen lymph nodes just like when you and I are not feeling well and get swollen lymph nodes on our lower jaw.
 

cjc

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@Mikethepigman Glad to hear the calf is doing well! Bottle calves can be tricky but as soon as you get into the swing of things if you are anything like me you will start collecting them haha. I have been called the "crazy calf lady" a time or two! Good luck with them!
 

Mikethepigman

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Well with these being my first and sure more to come... One day lol I'd rather have problems out the gate and learn than get comfortable with 20 and then all hell breaks loose and I up poo creek with no paddle. They were $40 each and I was gonna lose a calf, witch we all hope and pray we don't, I'd rather a $40 calf and not a $200 calf. Overall I think I done good. But definitely wouldn't have done good with yalls help. We have had day old goats in house cause momma didn't want it, we had runt piglets bottle feeding in the house. By no means are we worried about going the mile to save a life. Just a first timer that's broadening my horizons into more animals lol babies are just to darn cute!!!
 

cjc

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@Mikethepigman get your camera out and show us pictures of these cuties! haha. Calves are like any animal you are raising of course. But you have to start accumulating the stuff to deal with them! That's probably the worst part. This year I spent way more than I made but next year ill be prepared for whatever those little buggers bring to me.
 
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