Bad heifer foot?

[Thewife]

My Sam heifer (my avatar) has done something to her foot.

At first it just looked majorly swollen between the toes.
When "walk her to the barn" turned into run up the hill, around the yard to the back 80, back to the corral, all over the corral and finally into the barn, it seems the swelling has gone down and I see a little blood between the toes.

Here's the thing, don't tell our resident horn hater, but she has a good set of horns and she is not really the sweetest critter when cornered. So I would like to limit the times I have to put her in the squeeze for treatments.

It's been awhile since I've had foot problems, so remind me!

What should I get to wash up her foot?
What should I put on it?

 

[Thewife]

Well, we got her in the squeeze!
Since our resident question answerer never answered my question, I went ahead and cleaned her up with iodine. I'm thinking she just hurt her foot, and it festered up.

Since Sam did try to take Hubby and the boy on, instead of just going into the squeeze, I didn't give her any antibiotics. I have been ordered to send her to the freezer ASAP.

Somedays I just hate this life.

 

[jhm47]

Sounds to me like foot rot. LA 200 (SQ) would have been my first choice. I'd have also cut those horns off when you had her in the chute. lol! Freezer sounds like a good idea for one that attacks. No sense in making your life shorter, even if you do hate it!

 

[Thewife]

Sounds to me like foot rot. LA 200 (SQ) would have been my first choice. I'd have also cut those horns off when you had her in the chute. lol! Freezer sounds like a good idea for one that attacks. No sense in making your life shorter, even if you do hate it!

My first thought was hoof rot too, used to get that here all the time in the winter, but we've been so dry even most of the wet ground has turned to concrete.
She has a definite sore, which is why I figured she might have just jammed something into her foot.

Thought about dehorning her, decided it wasn't worth the hassle. She has big horns, we still have flies, she's not really what we have been breeding for and then there is the not so sweet attitude she got from her mother!
The horns will help me look past the sentimental reasons for keeping her!

 

[WildRoseBeef]

I think she has a foreign object in her foot...or at least HAD one, since she probably got rid of it during her little "walk".

If you're putting her in the freezer right away, it's no use dealing with antibiotics or any drugs since they have a withdrawal period that MUST be followed before the meat is consumed. However, if you're leaving her till later, then give her the Oxyvet LA 200 or LA 200, which ever is more accessible.

 

[jhm47]

Personally, I don't like to butcher any animal that has an active infection. If it were my heifer, I'd treat her with the LA 200, or some other antibiotic, and wait out the withdrawal period before butchering her. Just my opinion. Whatever you decide, good luck!

 

[Thewife]

Personally, I don't like to butcher any animal that has an active infection. If it were my heifer, I'd treat her with the LA 200, or some other antibiotic, and wait out the withdrawal period before butchering her. Just my opinion. Whatever you decide, good luck!

Yea, I'm kinda on the fence with the whole thing. There is still a little bleeding.
Think I am going to try get a vet, Hubby and the boy, at the barn at the same time.
If I do that, and can catch a bull calf that I might not have gotten around to banding, what kind of care does a fresh cut "steer" require?

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Personally, I don't like to butcher any animal that has an active infection. If it were my heifer, I'd treat her with the LA 200, or some other antibiotic, and wait out the withdrawal period before butchering her. Just my opinion. Whatever you decide, good luck!

Yea, I'm kinda on the fence with the whole thing. There is still a little bleeding.
Think I am going to try get a vet, Hubby and the boy, at the barn at the same time.
If I do that, and can catch a bull calf that I might not have gotten around to banding, what kind of care does a fresh cut "steer" require?

Depending on his age, just separate him for a couple weeks or so to keep an eye on him for any bleeding or any infection that may spring up. This way he gets his rest and recouperates without the stress of the herd.

 

[Thewife]

Update on Sam!

Had the guys put her in the squeeze for me tonight.
I could fit 2/3 of my pinky in a hole just above her hooves!
It's not stinky or pussy.
Seems to be draining good.

 

[jhm47]

She needs a dose of antibiotics. A hole that size WILL get infected.