Cow bloat?

[greenmojo]

We used to force feed them raw linseed oil and turpentine in a 10 to 1 mix and we also had a #7 gauge hypodermic needle that we would stick into them to relieve the gas. AFAICR all of our bloated cattle was a result of getting a little too much grain when they weren't used to it.

I just ordered a trocar. Next, need to pickup a squeeze or gate, because holding her down with one hand and running 50' of garden hose down her throat or jabbing at her with sharp metal objects won't be easy. Although, in extreme cases of bloat the cow was in rough shape and didn't care what they were doing to it.

Just need to remember to remove the sprinkler first.

Walking the animal was the right thing to do. It helps break the layer of froth that is preventing the animal from belching.
There are specific anti-bloat drenches avalible.
Your photo shows you got to the problem early. I have seen cattle in much worse bloat than that. It hits fast, and needs swift treatment.
It is caused by legumes, (clover and alfalfa), and occurs in spring mainly in moist rapid growth conditions.

I went out a few times last night too, and made her stand and move around a bit. Not sure if it helped, but when I made her stand, she'd belch.

I seem to remember gently pushing a short piece of garden hose down their throat. ( with the connector ends cut off of course) once you reached the stomach, there was a rush of gas. Point the end away from you, the smell is putrid.

The hose end, or the cows end? ;-)

~Moses

 

[SIMassey]

Hose.

 

[SIMassey]

Now this one's a joke the previous one is real.

Farmer went out to the barn one morning an found his prize bull had crossed eyes.

He called the vet.

Vet arrived, looked the bull over. He went to his bag and pulled out a long hose. Inserted the hose in the bulls rear end. Told the farmer to watch the bulls eyes and tell him while he blows on the hose. After several attempts the bulls eyes straightened out.

The next morning, the farmer found the bulls eyes in the same condition, crossed.

He figured if all it took was to blow on a hose, there was no sense calling the vet and paying him.

He got his hired man and explained the procedure.

He cut off a piece of garden hose and shoved in the bulls rear end. He told the farm hand to watch the bulls eyes when he blew on the hose. After several attempts, the bulls were still crossed.

The farm hand suggested that he give it a try.

The farm hand removed the hose and turned it around an inserted the other end in the bulls rear end.

The farmer asked why in the world he did that?

The farm hand responded, I don't want to blow on the same end of the hose as you did!

 

[beckmurph]

This thread brought this Charley Douglass joke to mind:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2_YymDcVDg

 

[Creamer]

Growing up on the cattle ranch this happened from time to time. And death will happen if you do not catch it. It is almost always due to feed - especially changes in feed and things like slightly molded alfalfa and stuff like that. The best way to protect against it is to not change feed instantly but to migrate them from hay to green grass or onto grain, etc.

The two methods we used was shoving a garden hose down their throat although we always left the male coupling on because it was rounded and less sharp and therefore easier to go down and not catch on things or if urgent a 7 gage needle through the skin in the middle of the triangle right in front of the hip bone. It usually took more than one poke to get the gas to come out. The garden hose works best if they are standing up. If they are already down though you are going to be lucky to save them.