On-Call / Vet

Spring calving season is just around the corner. This also means calving problems and the need to intervene and assist in the delivery of the calf. While this may seem a straightforward procedure, many things can make for a more difficult and less successful outcome. Here are several mistakes made before, during and after calving that can lead to problems for the calf and the cow.

Urolithiasis is a common condition in goats and typically affects young wethers. It is characterized by small, crystallized stones (urinary calculi) forming in the urine which then settle out in the bladder and cause disease when they obstruct the outflow of the urethra and render the animal unable to urinate. This condition is of major significance due simply to the fact that it can make animals very sick very quickly and often results in death if not effectively treated soon enough.

Recent weather conditions have raised several health problems for cattle producers. One of the most dramatic changes has been an increase in mastitis cases on dairy farms. Mastitis can be devastating to the economic well-being of a dairy operation, and successful treatment and control measures are needed to ensure financial stability, especially in the current economic environment.

'Colic’ is a general term used to describe abdominal pain and is a clinical syndrome that is commonly recognized in horses. Colic can be caused by many different abnormalities occurring within the abdominal cavity of the horse. For horse owners it is advantageous to be familiar with the clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment options for colic as most horses will encounter this problem at some point in their lives.

Abomasal bloat, or abomasitis, is a condition seen in calves less than three weeks old. We have recently seen several cases at our clinic, and unfortunately, most cases are fatal without very rapid intervention. The good news is that good management and preventive measures can all but eliminate this disease.

The abomasum is the fourth compartment of the stomach in the cow. This compartment is most like the simple stomach of humans or the horse in that it is the only glandular portion of the stomach of cows secreting hydrochloric acid and enzymes. The abomasum must function normally for cows to maintain their health and production. Dysfunction of the abomasum, namely displacement, is one of the most common causes of a need for abdominal surgery in the bovine.

Diarrhea is a common cause of disease and death loss in young calves whether on the cow-calf operation or the dairy. If you are a cattle producer and have not had the privilege of dealing with scours, then wait patiently, because your turn is coming. Given that the disease is so prevalent and that many producers have treated calves in different ways, there are many different opinions floating around regarding which treatment method is best. The purpose of this article is to provide some clarity on what treatments actually work and what treatments may be a detriment.

As we start another calving season, an annual problem has reared its ugly head again. I am seeing a large number of various prolapses in cattle that are due to calve or have already calved out. There are various types of prolapses that occur in cattle; it is important to recognize the different forms and know how to effectively deal with them to get optimal repairs.

There are several tools available for cow/calf producers that can lead to a decrease in one of the primary problems seen in neonatal calves – diarrhea. Diarrhea is a leading cause of mortality in baby calves and has many causes.

If you own a horse, you are likely familiar with Coggins testing.  Numerous horses come by our clinic each year for this annual ritual. I find that while many owners know that the test is required and have had it performed on their horses numerous times, they still have questions about what the test is really for and why it is necessary.