Cattle People (hurt bull)

[Chunky]

You guys have always given me great advice, and so I am back.

Here are the details so I can get your best opinion.

I have a an Angus bull, about seven years old. Very gentle and a good producer. A dream bull.

Yesterday when I went to feed he had a bad limp. He seems hurt in the front. I can't tell for sure which side is causing the issue, I think the right.

He is still getting up and moving around some.

I examined him and see no wounds, no real swelling.

Part of my issue is he is too big to even go down my chute to my head gate. He also won't fit in my small stock trailer.

Touching him is not a problem.

So....What could be the issue and what should I do?

Wait and see?
Try and get him to a vet (friends trailer)?
Try and give him shots uncontained? (he is gentle but I don't know if he would tolerate that!)

thanks for any opinions offered.

[GarGuy]

Get a vet out to see him. They can sedate him if needed.

[dphillips62]

I would figure out which leg and paint it with DMSO and Bute mix for 7 days. If that doesn't help call a Vet

[Randy]

I'd guess he has hoof rot or maybe something between his hooves. Hard to say without seeing him.

I would put him in a lot so you limit his movement and walking. Then you can watch him a little better and figure out what is wrong. If he is calm enough you can give him a snoot of banamine in the mouth for inflammation. A shot of dex would probably do him a world of good.

[Philip-TX]

Check his feet. mud/stick/something btwn hoof? tips hooking in and touching?

EDIT: Randy beat me

[MountainMan]

Originally Posted by Randy

I'd guess he has hoof rot or maybe something between his hooves. Hard to say without seeing him.

I would put him in a lot so you limit his movement and walking. Then you can watch him a little better and figure out what is wrong. If he is calm enough you can give him a snoot of banamine in the mouth for inflammation. A shot of dex would probably do him a world of good.

This is what I'd do as well. Dex or LA200 would be my go to for a limp.

[Fmjag64]

If it was my herd bull and planned on keeping him around, I'd have the vet check him out.

[TxDispatcher]

Originally Posted by Fmjag64

If it was my herd bull and planned on keeping him around, I'd have the vet check him out.

Agreed...small price to pay for peace of mind and keeping a quality bull around IMO

[Chunky]

Guys I would to be thrilled to have a vet come out, but they won’t. If you don’t have them in a squeeze shoot, no dice.

I once begged and pleaded and offered to pay double, when I had a cow down that couldn’t get up.

If you know a vet, northeast Houston, let me know.

He did not come to feed. He is lying in the little strip of woods at this moment.

I am going to try and give him L200 when my daughter gets here. Have no clue how that is going to go.

Thanks so much for responding.

[CWaller30]

Probably foot rot. If we can’t get them in pen to doctor we usually just dart them with draxxin.

[kenner27]

Give him both la200 and Dex. Opposite hind quarters.

[Tuffbroadhead]

Push that LA 200 in SLOWLY and he will more than likely take it. But I would think you would be much better off with a shot of Banamine which is steroidal and will help with inflammation

[GarGuy]

Originally Posted by CWaller30

Probably foot rot. If we can’t get them in pen to doctor we usually just dart them with draxxin.

That's what I was saying. Should be easy to sedate him

[Killer]

If he's not coming to feed I would take him to vet.

[easeup]

easy to check his feet for toe tips crossed over one another or something wedged between them.....

[Chunky]

I looked at his feet yesterday and didn’t see anything obvious. I will look again in a few minutes.

I would take him to the vet if I could. Not sure that’s possible at this point.

[denimdeerslayer]

Borrow a trailer and go to better vet.

[Philip-TX]

check with neighbors, sale barn, etc for a loaner trlr?

[Chunky]

I can get trailer not sure I can get him loaded, not sure he could load if he wanted in.

Thanks.

[Benno]

Originally Posted by Chunky

I can get trailer not sure I can get him loaded, not sure he could load if he wanted in.

Thanks.

Is he your only bull?
If he’s that bad I’d be looking for a bull before I spent a year feeding unbred cows.

[Chunky]

He is my only bull. My place is small we keep about a dozen head.

We could not get the shots in him, but he did get up and move around.

I am 90% sure it’s his right hoof.

Have a call into a vet, hope to find one that will come on site.

[Randy]

Find you a day hand to come throw a loop on him and drag him into their trailer

[texashunter87]

He may have been hurt trying to breed I have seen it happen bull went to take care of cow and she kicked and broke his front leg. The bull had to be put down. I would take to a vet.

[gingib]

Must be some sorry vets, if no one will come out!

[doghouse]

Good luck. You might consider buying a dart gun. It can save you lots of trips to the pen with sick animals.

[Duckologist]

Originally Posted by doghouse

Good luck. You might consider buying a dart gun. It can save you lots of trips to the pen with sick animals.

Good idea

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[stinkbelly]

Lots of trailer places rent stock trailers.

Could it be tetanus? They will walk really stiff.

If you need to give him shots, rope him and choke him down. It isn't fun for anyone, but if done right you can give him shots and live to tell about it. Remember to let off the rope as soon as he falls.

[Chunky]

Once again thanks for responding

[SaintBlaise]

You can make a loading shute for the trailer rather quickly with about 4 pipe panels or pipe gates. Maybe he'll load himself in the trailer if you use the old feed bucket trick.

[Dusty Britches]

At 7 years of age, he is at or very close to end of productive life. Few bulls will pass a BSE after 7 years of age.

My point is, I know your situation and it may behoove you to sell him and get a new bull.

Funny - our last Angus bull we kept but every year we would do a BSE on him. He always tested around 90%. He was never aggressive, but never friendly until his last year. Suddenly he was very friendly, gentle as a lamb. We did our annual BSE on him and he came back at 50%. Down the road he went. He was 8 years old.

If you give him LA200, you should pay attention to the withdrawal period. It is quite lengthy. I know a lot of people will flack me for saying it, but the responsible thing is to keep him until the withdrawal period is over.

[BlessedVeteran0305]

Originally Posted by Philip-TX

Check his feet. mud/stick/something btwn hoof? tips hooking in and touching?

EDIT: Randy beat me

This...

He could have a nail or stick or rock packed in his hoof or around the frog of the hoof.

[Dusty Britches]

Originally Posted by stinkbelly

Lots of trailer places rent stock trailers.

Could it be tetanus? They will walk really stiff.

If you need to give him shots, rope him and choke him down. It isn't fun for anyone, but if done right you can give him shots and live to tell about it. Remember to let off the rope as soon as he falls.

No way it is tetanus. Tetanus will kill them in a few days.

[rvd]

Originally Posted by gingib

Must be some sorry vets, if no one will come out!

Kinda what I was thinking.

Do you have any panels you could improvise a chute with? If you can’t you need a dart gun.

Dusty Britches is on point (as usual ), if he were mine and I could get him loaded, he’d already be at the sale.

[oneisnone]

Originally Posted by Dusty Britches

My point is, I know your situation and it may behoove you to sell him and get a new bull.

Lol...You owe me a keyboard

[easeup]

it may be a simple case of laminitis. We call it chasing the green. Winter grasses green up and horses mainly but sometimes cattle gorge themselves with spring greens; after they have been on nothing but hay all winter. There is a lot of acid build up in the leg tissues as a result. An easy fix is get him off the grass and nothing but hay for 2 or 3 days. He may quickly recover.
you can google the laminitis deal out there

Laminitis is a disease that affects the feet of ungulates and is found mostly in horses and cattle. Clinical signs include foot tenderness progressing to inability to walk, increased digital pulses, and increased temperature in the hooves. Severe cases with outwardly visible clinical signs are known by the colloquial term founder, and progression of the disease will lead to perforation of the coffin bone through the sole of the hoof or being unable to stand up, requiring euthanasia.

[gingib]

Thats crazy to me that a bull can't be used as a herd bull after 7-8 years old.

We had a vet come out to pull a calf in the middle of a pasture. It got western and had to rope the cow and tie her to the truck. But this is in a small town

[Martin]

Originally Posted by BlessedVeteran0305

This...

He could have a nail or stick or rock packed in his hoof or around the frog of the hoof.

I would check this .....I had a pasture bull get a piece of wire buried up in the pastern on the back of his front foot....right under his dew claws. Check for mesquite/locust thorns too.

[GREATWHITE416]

If its hoof rot you need to get on it fast. Once it gets up to the bone it's to late. Had this last year with a cow. Took her to the vet and then to the packing plant. If he is laying down a lot I would suspect he's got it bad. If you can get him loaded and to the vet that is your best bet. Proper diagnosis is key. Here is a link with some info on hoof rot.

https://www.tsln.com/news/foot-rot-in-cattle/

[Jkennedy26]

I wouldn’t put a bunch of money in him due to age. My opinion is sell and get a new one

[Chunky]

I can’t say thanks enough for your help.

This bull is special, I know it’s just a beef and I know the bottom line. He is going to get the “pet” treatment.

I have him in a pen now and a trailer ready to go. First thing in the morning we are going to attempt to load and carry to vet.

Not a done deal with an animal this size.

Yes I will be using a couple of temporary panels to create the chute.

Lots of wise advice as always. Just getting your opinions reduces my stress level.

I will post an update when I have one.

[kerrbow]

Throw a little chaffhaye in the head of the trailer and watch him. He will load himself I am guessing.

[Bish]

I'll bet money he has a abscess between one of his hoofs. If he want fit in that trailer you bought from me he is a Big un.

God Bless
Bish

[Kingfisher789]

I’m hi

[Chunky]

Originally Posted by Bish

I'll bet money he has a abscess between one of his hoofs. If he want fit in that trailer you bought from me he is a Big un.

God Bless
Bish

He won’t fit in that trailer, but I still have it and use it for everything else.

[doghouse]

Originally Posted by Chunky

He won’t fit in that trailer, but I still have it and use it for everything else.

How big a trailer is it going to take for him? I'm just curious. Never had a bull that wouldn't fit in a 16x6 trailer. Some have to back out because they're to big to turn around. Good luck. Hope he loads easy in the morning.

[Carpe_diem]

Good luck, I hope it works out!

[Kingfisher789]

Well not really but back to the Bull. See if he’s got a rock or something in his hoof. Can you take his temperature?

[Chunky]

Originally Posted by doghouse

How big a trailer is it going to take for him? I'm just curious. Never had a bull that wouldn't fit in a 16x6 trailer. Some have to back out because they're to big to turn around. Good luck. Hope he loads easy in the morning.

I have a 16 ft now. I think the other one is 14, not saying he couldn’t squeeze into it, I just wasn’t able to force him in it.

[Chunky]

Originally Posted by Kingfisher789

Well not really but back to the Bull. See if he’s got a rock or something in his hoof. Can you take his temperature?

I have never taken a cows temp. I can’t explain why this has not occurred to me. Don’t know what there normal is.

I might need new equipment

[doghouse]

Do not stand behind panels when loading him unless they are well secured. He's gentle right now but they can change quickly. People have been hurt bad by a cow are bull pushing on a gate they are holding. JMO. Good luck.