What to do and Why

"Managers and all cow attendants must realize that any cow which is involuntarily down is an emergency case which should get prompt attention to prevent further damage."

Vic Cox U. Minn

In this section vets tell you what to do immediately so that new complications don’t develop. Prevention is on a continuum with treatment. Naturally your whole attention goes to preventing downers in the first place. Once a cow is down, however, don’t focus only on treatment. The need for prevention continues.

From the farm: email on Dairy-L

The reason many of these cows can not get up is due to pain from very sore muscles and nerve damage. I always tell a farmer you set on your knees on bare concrete or even a well bedded stall for twenty minutes and then try to stand up. Now imagine a 1300 pound cow laying there for 6-8 hours or more. I use pain relief on any down cow I treat that appears to have any pain or is in a location which looks to me like it would cause pain. I have seen very beneficial results in the attitude and the ability of these cows to get up. You can just see the pain killer take effect. They pick up their heads and look around and often start to eat. I certainly agree that the cow should be moved to a well bedded dirt floored area if at all possible. If these cows will eat and don't seem to be uncomfortable and shift from side to side on their own sometimes they will get up, but it often takes a week or two. Please contact your veterinarian for advise on this situation.

Mike Fredricks DVM