It has been TOO DANG HOT!
Make sure all your livestock and horses are safe during the summer heat!
1. Remove all excess hair and fiber
2. Provide plenty of airflow
3. Always have fresh water available
#agriculture #cowvet #largeanimalvet #llama #heatstroke #staycool
Check out this cutie!
#farmher #vetlife #farmvet #farm #livestock #agriculture #largeanimalvet #farming #vetmed #ctag #cowvet #calves #scottishhighland #highlandcows #cute
This girl is passing a lot of gas!
This is what frothy bloat looks like in cattle. This girl went out to graze on the fresh spring pasture, but the lush grass digested too quickly in her rumen resulting in a rapid production of gas. In the case of frothy bloat, the gas is entrapped during the fermentation process and will continue to be produced faster than the cow can release it through eructation (burping). This results in a persistent and life-threatening distention of the rumen which can restrict breathing.
Luckily, this lady was found by her owner bloated and upside down in the field. Dr. Lisa was called out immediately. After attempting to remove the gas with a tube and disrupt the gas entrapment with detergents, it was decided that a trocar would need to be put in place to give the gas somewhere to go until the bloat was resolved. This trocar is surgically placed through the body wall and into the rumen. Over the next several weeks, the cow's body will begin to heal and will slowly push the trocar out so it can be removed safely without causing infection.
If you watch closely, you can see the trocar moving with the contraction of the rumen. It is pretty amazing how much gas can be packed into one cow!
For more information on types of bloat in ruminants, check out the resources page on our website: tristatevetservices.com
#farmher #vetlife #farmvet #farm #livestock #agriculture #largeanimalvet #farming #vetmed #ctag #cowvet #onehealth #diseasecontrol #womeninag #frothybloat #bloat #cattlehealth #hereford
SoHo loses a toe (3).mp4
SoHo is a dairy cow who had chronic issues with her front feet for the past few months. Her feet issues reached a fever pitch when she developed a large abscess (infection) in her inside toe. The docs at Tri-State worked with the cattle hoof trimmer on several occasions to try to cure the infection. Unfortunately, the infection continued to worsen and eventually began to spread up her leg.
SoHo is a great cow from valuable lineage, and her owner just loves her a whole lot. Also, she is pregnant, so saving her meant saving her baby. The odds were firmly set against us, but with nothing to lose and so much to gain, the docs at Tri-State tried one more thing - remove the toe and the infection with it.
SoHo was given mild sedation and placed on a tilt table which is used to trim feet. Then a tourniquet was placed around the top of her infected leg and a numbing solution was injected into the vein below the tourniquet. This procedure is called regional limb perfusion and results in numbing of the entire leg so SoHo never felt a thing.
The toe was removed using a wire saw to cut through the pastern bone (second toe bone). This way as much of the toe is removed as possible including the first joint (knuckle) as this is an area the infection likes to hide.
The toe was removed completely. The area of injection was identified and flushed out. Antibiotics were administered using regional limb perfusion as well to focus our treatment. Then a heavy bandage was placed to stop bleeding and keep the site clean.
Being the ever-perfect patient, SoHo never missed a beat. She went right back to eating after surgery, never had trouble getting up and moving around, and even kept producing milk through the entire process. *Due to treatment withholds, this milk was discarded.
Now, you didn't think Dr. Lisa and Dr. Allyson just threw that toe away right?...
Of course not! They took it back to the clinic to dissect! The infection was huge, taking up over half of the coffin bone (the la
Humpty Dumpty (1).mp4
Just like Humpty Dumpty, our four-legged friend had a bit of a tumble. But fear not, thanks to Dr. Allyson and the team at Tri-State Veterinary Services, our brave horse is on the mend and getting ready to jump back into his adventuresโonly with a bit more grace this time! ๐ ๐ฉน
Cheers to our handsome, occasionally clumsy, equine patient for reminding us that with a little care and lots of love, we can all bounce back, no matter how great the fall. ๐๐
#TriStateVet #HumptyDumptyHorse #QuickRecovery #DrAllysonSavesTheDay
Remember, curiosity might lead our friends into tight spots, but with a little help, they bounce back. Here's to many more adventures, Roger - just maybe keep your head out of containers from now on? ๐๐
Happy Friday!
#TriStateVet #AnimalRescue #GoatAdventures #VeterinaryCare #AllInADaysWork
Dr. Lisa identified a large swelling on the right side of Peppermint Patty's face when examining her before the holidays at @shepaug Valley Agriscience. Patty was diagnosed with a tooth root abscess via x-ray. Dr. Lisa treated Patty with IV antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for two weeks to control the infection and decrease swelling. Dr. Allyson and the Tri-State team then were able to examine Patty's mouth, make sure the tooth wasn't loose, and then drain the abscess and flush out the infection. With continued antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, Peppermint Patty is well on her way to an easy recovery.
The Tri-State team always enjoys the opportunity to work with students and educate them while in the field. This was a great outcome for Peppermint Patty and an awesome learning experience for the animal science students in the Shepaug Valley Agriscience Program!
Laney is an 18-year-old alpaca who suffers from severe cataracts. The cataracts became so bad in her left eye that it blocked parts of the eye that allow fluid to drain. This caused the eye to build up pressure and swell, making Laney unable to see and very painful in that eye. So we opted to remove the eye to make Laney more comfortable.
Good news! She is healing well and very happy to be back with her herd mates!
Dr. Lisa was called in the late afternoon for an alpaca that had been attacked by a dog. The owners could not get the alpaca up and she was stuck in the woods.
With only a couple hours left of daylight, Dr. Lisa got to work putting the alpaca back together from the attack - unfortunately, there was a lot of damage to work through and it was dark by the time the job was complete. The alpaca still didn't want to get up, so Dr. Lisa and her clients did what they always do, and got creative! This patient received a lovely "tractor" ride back to the barn and has recovered beautifully ever since!
In general, banding is a safe and humane means of castration in cattle. However, there are times it can go wrong.โ
This poor steer developed what is known as Scurious Cord. This is when the constriction of the band causes scar tissue and inflammation to develop on the outside of the scrotum. This thick layer of granulation tissue prevents the blood supply from being cut off and the scrotum and testicles never fall off. Scurious cord can be very painful and may result in severe infection.
Once the producer saw this steerโs condition they immediately brought him in, isolated him, and took his temperature. Then they did the most responsible thing of all, they called the vet! Sometimes even the most knowledgeable and skillful producers need a hand! The producers placed another band over the cord in hopes of preventing blood loss, but as you can see in the cross section, the band would never penetrate through that thick layer of scar tissue.
This steer had a fever of 105! But even being so sick, he wasnโt going down without a lot of sedation and a bit of a fight. Sedation, some ropes, and โmanual restraintโ from Dr. Lisa, and we were able to get the job done.
With rest, pain medications, and antibiotics, this steer (finally!) will be good as new! This is a great example of a bad situation gone well thanks to fast action from a knowledgeable producer.
๐๐๐๐ฆ Year-End Wrap-Up at Tri-State Veterinary Services! ๐ฅ๐คฃ
As we bid farewell to 2023, we're sharing a blooper reel from our upcoming large animal how-to video series! ๐
While farm life can be unpredictable, it's also filled with joy. Each blooper not only brought a laugh but also reminded us of the unique personalities of the animals we care for.
So, kick back, enjoy some barn-inspired laughter, and check out the full blooper reel.
A huge THANK YOU to our fantastic community for your support and trust in caring for your amazing animals. We're excited to continue this journey with you in 2024, filled with more care, learning, and yes, laughter!
#TriStateVetServices #LargeAnimalLove #FarmLifeFun #YearEndLaughs #HappyNewYear2024
๐โจ Breaking News from Tri-State Veterinary! โจ๐
๐ฆ We are thrilled to announce that our team has officially cleared Santa's reindeer for flight this Christmas Eve! ๐ท
๐ Location Update: The reindeer are currently resting and gearing up at the enchanting Christmas Village in Torrington, CT. It's a winter wonderland here, and the reindeer are enjoying the festive atmosphere!
๐ Our Comprehensive Check: Dr. Lisa has conducted thorough health checks on each reindeer, ensuring they are in peak condition for their important journey around the world. From Rudolph's shiny nose to Dasher's swift hooves, every reindeer is ready to go!
๐ A Big Thank You: We want to extend our gratitude to the caring staff at Christmas Village for providing a magical and restful environment for Santa's team.
๐ Let's Get Excited: Santa and his reindeer are coming, and they're healthier and happier than ever!
#TriStateVeterinary #ReindeerReady #ChristmasVillageCT #SantaClausIsComing #HolidayMagic
Look who's gobbling up the spotlight! ๐ฆ๐ผ This dashing turkey is just one of the incredible animals we've had the pleasure of visiting at Tri-State Veterinary Services. With feathers this fabulous, he's surely the talk of the yard! It's always a treat to see our feathered patients thriving and to provide them with the best of care. Keep on strutting, Mr. Turkey! #VetLife #FarmVisits #TurkeyTales ๐
Happy Halloween from Tri-State Veterinary Services! ๐ ๐ป
It is true! Ammonium chloride tastes awful, and the amount needed to acidify the urine and dissolve stones created from consuming concentrate diets (grain) would make any grain it is mixed with unpalatable. So if your goats like it, thereโs not enough ammonium chloride.
The easiest way to prevent urinary calculi and obstruction in your goats is to not feed any grain.
Join us on October 18th at 6pm at the UConn 4-H Extension Office for more myth busting about all things sheep and goats!
#farmher #vetlife #farmvet #farm #livestock #agriculture #largeanimalvet #farming #vetmed #ctag #cowvet #onehealth #diseasecontrol #womeninag #urolithiasis #stopfeedinggrain #goatsneedhay
Haemonchus contortus!!! AKA Barber Pole Worm
These buggers are one of the leading causes of death in sheep and goats. They are a gastrointestinal parasite that attaches to the lining of the abomasum (true stomach) in small ruminants and feeds on the hostโs blood. Like nasty little vampires.
If there is a large enough population (high worm burden), the sheep or goat host will become severely anemic. Unfortunately, the hostโs blood loss is slow, and clinical signs are gradual and subtle. Because of this, sheep and goats usually donโt show clinical signs of anemia until they are near death. It is for this reason, it is important to perform FAMACHA scoring in your herd or flock regularly to identify individuals with high worm burdens before it is too late.
Regular deworming is NOT the answer. This is an old school practice that has lead to severe resistance to all dewormers on the market. To properly manage parasite burdens in your herd or flock, and responsibly treat clinical cases, contact Tri-State Vet Services for a herd/flock health check, tutorials on FAMACHA scoring, fecal egg testing, and protocol formation designed to treat the specific needs of your sheep and goats.
This is a video of adult Haemonchus from the abomasum of a yearling doe with a severe worm burden. Pretty gross, right?!
#farmher #vetlife #farmvet #farm #livestock #agriculture #largeanimalvet #farming #vetmed #ctag #cowvet #onehealth #diseasecontrol #womeninag #parasites #parasitologia #goats #sheep #monstersinsideme
Now that we are starting to head into breeding season for our sheep and goat clients, letโs talk about some biosecurity measures you should consider before letting the romance begin.
This is a delicious video of Dr. Lisa draining a CL lesion. CL, also known as caseous lymphadenitis, is a contagious disease of sheep and goats caused by an infection of the bacteria Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.
Goats and sheep are infected by the bacteria from the environment, from each other when exposed to draining abscesses, or at birth from drinking an infected damโs colostrum.
Once in the body, this bacteria will infect the lymph nodes, creating an abscess of thick purulent discharge. The name โcaseousโ lymphadenitis literally means โcheesy infection of the lymph nodesโ. Yum! ๐
In goats, the infection is usually seen in external lymph nodes on the face, neck, and shoulders first, then progresses internally. In sheep, the lesions are usually internal from the start. They occur in the lungs, liver, or GI tract. This makes it harder to diagnose as the lesions are not able to be seen. The internal abscesses can affect normal bodily functions and may eventually become fatal.
Usually CL is less of a fatal disease in a goat herd or sheep flock, but more of an economically hardship. CL will decrease the longevity of your herd or flock, make sheep and goats more susceptible to other diseases, and decrease the value of your animals and products. Once on the premises, CL is very difficult to remove as the bacteria will remain in the soil for decades.
Contact Tri-State Vet to schedule a pre-breeding exam for your herd or flock. Our team with determine if your flock or herd is at risk for CL and what steps you can take to prevent exposure. We can also help any flocks or herds who have CL on the premises already to develop management protocols to control the infection and prevent future transmission. #farmher #vetlife #farmvet #farm #livestock #agriculture #large
Are grass clippings okay for your livestock?
Yes! Ruminants love fresh grass clippings. But there are a couple rules you want to follow:
1. Make sure they are fresh. Grass clippings that sit in a bagger or bags over night or a few days will start to ferment. Incomplete fermentation can allow molds and bacteria to grow that cause severe disease in your cattle and goats such as listeria or botulism. So if you are going to feed it, do it right after itโs cut.
2. Everything in moderation. Feed small amounts if your livestock have not been on a grass diet before. Sudden changes in diet can cause changes to the rumen environment resulting in acidosis, bloat, or indigestion. Feeding small amounts slowly and supplying free choice baking soda will help prevent these changes.
3. Watch your back! Grass is rich in nutrients and can cause manure to be very loose. This is normal and not to be worried about. But donโt ever turn your back to a coughing cowโฆ ๐ฉ #farmher #vetlife #farmvet #farm #livestock #agriculture #largeanimalvet #farming #vetmed #ctag #cowvet
For those who think aliens arenโt real, I give you โthe criaโ. Another adorable baby born at Old Redding Farm
#souglyitscute #cria #alpacasofinstagram #alpaca #farmher #vetlife #farmvet #farm #livestock #agriculture #largeanimalvet #farming #vetmed #ctag #cowvet
Ever find yourself in the middle of the woods surrounded by sleeping pigs?
No?
Just me? ๐คฆ๐ผโโ๏ธ๐ท๐๐ #weirdthingshappenafterdark #farmher #vetlife #farmvet #farm #livestock #agriculture #largeanimalvet #farming #vetmed #ctag #cowvet
