When you find your cow under the weather, make her a Smooooothie!

Our lovely, saucy milk cow Josie has us on pins and needles this week.  Or at least has us concerned enough to jab her with pins and needles.  A little over a week ago, she seemed a touch off, poop a little loose and didn't finish her milking time bucket.  Josie.  Less than appetant???  Not our cow.  Ahhhh, temp of 102.7.  Not too high, but worth a visit from Dr. Streams.  He gave her a magnet and some Exceed.  He scratched his head.  There were no other symptoms.  We decide to move her to the top pasture so she can have more grass and less hay, maybe that will make a difference.  It did.  She was pigging out, but her poops were really loose now from the new grass and though she seemed happy, was still just a bit off.

Well, amidst the horrible May heat wave, 90 degrees and 100 percent humidity, we find Josie on Memorial Day panting, drawn and in distress. She had seemed fine in the morning.  We haltered and brought her down to the barn to find her temperature a whopping 106.5!!!!  No good.  On the phone with the talented Dr. Harvey from Quakertown Vet as I am hosing, he will be on his way, but not for several hours.  By the time an hour had gone by our friend and cow guru Jamie had arrived and Josie's temp was down to 102.  That is normal for a cow on a hot day.  I call the vet back, he asks basically if I have ever used a thermometer before and if I knew where to put it.  I reply umm, I think so.  Our joint opinion was one of incredulity.  This is not a normal cow issue.

Next morning, more heat and humidity and Josie is running a low grade fever around 103- 103.5 all day despite hosings.  Her appetite remains good, her water intake great, stools still loose.  Frank runs out for Banamine and Oxy-Tetracycline.  Important note here we are all natural, but not Organic.  We will use antibiotics with proper precautions and milk withdrawals if it will stop animal suffering.  We opt for the antibiotics only, saving Banamine for use if she looks painful, we cannot control the fever or she loses her appetite.  After traumatic Oxy injections (horrible for all of us), Frank administers the first Cow Smoothie.  She may have even forgiven us just a bit at that point.  We started by syringing the mix into her mouth, but she made it clear we need only give her the bucket.  Smoothie number one consisted of Kombucha (made at home from a scoby and locally sourced fresh Apple Cider), Dandelion Leaves, Borage Leaves, Molasses and Dynamite Herbal Tonic.  Mmmmmmm.  She went to bed and woke up with no fever at all!

Today Ms. Josie still looks a little drawn, but she is alert and happy, hanging out with her family and generally cowing around.  The antibiotics should stay active for 2 days.  It will not be until tomorrow evening that we would re-dose if the fever returns but we can offer more Smoooothie.  Tonight's nom noms was a mix of Comfrey, Plantain, Borage, Dandelion Leaf, Herbal Tonic, Dyna Spark, Kombucha and Bentonite Clay.  She gulped it down with her family and Blossom the mare finishing it up.  I am starting to think rather than grain feeding time, which we don't have in the summer as we opt for hay and pasture, we may be better off with smoothie time daily.

Josie on the left, with Henry in the afternoon sun

I will update as to Josie's condition as she progresses/heals.  Her stools are looking a little better and her attitude is at least 90 percent sassy girl today.