Bee~ Journal of then...

[freemotion]

Horses can get fungus, which doesn't necessarily itch, and rainrot, another fungus (also called rain scald) that looks pretty nasty. A couple of good scrubbings with betadine or povidone solution often does the trick. Stress can make it worse......give her a good massage! (Y'all think I'm kidding.....Bee knows I'm not! Mya gets at least a little bit of massage before milking, and sometimes after. She still does not appreciate me as much as she should, however.....)

Although it is hard to tell from pictures, it doesn't look like either of these. But if it were my cow and I was gonna give her a bath anyways, I'd do those patches with betadine and rinse it off last, and follow up with a sponging with warm water with acv in it, and leave that in the coat to dry. Can't hurt, might help.

If it doesn't, another thing I would use in hard cases is a dandruff shampoo with coal tar as the active ingredient. I think it was T-Gel, for about $10 for a tiny bottle. But that bottle lasted me for years, since I just used it on the patches if the betadine wasn't enough. My mare had two areas, lower hind legs and croup, that got this shampoo once a year in the spring, and she was good to go for a year. She didn't get scruffy patches, just a very flaky dandruff in those areas that was unsightly with her greyness and black skin.

Just some ideas! Cheap ones!

 

[TanksHill]

Ok, so I know I know NOTHING about cows. But reading about the mange thing got me thinking. You all know I got a new puppy. Well last month I took him in for a check up. He had itchy white, thin hair spots. It turned out to be a condition called Demadex.(sp) It's actually mites. Kinda like mange but not contagious to humans or other animals. The way the vet described it was that these mites are on all dogs, they are inherited from their mothers. When the puppy grows rapidly and his immune system is lagging. The mites get the upper hand and kinda take over the hair follicles. They did a scrape test and looked at in the microscope. You could see this little alligator shaped bug. Anyways, back to the cow, Maybe it's the same. Her immunity is down because of her state of health. Perhaps when she is feeling better she will recover.

The pup had a generalized condition which means it was in several areas of his coat. So the vet gave me a prescription for a medicine called Invomec. But he did say that when the immune systems gets stronger the body can right itself.

Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that. Not that cows and pups are anything alike.

Either way she is much better off with your TLC Bee. g

 

[MorelCabin]

But he did say that when the immune systems gets stronger the body can right itself.

Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that. Not that cows and pups are anything alike.

Either way she is much better off with your TLC Bee. g

That is exactly it, Blossom will get stronger with Bees care and her immune system will kick in and help her get over the rough spots:>) If certain things don't go away then Bee can deal with them

 

[Farmfresh]

Great news Bee. I think you have done what is best in this instance. When our horse contracted mange and lice I had NEVER seen it before in 30 something years with horses.

I agree 100% with both Tanks and Morel - I think the major problem is just her immune system being stressed.

That we KNOW will soon be put to rights. Love and good grass can work miracles!

I would probably use a little Betadine in her bath water too - just for good measure.


It is really cool how every one on this forum puts in their little bit of info. We all really care about the animals and each other. Can't find that kind of thing very often anymore.

 

[Beekissed]

I like it also....everyone is always most helpful and kind!

I gave her the shot and she DID NOT like that! But didn't do too badly with us all ganging up on her. Afterwards she turned around to look at me and sniff the syringe, as if to say, "How could you?!"

I have my kelp meal on order, which is supposed to have a very balanced mineral content that is more naturally assimilated by the body than the commercial preparations. I will be offering it free choice along with coarse salt. I'm hoping this will help a good deal with her nutritional status. She has had her Basic H dose and I will repeat it a little more after the calf comes so he/she can get a good dose also.

I do plan to shampoo her with a good tea tree oil shampoo and give her an ACV rinse, as well as treating tender areas with my beeswax based balm with comfrey and calendula EOs. Bag Balm for the udder.

Free, its funny I know....but I DO massage her and she likes it. Its a little difficult around all the bony prominences, but I still try and she seems to like it. She loves to be brushed and will hold her face up for the grooming. I think all creatures appreciate a good massage. I know I do!

She will be getting her udder massaged daily during milking time, a little before and a little after. I found a wonderful recipe for an EO balm in CS that is supposed to really prevent mastitis. I'm going to clip her udder, which won't take long as she is not too hairy there.

Udder is even fuller today.......milk is easily expressed from all teats. Calf coming soon, I hope!

Thank you all for the lovely advice, folks! Blossom will be brought back to health by her loving SS family, one good idea at a time!

 

[Blackbird]

Thats great! I'm sure she'll make a full recovery.

I'm sure you need another suggestion like you need a box of dirt, but..

After our does kid, they usually loose a bit of their hair from the stress and loose some condition, so we give them Black Oil sunflower seeds (BOSS, the kind you get for birds), it contains selenium, which as you know is great for hoof/nail and fur/hair growth, it makes it nice and shiny. On top of that we add aloe vera juice to their water, helps with bad flaky skin and again with coat growth, aside from the wonderful things it does internally. Sometimes it doesn't even make it to the barn because I drink it first
Aloe vera juice can be found in like the supplement or medicine area in Walmart.

Those two things could also help your Blossum if you choose

 

[Beekissed]

I don't mind trying good, natural solutions to problems in health. I don't do much medicine for me and mine, animals included, but am not adverse to giving some if it is entirely necessary. I won't let an animal suffer needlessly, that's for sure.

I like the idea of the BOSS, Amos, and usely include it in my chicken's feed when I can afford it, but lately they've been pretty expensive. I intend to plant some this year for my own use, but probably won't have enough space to plant any great quantity.

I will tell you that I am saving every pumpkin seed this year....a little for replanting and the rest to put in the cow, sheep and chicken feed. I really want to try this for parasite loads, if any.

Amos, I appreciate all advice that is given in the spirit of true kindness and helpfulness!

 

[Blackbird]

Oh, I know, I love natural remedies to things that most people would go and buy meds for; I've never been one to use the chemical type medicine for myself, let alone the animals, I find if the body, whether human or animal, can more easily be healed with natural things if the body isn't filled with commercial addatives, medicines, etc to begin with. Probably one reason herbals and naturals don't work for some people, because they aren't allowed to with the things in the body.

Course thats just me and I'm a little wierd, so feel free to ignore anything I'm saying

And I'm not saying that your aren't open to advice, I just think with everything that everyone has been telling you that it would be hard to keep everything straight.. Do I sprinkle BOSS on her back and dip her feet in ACV while feeding her DE? Or do I give pen. in the ears and slather her tail with mineral oil? Its crazy I tell ya! I need to invest in more natural animal management books.

 

[Beekissed]

I agree that modern day folks have virtually polluted their bodies with pure junk from the foods they eat, to the other meds they consume, the drinks they drink....you name it,on a cellular level their bodies are struggling to function properly. Then they take a few herbal supplements or the latest cure all that is touted for this or that and are very disappointed with the results.

Everything that makes one's body run well and efficiently starts at a very basic level....in the cells. The body is a wonderful machine but it was not designed to have to repeatedly eliminate heavy metals, chemical preservatives, synthetic pharmaceuticals, bad fats, and processed, refined sugars, to name a few. It also was designed for function and activity. Low levels of activity inhibit the lymphatic and circulatory systems, which are key to eliminating the wastes and foreign objects in our bodies.

If people would learn more about their bodies and how they function, they would feel better and live well.

Has anyone else noticed that, as the levels of obesity rise in this country, so do the obesity levels in our pets? When I was young I rarely ever saw an overweight dog or cat, but every house I visit and every dog I see in a car.....they are all seem to be bursting out of their skins! I guess, if we eat more we feel our pets must be deprived if they don't eat as often or as much as we do?

This world has become topsy-turvy when it comes to health issues for human and animal, and I just don't think throwing more chemicals at it is the answer. Most meds are a crutch to prop up a body that should do well on its own when given the proper nutrition, exercise, clean air and water. This is basic and should come first. If this doesn't work after trying it for a good while, then maybe some additional measures can be implemented.

I guess that is why I'm adverse to giving my animals regular and frequent chemical de-wormers, vaccines, flea and tick treatments, etc. I tend to give them every advantage, nutritionally and environmentally, to correct health issues on their own. If they have symptoms that require meds, after everything natural has failed, I don't mind giving meds. I'm not into suffering at all, be it human or animal.

 

[MorelCabin]

Yes, I have a doctor to give me a dx most of the time, but rarely does he get to give me the remedy:>) I usually get that on my own. I don't believe in vaccinating any of our animals, and we have very healthy animals because of it. My old dog has seen a vet three times maybe, and it was always because of injury, not illness. Then she got really sick and we had her put down. And I DO believe in putting a sick old dog down! I don't understand those who put thier dogs through treatment only to have them struggle to live another six months and die anyway, after thousands of dollars have been spent...