Calf can't stand up

Barbara Guth

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On a side note though. After I got him home, I put him in the shade by my window so I could keep an eye on him and he's actually moving his legs on his own. That's not something he was doing before. And when I stood him up to feed him earlier we almost both went down because he moved his front leg forward, again, not something he's done by himself yet. I'm not getting my hopes up but I am praying he recovers.
 

babsbag

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I would have done the same as you...I always give them the chance as you never know. I hope he pulls through.
 

Barbara Guth

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So I went and got some pain medicine from the vet today. For the first time since we brought this little fella home, he actually sat up by himself. No help. We weren't even around, I was around the side of the house. He was laying on his side like he usually does and he sat up.
 
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Barbara Guth

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So I need your opinions again. Tip (calf) is trying to stand. I'm guessing we got the meds in time and they are helping as he's moving quite a bit more now and he actually "cried" out this morning. But, he can't seem to control his neck. I was wondering if maybe a neck brace may help him to gain control and build his muscles up some more. Thoughts?
 

Mini Horses

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IMO -- I'd give him one more day to work thru meds. If improvements, then consider more. IF he's flopping put a bale of hay (or huge piles) next to him to help support neck &/or falls & flops. See if that helps any by evening. A brace may be more of a limitation for him at this point, especially as the nerves may be spastic at times. Not everything will resolve at the same time. This is how I would handle it at this stage.

The head of an animal is a very important "control" center for handling and for balance for them.. For instance, when I had a horse with a broken leg in a cast, I would halter and tie him. put wide body band under belly and hook that to lift above, so that I could lift the rear leg NOT in cast. The body band held his weight, his front legs and head formed a triangle of stabilization, while I lifted his good leg in rear to trim hooves. Naturally, temporary but it was the balance factor.

If leading an unruly animal, the head is key. So, yes, he needs that head control but, he may be able to use those muscles & nerves better once the meds help reduce the inflammation. If he pulls thru, it will be a slow process to normal.

Others may have more help to offer. We're all pulling for him. :love
 

Barbara Guth

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Devonviolet, thank you for asking.
I don't know what to think about all this.
After the vet gave him the medicine, the next day he actually sat up by himself, which was pretty exciting. Now today he's still sitting himself up and he's trying so hard to stand but he can't quite seem to get his legs to work to get him off the ground. Idk if it's because he's still weak (he doesn't seem weak when you help him stand, he's actually pretty stout) or if there's something else we're missing. He does seem to have trouble keeping his head still while standing but sitting he seems to be gaining control over it. We tried the harness and that isn't going to work. He was clearly in pain with it on so we won't use it again. Now I'm wondering if he has something internally going on.
 

Mini Horses

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Oh, he is a very sick boy! This is affecting his entire body, not just like cut on the leg. Every muscle & nerve is under attack. That's why I said -- even when he seems ok, he has a long recovery for things to heal and cleanse.

Think this way -- a fire spreads smoke into a room, everything is touched by it and you have to clean it off. Slow and tedious job. In his body, the infection & inflammation is pretty much everywhere to some degree. That's why it is so hard to heal.

I didn't mean for you to harness him, just trying to point out the effect of heads on animals and control. You little guy needs to be supported from falls, etc. He may not recover, as the vet has said, but miracles happen sometimes.
 
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