How to get the rumen moving if she can't eat? She's FINALLY home!!!

[Beekissed]

I can't see where the perforated trachea has much to do with disease transmission from the digestive tract...and the animal is already on antibiotic dosing.

Introducing regurgitated greens holds no more potential for infection than does the animal lying on the barn floor...actually, it holds less. The digestive tract is considered a "dirty" area of the body, full of good and bad bacteria from the mouth clear down to the exit. Transmitting germs from one flock member to another via cud is moot...if they are flock mates it's a good bet they already have approximately the same flora.

 

[cmjust0]

I can see why, because the skin and surrounding tissue on the *outside* is going to be more able to swell due to inflammation. Which, of course, is the body's way of sealing a wound to keep nasty stuff out. The trachea, on the other hand, is sorta like a garden hose if you've ever seen one. They seem to be almost pure cartilage. I'm sure there's some swell-able tissue in the lining, but I doubt seriously that it's going to be able to swell quite like the outside of the body can.

And, yes, they'd likely have "approximately" the same bugs, but there's no way to know that for sure, and the only way to guard against it NOT being the case would be NOT to swap out cud.

Under normal circumstances, I don't think swapping cud is a problem, but in a situation like this where some of that cud or bacteria-laden liquid from that cud may escape the trachea into a pocket deep in the tissue of the throat, I think it would be wise to avoid non-native cud and at least *know* your animal has had the opportunity to build up whatever antibodies to bugs in its own system necessary to keep a potential infection at bay. Because, remember, antibiotics are just *help* for the body's native immune system...it's not as if it's only antibiotics which clear infections.

 

[Beekissed]

I can see why, because the skin and surrounding tissue on the *outside* is going to be more able to swell due to inflammation. Which, of course, is the body's way of sealing a wound to keep nasty stuff out. The trachea, on the other hand, is sorta like a garden hose if you've ever seen one. They seem to be almost pure cartilage. I'm sure there's some swell-able tissue in the lining, but I doubt seriously that it's going to be able to swell quite like the outside of the body can.

And, yes, they'd likely have "approximately" the same bugs, but there's no way to know that for sure, and the only way to guard against it NOT being the case would be NOT to swap out cud.

Under normal circumstances, I don't think swapping cud is a problem, but in a situation like this where some of that cud or bacteria-laden liquid from that cud may escape the trachea into a pocket deep in the tissue of the throat, I think it would be wise to avoid non-native cud and at least *know* your animal has had the opportunity to build up whatever antibodies to bugs in its own system necessary to keep a potential infection at bay. Because, remember, antibiotics are just *help* for the body's native immune system...it's not as if it's only antibiotics which clear infections.

If the goat is swallowing a cud down her trachea, she has bigger problems than cross contamination, she has an aspiration problem....a perforated esophagus, on the other hand, would be another matter altogether. A perforated esophagus may indeed allow the bolus contents to escape into the macerated tissue around the neck wound and possibly create more problems with contaminants in the wound surfaces.

A perforated trachea, on the other hand, is a part of the airway and would only be exposed to that cud if the esophagus was also perforated with a the openings lying next to one another. The OP didn't mention anything about a perforated esophagus.

Oxytetracycline HCL"The drug is widely distributed to organs and tissues"...."May alter gut flora. It is recommended that a probiotic also be given, such as Bene-Bac.

The drug in question is a going to be working at the site of the injury and surrounding tissues, and is even going to be killing those gut flora...even from a borrowed cud. I see very little danger inherent in introducing a donor cud in the face of this antibiotic and as the cud will be confined to the alimentary canal and not anywhere near the primary wound/source of infection.

 

[cmjust0]

If the goat is swallowing a cud down her trachea, she has bigger problems than cross contamination, she has an aspiration problem....a perforated esophagus, on the other hand, would be another matter altogether. A perforated esophagus may indeed allow the bolus contents to escape into the macerated tissue around the neck wound and possibly create more problems with contaminants in the wound surfaces.

A perforated trachea, on the other hand, is a part of the airway and would only be exposed to that cud if the esophagus was also perforated with a the openings lying next to one another. The OP didn't mention anything about a perforated esophagus.

Ooops..

Yep, you got me there.. For some reason I was just thinking about 'the hose'...not which does what past the larynx. But you're right. Good catch!

 

[Beekissed]

I do it all the time!

The other day I was trying to explain to my son about what to claim as a dependent on a W4 during new employment in order to not have to pay taxes at the end of the year.....even though I knew the information it kept coming out all wrong. Finally got my mind untwisted and had to admit to the boy that I didn't know why I kept insisting that he had to claim more on the W4 to accomplish this goal, which of course, is not what I meant. He had it right all along and just used this to get me to shut up.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Just remember when transferring cuds, you have to be quick or else the bacteria will get too cold and do no good. It really helps to have a cow with a fistulated rumen in cases like these!

 

[KellyHM]

Just remember when transferring cuds, you have to be quick or else the bacteria will get too cold and do no good. It really helps to have a cow with a fistulated rumen in cases like these!

Geez, why didn't I think of that. I could have driven to Gainesville and borrowed some cud from the one at UF.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Just remember when transferring cuds, you have to be quick or else the bacteria will get too cold and do no good. It really helps to have a cow with a fistulated rumen in cases like these!

Geez, why didn't I think of that. I could have driven to Gainesville and borrowed some cud from the one at UF.

Is that very far from you? Because they probably would let you!

 

[ksalvagno]

Glad your girl is doing better. Ohio State has a cow like that and you can buy rumen from it. I bet your state college would sell it too.

 

[KellyHM]

Just remember when transferring cuds, you have to be quick or else the bacteria will get too cold and do no good. It really helps to have a cow with a fistulated rumen in cases like these!

Geez, why didn't I think of that. I could have driven to Gainesville and borrowed some cud from the one at UF.

Is that very far from you? Because they probably would let you!

About 2 hours. I graduated from there, so I still have inside connections.