Show calf tendon surgery

[Ronda55]

Hello,  I was wondering if anyone on here has had a calf that has had tendon surgery.  Was it successful, who did the surgery, and what was the cost.  My granddaughter has a calf that needs it and I'm trying to find out some info on it.  Thanks for any info!

 

[idalee]

You're going to have to provide a lot more information than this before anybody can render an opinion!

 

[Ronda55]

I was just wanting to know if anyone has had a calf that had tendon surgery, I have been told that it helps with calves that are having walking problems. My granddaughter's show steer has a left rear leg that has a pocket of fluid on its hock. We have had our vet out to check on him, she seems to think he is growing to fast and it is inflaming his joint.  I had heard that some folks have had similar things happen and have had tendon surgery to relieve some of the tension on the leg.  Just asking if anyone had the surgery on a show calf. 

 

[idalee]

If the surgery is for the purpose of altering form or function to improve performance in the show ring,  this is strictly unethical for any veterinarian.

 

[Ronda55]

I'm not asking for anything unethical I'm just asking if anyone has had it done. We are just starting to get back into showing cattle, we haven't showed in several years, I don't think anything that could help with the hock would be unethical. Are you saying that if someone has horns removed they are being unethical. I'm just trying to get a question answered not trying to start up a big to do. 

 

[Jacob B]

I think it's funny. Dehorning, trimming feet, clipping hair, fitting, all are done to change the looks, improve them for the show ring. Is it considered unethical because it's not COMMON practice for the person that thinks it's unethical? Are only the things that have been done for a long time ethical, or just what you have done or know how to do? Personally it just sounds like way more work and cost than I would want to put into a calf my kids showing for just 1 year. Maybe next time I would just buy a steer that is a little better on those back legs, my limited experience, they swell because the suckers are bred like that. Show one that is Sounder constructed and you don't have to worry about it. I wouldn't worry about it, try to get a better one next year

 

[CAB]

I don't think that you'll get many to reply on an open forum about doing surgery on a show calf just because. I agree with Jacob on this one. It sure wouldn't hurt to have your take a loo at the calf and advise you moving forward. I would treat for the swelling and possibly use some type of supplement to try to help the calf out a bit.

 

[CoatsClubcalves]

A good corrective hoof trimmer may possibly be able to help.

 

[DLD]

Fluid pockets don’t necessarily always lead to anything worse.  Unless they’re huge, your best bet is to leave them alone.  Make sure your calf has plenty of exercise, good minerals, and keep them on the softest surfaces possible.  If you just can’t stand it, I’d treat it topically rather than drain it (draining can easily lead to infection). Running cold water on it 30 minutes at a time once or twice a day sometimes helps a lot.  DMSO can help, too.

A good hoof trimmer may be able to help, a bad one can make it worse. Ask the successful show folks in your neighborhood for recommendations.

I haven’t known of anyone doing the tendon surgery in years. My observations are that more often than not it didn’t yield the desired outcome anyway.

 

[JHAN Wegner Herefords]

I know a showing family that has had a tendon surgery done on thier show calf but i don't believe the walking was ever perfect again,the calf did end up showing in the county fair and went on to grow perfectly good calves. Im just a kid i dont know much other than that, and the vet was, Lance Kurz a guy out of Fullerton, NE.

 

[Tallcool1]

If the calf has been injured, I seriously doubt that you are going to get much for results.  Yes, I know that this is done for things other than injuries.  It is simply a cost vs reward deal and there's probably no way that it is going to pencil.  I have had it done due to injury, and it did help......but it was to treat a completely different symptom.

Fluid pockets...what to do.  Get them off of any concrete that they may be exposed to.  Keep cushion under them.  Get him on Fluid Flex, pure MSM Powder, or whatever other joint supplement you choose to use.  There are lots, I just happen to like the combination of the two that I mentioned because we have used them several times on steers that got a little puffy when they got fat.

Someone suggested water therapy.  Excellent advice.

Don't drain them.  As soon as you drain them, it will start to come back faster and bigger.

Good luck.  We had the same problem when we started showing after 20 years away from it.  First year we had 3 steers with swelling in their hocks.  We got away from this problem using the methods I mentioned above as well as by selecting ultra sound cattle in the future.