Primiparous Holstein cow that calved about a month ago: at our first visit, the animal appears very thin, with very poor ruminal fill and an almost inactive udder. The presence of several lesions on the hind limbs (knuckling of the left hind fetlock, bruising at the level of the iliac tuberosities, and an abscess collection in the left stifle region) suggests a traumatic origin, resulting from a dystocic birth, hindquarter paresis, and the use of metal hip clamps for several days to lift the animal.
The medical history confirms the dystocic birth of a Belgian Blue cross calf and reports the use of medical therapies with NSAIDs, vitamins, antibiotics, and rehydrating fluids for several days. Despite this, the animal does not ruminate, eats little, produces no milk, and shows a progressive deterioration of its general condition.
The clinical examination excludes the presence of specific uterine, pulmonary, or gastroenteric pathologies (no abomasal displacement) that would justify such a critical situation. Feces are scarce and maldigested. Slight hypothermia (38.0 °C).
