My cow's leg is badly injured. Can it be fixed to avoid amputation?

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm so sorry to hear about poor Laxmi! Unfortunately, from your description it sounds very likely that Laxmi will not survive this - and will require prompt medical care to have any chance. I'd recommend having her seen by a vet as soon as possible to evaluate better and treat if indicated, or humanely end her suffering. I wish you all the best.

This could be a mite infection or a bacterial skin infection. It would be best to have a veterinary doctor examine your cow's foot. Unfortunately it is not possible to diagnose a skin disease from a photo.

This will depend on the type of fracture. Yes a lot of cows can stand on three legs with the fractured leg not being able to bear weight. However it is unlikely that the leg will heal, so it is more humane to have the cow euthanized or slaughtered, if that is permitted in your area.

Since she is improving the prognosis is very guarded. It will take a few months for the nerve to recuperate and function to be restored, however there is no guarantee. It may be more economical to fatten the calf and have her slaughtered at home. It will not be possible to transport her to a slaughter house due to the lameness. You should have your veterinarian examine the leg, as it is not possible to assess the severity of the damage without an actual hands-on exam. Your veterinarian can also give your calf Vit.B injections which may aid in nerve repair. The swelling may point to a fracture or severe muscle damage in addition to the nerve damage.

Hello. If she has been down for several weeks, it is going to be very tough to get her back up. If she slipped on ice or snow, she may have suffered catastrophic nerve damage, & the longer she is down the more severe the nerve damage will be. The same goes for if she fractured something in her leg or shoulder. Hopefully, you have had your vet out & started her on a course of anti-inflammatory medications. If no fractures were found, you could try assisting her up in a sling, or at the very least you have her propped up with hay bales. Make sure she is shifted off her downside every 4-6 hours to prevent pressure necrosis. All you can do is keep working with her unless you can transport her to a major facility ( university veterinary center ) that can do the specialized diagnostics, surgery & rehabilitation that she may need. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Her front leg looks very swollen. This cow needs to be seen by a vet asap to ascertain what is wrong with her leg and get appropriate treatment. It is important to let a vet treat her as the wrong medication could kill her calve, likewise if she is in pain the stress could effect her calve.

How sad! That really depends on the diagnosis and exactly what is going on with your horse. You could always get a second opinion from a different vet and see if there is a treatment that would help. Hope that he can be treated and recovers.