• Frequent, thorough checks on the animals several times a day to assess their general condition; key points: taking their temperature, movement within the pen, stamina, rumination
• Monitoring and encouragement of water and feed intake
• Encouraging the animal to stand up
• If the animal’s general condition deteriorates: repeat clinical examination of the animal and consultation with the vet
• Medical care (e.g. administering medication or changing dressings)

Pet owners should also be able to treat wounds. That is why the first-aid kit should contain sufficient dressings and other supplies.

First, assess the severity of the injury and whether a vet needs to be consulted. However, first aid for more serious injuries can be administered by the pet owner themselves. The principles of first aid applicable to humans apply here. It is advisable to seek general guidance from the vet on how to carry out first aid measures. If necessary, temporary wound dressings can also be used to bridge the gap until the vet arrives.

Assessing the severity of the injury:

• Where exactly is the injury?
  • Sensitive areas include the abdomen, the lung area, the joints and surrounding tissue, the udder and the vulva
• How large is the injury?
  • Smaller wounds are usually considered less serious than larger ones. CAUTION: even smaller wounds can be deep and life-threatening
• What kind of discharge is coming from the wound?
  • Is blood, joint fluid or pus oozing out?
  • If blood is oozing out: is it a pulsating wound or a seeping wound?

When carrying out the daily check-up and inspecting the wound, look out for signs of inflammation. If there is no improvement, seek veterinary advice.

For further information:

Lamp O. (2020): Wound care with a stable first-aid kit: Just a scratch or a serious injury?

After checking the animal’s general condition and determining whether it is conscious, it is important to move immobilised animals to a recovery pen. The animals must be separated from the herd immediately to prevent further injury. If this is not possible, the downed animal should be laid on a soft surface where it is. In this situation, it is still advisable to keep the herd away from the downed animal.

The animal cannot stand up unaided:

• Injuries:
  • Muscle damage (e.g. muscle tear)
  • Nerve damage (e.g. spinal cord injury, paralysis of nerves in the hind or front limbs)
  • Damage to bones (e.g. fractures) or joints (e.g. dislocated hip joint)
• Electrolyte imbalances:
  • e.g. calcium deficiency
• Severe systemic diseases:
  • e.g. severe mastitis or severe metabolic imbalance (acidosis or ketosis), poisoning

Animal could stand up but does not want to:

• Painful conditions:
  • Uterine inflammation, mastitis, laminitis, peritonitis, pneumonia, displacement of the abomasum, swallowed foreign body or other

Diagnosis by a vet

Through a clinical examination, the vet can determine the cause of the lameness. If necessary, further examinations such as lifting the animal or blood tests may be required.

To ensure the animal has a secure footing when attempting to stand up, the surface must be non-slip, firm underfoot and, where possible, yielding. Suitable options include recovery pens well-bedded with straw or filled with sand, or, where weather protection is available (e.g. via a pasture tent), natural ground, such as in a pasture.

If a cow needs to be moved to a suitable location, a rubber mat, for example, can be used as a sled. This must be at least as large as the animal so that it lies completely on it and does not sustain any abrasions during transport. In principle, the surface must be of such a nature that it does not disintegrate or tear when pulled.

If a cow does not reposition itself or change position, it should be repositioned or turned at least three to four times a day. Placing straw bales can help maintain the desired chest-to-belly position.

Halters (restraint harnesses)

If an animal continues to try to stand up but is still unable to do so, the hind legs should first be tied together using foot restraints (restraint harness). The foot restraints consist of two cuffs (leather or nylon) connected to one another. Such restraints provide the animal with additional support when attempting to stand and prevent further injury caused by slipping (risk of muscle tear).

Standing aids to assist the standing process

Pelvic clamps

These consist of straight or curved brackets that form a U-shape. The brackets are placed over the hip bones and tightened using a threaded rod or hydraulically. The animal can then be lifted using a pulley, chain hoist or front loader. A pelvic clamp should only be used in extreme emergencies, with care and for as short a time as possible, as it can also cause serious injuries (haemorrhaging into the muscle, muscle damage). A cow should never be suspended in the pelvic clamp for a prolonged period. If the cow cannot maintain an upright position (weight-bearing on the limbs) unaided, it is better not to lift her in this manner. Lifting with the pelvic clamp should be carried out under veterinary supervision, as further examination of the animal during the lifting attempt is possible and necessary for diagnosis.

Lifting harnesses

These consist either of a network of wide straps or a sturdy tarpaulin placed under the animal’s belly. Additional straps stabilise the front or rear of the animal so that it cannot slip out of the ‘belly harness’. Here too, lifting is carried out using a chain hoist or front loader.

Lifting frames

Another option for lifting immobilised animals is the use of lifting frames. These consist of a collapsible frame that is erected over the immobilised heifer or cow. The animal is lifted and held upright using several straps that are threaded under the animal. Despite the straps being in place, the udder remains freely accessible, allowing for normal milking. A pull-through hook is useful, as it allows the lifting straps to be pulled easily and gently under the animal.

Lifting bags

Lifting bags are used, for example, by fire brigades to lift vehicles in order to rescue people trapped underneath. Such lifting bags were available for a time for lifting animals. The immobilised animal is rolled onto the lifting bag. The bag is then filled with compressed air, thereby lifting the animal.

Water baths

There are various water bath systems: inflatable rubber ones or rigid metal ones. As the cost of such systems is comparatively high, they are very rarely found in agricultural practice.

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