12/07/2025
🚨 Saturday Emergency C-Section! 🚨
Our patient today: a 5-year-old red South Poll cow who presented with a vaginal prolapse. Because the prolapse caused significant cervical changes, allowing her to calve unassisted wasn’t safe — so we proceeded with a caesarean section to protect both cow and calf. 🐮❤️
She had been pregnancy-checked earlier this year, so we knew her calf was full-term. ✔️
After IV pain control and Polyflex, she stood like a champ for clipping, scrubbing, and a sterile prep. A paralumbar block was placed using 180 mLs of lidocaine. 💉
Surgery details for the vet folks:
A linear incision was made through the hide, external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique, transverse abdominis, and peritoneum. The gravid horn was positioned ventral to the incision. The hind foot was brought into the opening, and an incision was made between the hooves. Once one hoof was exteriorized, a chain was placed using the double-loop method. The second hind leg was delivered through the same incision and chained similarly.
A healthy heifer calf arrived! The owners jumped right in to stimulate her, give dex, colostrum, and Multimin, and get her dried off. 🌟
🪡 Closure:
The uterus was closed with sterile cat gut in a Utrecht pattern (doubled over), the muscular layer with a simple continuous pattern using #2 PDO, and the skin with sterile catgut in a Ford interlocking.
Mama and baby were settled into a small pen to promote bonding. 💞
📌 Looking Ahead:
Cow #745 will be allowed to wean her calf and then will be culled, as vaginal prolapse will recure with each pregnancy. This decision supports herd health, safety, and welfare. 🐮✔️
Lucy enjoyed tagging along — even though it turned into a very long day with several other calls. After 16 hours, I’m tired… but honestly? I had a great time. This is the best job in the world, and not every day runs this long. ❤️🐄
When I mentioned to our awesome client Reggie that I needed a Christmas tree he sent me home with one 😂😂💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻!