Went to feed and check deer this morning and the last pen I checked was the Big Boy pen. Everything looked good until I saw a white belly, I got a Polaris Ranger thinking I was going to be removing a dead deer but when I got closer I noticed an ear twitch. He wasn't dead but couldn't get up. My best guess is that he was fighting with another buck and possibly "jammed" his neck or pinched a nerve. I gave him 7 1/2 cc Dexamethasone, 3 cc Vit B, and some Excede. I also gave 0.4 cc Acepromazine to keep him calm and relaxed to prevent thrashing around. He is a small bodied deer probably 130-150 lbs. I moved him to a seperate pen and also gave about 20 oz of fluids. I put a mask on him to keep him calm. My plan is to go back every few hours and give fluids and probably take mask off. Does anyone have any other ideas until I can get a vet to check him tomorrow? I did not give Banamine since I gave Dex.
I too had a similar experience this week and did exactly what you are planning to do. My buck came out of it OK but is still a little timid on his feet. I did give 5cc thiamine SQ and 3cc thiamine orally, just in case it was not trauma related and early signs of listeriousis or polio.
Thanks Scott! How long till he was able to move his head? I checked him about 2 hours ago and rolled him on to his other side to keep circulation going. His neck is stiff as a board as if he is tensing up. I'm about to go back and check him again and give about 6 more oz fluid SQ. His breathing is very calm, possibly from the Ace.
Do you have his head elevated? Does he need to be kept warm? Can you massage his neck? All else you did was very impressive.
I have him laying with his head slighty uphill. We have the AC running in the house and wish I could have him in the AC too, its over 75 degrees at night here. I just gave him the last of my last Lactated ringer a few minutes ago and took the mask off. He was calm until then, he tried to get up but could only lift his head about 18". My plan for tomorrow is get him to the vet for xrays and pick up more fluids and more Dex.
Joined Apr 2009
1,136 Posts | 0+
Bedford, PA
Don't have much more advice for you Ross. But wanted to wish you good luck with him! Hope he comes around for you.
Mike
Mike
Make sure you keep his left side up if you have him on his side at all. Remember the saying "If it were LEFT up to you, how would you keep him up" This will prevent fluids from going back in the lungs in the event that the animal throws up. Everything else sounds good that you have done.
-Johnny B
-Johnny B
I use square hay bails to keep deer in sternal repose while convelescing. It usually takes about 3-4 days before you see improvement following neurological trauma. If there is orthapedic damage, then it will take much longer. Don't give up, these creatures do heal well from all injuries and go from down to up and feeling better in a blink of an eye. Good Luck!
Not much improvement today(day 3). Giving 1000ml lactated ringer in morning with 5 cc Dexamethasone and repeating in evening. Held some feed in front of his mouth and he seems to want to eat. Planning on moving him indoors tomorrow before front hits. Still have hood on him which is keeping him very calm. Neck muscles seem very tense. Not sure what else I can do and at what point do I decide to collect semen just in case.
It's been 8 days now and the buck is still down. I started tubing him today with baby cereal and going to try soy protein powder mixed with water tomorrow. He will try to drink out of a bowl but still will not eat. Very aware of surroundings and tries to follow you with his eyes and can move his head from side to side some just not up and down. Been giving the 10 cc of Dex a day. Running out of ideas.