OK experts, here's one I need help on. I have a 6week old doe fawn. This fawn developed a lump on its left side (see pic) over a month ago. We have not determined the cause of the lump. Attempts to aspirate it revealed nothing and it is firm to the touch and somewhat elongated now. The lump had not affected the fawns overall health in any way that we could determine. I mention the lump only because it is of unknown origin and may be meaningful when you hear the current issue. The fawn has what appears to be bloat. 3 days ago she blew up and quit eating. We have treated with Penn g, CD antitoxin repeatedly and have also administered Tetradure, Probias, Pepto Bismol and Vitimine B, with no success. She does take a bottle occfasionally, but only about 2-4 oz per day. When she is at rest, she lays on her side like a dog. Several times over the last few days we thought she had croaked, but were suprised to see her get up and scamper off when we approached her. We are giving mineral oil this evening as a last resort to reduce her girth. Any ideas?
Joined Apr 2009
519 Posts | 1+
Rivesville, WV
Scott, to me it looks like a hernia in the muscles of the abdomen. Perhaps wrapping with an ace bandage and giving banamine would relax that muscle and allow it time to heal. The other option is a possible x-ray, which may lead to an operation for repair.
I can`t respond Scott because you asked for experts. Now if ya want a Polock guess I would wonder if it could be a hernia or tumor since you`ve tried to aspirate it with no results. How about an obstruction or twisted bowel? You have pretty much covered the perfringen thing. I`m just wondering if her laying on her side is to relieve the discomfort she has. I`m trying to throw things out there that may stark a thought in others that may have encountered something similar. The loss of appetite concerns me. I don`t really know Scott for sure other than guessing. There`s one sure way to get these answers but I don`t think we want the answers that way. Keeps us posted Scott, I am curious to know. If it has you stumped then we are all in trouble on this one. Good luck.
Robert Bittinger said:
Robert - When my fawn bloated I gave 10cc of antitoxin and 5cc of Pen G. The antitoxin dose needs to be doubled for treatment and the Pen G should be a high dose. This is what saved my fawn. Liz
The hernia was ruled out by the vet. He stated that when he palpated the lump it felt like liquid to him and he did not feel any bowel or tear in the muscle. The fawn got 10cc of cd antitoxin TWICE and 5cc of penn g. We are getting a sonogram machine tomorrow to look at the lump and Mitch, we may go in and extract whatever it is if the sono looks clear enough to determine it is separate from the wall of the body cavity. I usually have good results fighting bloat, but this one has me baffled. We may also try Liz's approach for the fawn she had with the pinched gut and just enema the daylights out of the little bugger. Don't worry, I will have a rain suit on when the enemas begin.
UPDATE..........Sonogram revealed the lump to be a blood clot. The lump originated virtually overnight and we had at the time suspected it was due to an injury, but we began second guessing ourselves with the onset of bloat. By the way, it appears that the CD antitoxin we administered is finally doing some good as the fawn's belly was 40% smaller today and she is beginning to eat more now. Thanks to all of you for your input and help.