12 wk fawn down in back legs

I am licensed wildlife rehabber in Florida and I received a 12 wk old fawn that was found lyng next to a fence. He cannot use his back legs ...took him to my vet for evaluation...x-rays showed no fractures of pelvis area or back but he has had some trauma..anyway gave him a shot of dex and B-12 on Tuesday, Wednesday..shot of dex and Banamine, Today another shot of Dex and Banamine...My vet says by Monday if no improvement at all to bring him back to be euthanized...I have to say I'm not convinced that week is long enough...he responds to pain in his back legs, he can stand for short periods of time but will buckle...appetite is good, defecating and urinating on his own...any other suggestions...I was thinking about BoSe but do not know about dosages in deer (he weighs 31 lbs.)...any help would be greatly appreciated



Kim Evans

Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator

State Permit #SC01A-2542

Federal Permit #MB184245-0

Special Purpose Possession/Education Permit #MB198882-0

Hopefully scott or dr joe will see this and help you out!! No doubt he hit the fence with the damadge he has but i would say you are 100% right that you need to give him longer than any week to really show if he can pull out of this!! Good luck to ya's both!!

Could be a thiamine deficiency... Do searches on these boards to see what others have done in that situation. Also send email to [email protected]



He's a deer vet. Scott Heinrich may also see this to provide advise. They are both highly competent.

I had a buck fawn hit the fence this summer, could not even lift head and layed flat on side for 3 weeks, we lifted head to feed clover. pellets ,and bottle , we used a syringe to feed water with electrolites, this buck is now running around in his outside pen so it takes time, if nothing broke probabley the spine is swollen or a nerve, we gave dex daily for first week, also gave a shot of b 12 in beginning and bose for 2 days, I know bose isnt for injury but wilmer martin told me he uses it with injury, and with his knowledge I wasnt gonna doubt him, I forgot to say we brought him in the house for that time because of the other fawns and getting dirt in eyes from laying flat, he actually got a eye infection later because of the dirt and mitch p got me through that, but I wouldnt give up deer have a very strong will to live!!

good luck!!!!



Scott Neeb

Chanllow Farms

Thanks ...I sent him a email !

Assuming the trauma is the cause, I would continue the dex/banamine therapy for at least 10 days before I would give up. Also, in addition to the drugs you have to exercise the legs. This can be done using a fawn cradle or something similar that will allow the limbs to be free to move without having to support weight. I doubt if the BoSe will help as suggested above, but it will not hurt. Just out of curiosity, what is the weight of the fawn and the dose of dex/ban you are using. Too much dex is not a good thing. BTW dex is a steroid and banamine is an anti inflamatory. I have used them together and been very effective in reversing and improving nerve damage related injuries.

The fawn weighs 31 lbs, I do not know what the dosage was the first or second day but today it was 2.5 cc, the ban amine was 0.3. My vet wants to give it another dose of dex tomorrow and a B 12 shot , then skip a day, Then another dose of dex, skip a day...Also I asked my vet about giving it Banamine and she was not too keen on that idea..but he did get one dose last night of Banamine...

The most important thing you can do is to lift him and exercise him at least 4 to 5 times daily. Meds are good but are not a stand alone solution. As long as he is eating and drinking he stands a chance. I would also give him an oxytetracycline like Tetradure every 4 days as a preventative for pnuemonia.



This last spring one of my best does went down 12 hrs. after fawning. She couldn't use her back legs at all. It took her 2 1/2 weeks before she could stand and support her own weight. 2 days later she was walking on her own.



Just give him time.

Kim, I had 2 fawns this year with thiamine deficiency the one couldn't get up for 1 wk. If you would like to call feel free to. 717-629-2277



Stevie Stoltzfus Jr

Expression Whitetails

Thanks everyone....my vet says she does see improvement in him ( he now feels the injections she is giving him) that's a good thing ...as far as exercising I put a towel around his waist and help him walk..he browses and urinates..and I really think he likes this attention....I'm considering purchasing a water trough for some water therapy...Any thoughts?

put some dollies on a fawn cradle.

You might want to read this thread: http://www.deerforums.com/vbforums/showthread.php?t=5254&highlight=thiamine



Just in the event that trauma might not be the cause...



Good luck!

Water therapy does work, but they really do not like it.

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/fol...ogleShopping&gclid=CKKH27OhxqsCFcWd7QodnBm77w

needs modified. someone sells them allready modified on here



http://www.whitetaildeerfarmer.com/

they might have them.

Thanks everyone for all the great comments....I have learned so much from this forum and very grateful to have found it ! Unfortunately Sunday afternoon we lost the fawn to bloat...Saturday morning I was concerned about the roundness of his belly so I gave hm some gas x...he was fine the rest of day...eating, urinating and defecating....worked with him several times exercising his legs....Sat. evening he drank his bottle...Sunday morning he drank a bottle, ate some sweet feed, urinated and defecated ...I transferred him to another rehabber who had alot of time to spend with him in this rehab process....and boom he went down, clenched teeth, foam coming from his mouth..she held until his final breath was taken...IT HAPPENED SO FAST ! His tongue was blue...I am now wondering after much research on this forum if maybe he had a twisted gut..any comments would be appreciated....