PULLMAN WSU veterinary students and faculty successfully delivered twin heifer calves Dec. 24 following the humane euthanasia of the cow for medical reasons.
The pregnant dairy cow slipped and fell on some ice at WSU’s Dairy Center today and fractured her hind leg. Euthanasia was the only reasonable option. The cow was only three weeks away from delivering twin calves however, so the decision was made to provide pain relief, euthanize her, and take the calves by Caesarian section.
A team of WSU veterinary students and faculty were summoned for the surgery. After a brief initial examination, the team developed a plan for humane euthanasia that also optimized calf survivability.
Normally, a lethal intravenous solution is used for euthanasia but in this case that drug cocktail would have jeopardized the calves’ lives. An IV was placed however to immediately deliver a lethal overdose after the calves were taken.
Veterinary student Gudrun Gunther, under the faculty supervision of Professor Steve Parish and Large Animal Resident Stacey Byers, first administered an epidural block to ease the cow’s pain and relax any muscle tension.
“She placed that block high enough on the cow’s spine to ensure her legs had complete pain relief before we did anything else,” said Parish.
Next, the team readied all the necessary instruments and equipment. Fourth-year veterinary student Isaac Bott was chosen to conduct the surgery. Bott, like the others is beginning his last semester before graduating as a veterinarian. During his training, he has performed a number of surgeries with cattle as they needed it.
“I told him timing was essential,” continued Parish. “I literally gave him 10 seconds to get the first calf out and within a minute or so he must have the other calf out.
“After the block was effective,’ said Parish, “the humane euthanasia began with the use of a captive bolt gun.”
As the name implies, a captive bolt gun is designed to thrust a large metal rod directly into the animal’s brain rendering it immediately unconscious. This is done using an explosive charge or compressed air. From that point on, the animal can feel no pain yet the heart will still beat; a necessary component for upping the odds of both calves surviving.
“Isaac had that first calf out in under 10 seconds; I timed him,” said Parish. “He then reached in and got the other one within the window of time we’d discussed.” Parish, Byers, and two more veterinary students, Adria Yeager and Owen Black, then began post-natal care for the calves.
“Once the calves were out, we euthanized the cow with a lethal injection that stops the heart while she still couldn’t feel pain.”
The calves are currently housed in the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s agricultural animal section and are being attended to around the clock. Since the procedure took place outside, warming the calves and keeping them warm is a priority. The second calf also had some slight respiratory distress at first and is being given oxygen.
The calves are in good condition but given the situation, the prognosis for a full recovery remains guarded. Both have been bottle-fed colostrum; a dam’s first milk that carries with it components for a newborn’s first defense against disease
Both calves will receive microchips and enter the national animal identification registration system.
Still given the date of their delivery, Dec. 24, the students and faculty have nicknamed them, “Merry and Chris.”
