Here's the Schroeder -Thomas Splint Update. A few years ago one of our calves broke his hind leg, you can read about it here
This is calving season on many farms so and we get quite a few questions about how to make a Schroeder -Thomas Splint.
The splint that Keith welded worked great for our calf. However, I recently got an email from Tracie asking for more information on the splint. I was happy to share more pictures along with a few other details.
Tracie was kind enough to send an email with a picture of their Schroeder-Thomas Splint. I think that Tracie may have improved on the design by adding a can holder for the calf's foot. However, using a cable to make the upper ring doesn't give enough support for the frame at the hip area. The cable is flexible which makes it easier to adjust but again, the upper ring is for supporting the leg.
Tracie also added a can Koozie to hold the foot inside the frame. We had used a block of wood to support the foot and held it in place with Vet Wrap and duct tape.
The key to making the splint is fitting it to the animal. Careful measurements are needed for the length and the circumference at the hip.
As a side note; all the surfaces of the frame that come in contact with skin should be padded to prevent sores from forming. This is especially important during fly season.
The spring weather is too erratic here in Iowa. Some years there's been snow on the ground late into April. Spring weather is too cold and the grass too sparse for grazing so now calving is schedule to begin in May.
Update: April 11, 2016
Recently I've been emailing with Summer from North Dakota. They have a calf with a high, rear leg fracture. The frame they designed has an adjustable base with clamps to make the foot platform slide up or down. Summer was kind enough to share several pictures of their splint. They did a remarkable job with their calf named, Superman. He's fortunate for their loving care.
Thanks for sharing, Summer!
