“We’ve got a prolapse and need you to come to the ranch straight away,” she said.

“I’ve got this clinic here, eh?” he offered.

“Nay, it’s too far, she’s too big and she’s down!”

An hour later Doc pulled into the pasture where the cow lay. Due to the mud, slush and frozen snow, he was only able to get within 30 meters of the 1,500-pound Simmental cross. He positioned his vehicle so that he would have some light on the area.

The cow lay on a sloping hillock with her head to the upside. The prolapse, which he named Polly, as in, “Let’s get Polly back in there!” was proportional to the size of her cow. That is to say, it was comparable to a 4-foot-long, 50-pound breakfast burrito!

In spite of their efforts to manhandle the cow to face downhill so gravity was on their side, they were unable to do so. The rancher brought a Polaris ATV from the barn. Using a rope, they successfully moved the cow into the desired position.

Doc knew better than to tie the rope to his vet truck. It was already missing one side mirror, and the passenger door didn’t close properly from the previous cow encounter. They tied it to the Polaris and snugged it.

At that moment the cow rose up and stood. She appeared to be in a trance. Quickly taking advantage, Doc smoothly injected an epidural. With the rancher’s help they inverted Polly in a matter of minutes.

As soon as it plopped in, the cow had a miraculous recovery! She suddenly became aware of her situation, causing her to attempt an escape, dragging the Polaris behind her. They looked like two elephantine ice skaters in a postpartum ballet!

The cow finally tangled in the line and they managed to slow her down. At that point she turned her newfound fury on her tormentors, attacking the good doctor and turning the four-wheeler into a three-wheeler!

Doc was leaning up against his pickup trying to catch his breath while the unladylike rancher turned the air blue with curses, lamentations and threats of bovine felonies! “Why does this always happen to me?!” she moaned, “Why me?”

“I’ve got this clinic now, eh?” said Dr. Blaine.

“Et tu, uteri!” Shakespeare (1598)  PD