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y Amanda Earp
A female longhorn named Stars Sweet Intentions (Star) arrived at
the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
(CVM) Large Animal Hospital for treatment of an open compound fracture,
which means the bone was penetrating the skin, of her hind limb.
The longhorn fractured her leg in a steel hay ring in February 2011, said
Suzanne Torkildsen, one of Star’s owners.
Star faced a difficult six-month healing process because of the
extensive damage to her blood supply and because she was a month
pregnant when she had her accident. The veterinarians proceeded with
the needed reparative surgery on Star with caution because she was
pregnant; however, because most of the weight gain from her pregnancy
would come in her third trimester, there would be enough time to heal
before her due date.
“[The recovery] was slow. It just took a long time. She was one month
pregnant and kept the calf, which was unbelievable. The calf was just
beautiful,” Torkildsen said.
The longhorn’s treatment was a team effort at the Large Animal
Hospital, and dozens of veterinarians were involved with the case, along
with two veterinary student classes. Dr. Kara Schulz, lecturer at the
CVM, was the senior veterinarian on the case. Other veterinarians at the
“[Star] is out with the regular herd
of cows, and I didn’t know
she could ever do that.
She has access to 30 acres,
she trots and runs.
…If you were to watch her
across the pasture,
nobody would ever know
she had surgery for a broken leg,”
Torkildsen said.
CVM included Dr. Jeffrey Watkins, professor and orthopedic surgeon at
and Dr. Ricardo Loinaz, surgery resident.
Suzanne and husband William Torkildsen were dedicated to Star’s
recovery, along with the many veterinarians and students involved in her
case. The Torkildsen family still owns both Star and her calf and say that
they are leading happy, healthy lives at their ranch in Fayetteville, Texas.
“[Star] is out with the regular herd of cows, and I didn’t know she
could ever do that. She has access to 30 acres, she trots and runs.
…If you were to watch her across the pasture, nobody would ever
know she had surgery for a broken leg,” Torkildsen said.
Torkildsen said she was “blown away” by the Large Animal Hospital
and would recommend it to anyone.
“I’ve never been so impressed in my life. When we drove up, there
were like three DVMs and 10 helpers. I just want to cry thinking about it;
they were just awesome,” she said about the veterinarians and staff at the
Large Animal Hospital. “[They were] very honest and upfront but, yet,
very caring, loving, and sensitive.”
CVM Today • Winter 2012 • 9