Weanling down

Grecco

Bought what I thought was a cheap Weanlen a month ago. He was small and thin but at the money I though he was worth a chance.
Since I got him He got pneumonia in the first week which I cured but last week I found him down in the slats too weak to get up. I put him into the hayshed nice and snug but He`s is still really thin and wont get up for me. I've tried feeding him on ad-lib everything since but still no good. I dread going into the hay-shed in the morning for fear he will have hooked it.
Is there anything I can give him to strengthen him up??
Should I try and lift him?

Bactidiaryl

You get what you pay for. You took the gamble.

redzerologhlen

Bactidiaryl wrote: »

You get what you pay for. You took the gamble.

That was helpful :rolleyes:

epfff

Bactidiaryl wrote: »

You get what you pay for. You took the gamble.

Simpathic bloke
Compulsive gambler here
My suggestion is just keep meal and water fresh in front and maybe leave it a step away to encourage him to get up
if yo can get your hands on ivy off esb pole or something they love it
Dont like bottling with eggs as handling usually casus stress

bbam

How hydrated is he??
I'd firstly be making sure he's getting enough fresh water but really I'd be adding electrolyte to the water on a regular basis, (daily) to ensure the system is as balanced as possible, this will help absorb whatever feed is being consumed..

What has the vet said ?

greysides

You may have bought a bad 'un or you may not. All you can do is cover your bases.

If not done already, get a good worm dose, a good fluke dose and some Zanil into him.

Get a tonic for him and keep him with a deep soft bed under him. Keep him warm- tie an old coat/rug/jumper over him- and keep him out of draughts. I wouldn't bother lifting him but keep his coat clean and dry- no urine scalding.

Talk to your vet about dosing and his/her opinion on a course of antibiotics. The pneumonia may not be as cleared as you think.

Any signs of a scour? Coccidiosis will weaken him further.

Check his age from his card against what you'd guess him as. If there's a major discrepancy then don't hold your breathe.

Best of luck.

BTW, how long might he be weaned............ and do you have a quiet cow in milk? This can work wonders.

mahoney_j

First thing id be doin is giving the vet a shout,Possibly could be severe bvd could be anything though

freedominacup

greysides wrote: »

Get a tonic for him and keep him with a deep soft bed under him. Keep him warm- tie an old coat/rug/jumper over him- and keep him out of draughts. sis will weaken him further.

We have an old horse blanket a neighbour left behind one year he had horses in grazing green cover on stubbles. It has saved more than one downer cow. It's actually hard to credit how much heat it retains and the difference it makes to a downed animal. It's in shreds now I'll have to get a new one.

whelan1

freedominacup wrote: »

We have an old horse blanket a neighbour left behind one year he had horses in grazing green cover on stubbles. It has saved more than one downer cow. It's actually hard to credit how much heat it retains and the difference it makes to a downed animal. It's in shreds now I'll have to get a new one.

santy might bring you one, as bbam said electrolytes, give the animal energy to overcome whatever it has, but would ring the vet - probably not worth a call out but if you talk to them they might be able to help.... its at times like this that you have to weigh up whether to get the knackery or the vet:o

bbam

greysides wrote: »

You may have bought a bad 'un or you may not. All you can do is cover your bases.

If not done already, get a good worm dose, a good fluke dose and some Zanil into him.

Get a tonic for him and keep him with a deep soft bed under him. Keep him warm- tie an old coat/rug/jumper over him- and keep him out of draughts. I wouldn't bother lifting him but keep his coat clean and dry- no urine scalding.

Talk to your vet about dosing and his/her opinion on a course of antibiotics. The pneumonia may not be as cleared as you think.

Any signs of a scour? Coccidiosis will weaken him further.

Check his age from his card against what you'd guess him as. If there's a major discrepancy then don't hold your breathe.

Best of luck.

BTW, how long might he be weaned............ and do you have a quiet cow in milk? This can work wonders.

If he's down and weak I wouldn't dose a heap of stuff into him without the vet seeing him.
If he has a heavy burden in his lungs the dying paracites will destroy him and he'll take pneumonia again.

At this stage you can't afford to mess around, a poorly animal down a few days deserves the vet, your not looking after its best interests if you don't.

Get the vet out !

pakalasa

It's energy he needs first. You can do the dosing later. Would he drink a cow? Nothing like milk to get them going again.

keep going

PI PI PI PI .is he small for his age

greysides

bbam wrote: »

If he's down and weak I wouldn't dose a heap of stuff into him without the vet seeing him.
If he has a heavy burden in his lungs the dying paracites will destroy him and he'll take pneumonia again.

True!
But it's a case of 'damned if you do and damned if you don't' at this stage.

Electrolytes would be useful but mainly if he's dehydrated, which he might be if he's not drinking or has a scour.

Grecco

I doubt he`s a PI, hes not scouring but he still is just so dam thin and weak. I think that since he`s so thin he cant keep warm. I put a horse blanket on him now as well. I`ll leave the Vet in the office, not just because its not economically viable but the Vet I have isn't much good at animal treatments from past experience (He is good to me for the TB testing IYKWIM that's why I keep using him)
As for dosing, I did dose all the Wealens at the same time as him a few weeks back but now I`m wondering if the stuff I used was any good because I could have recorded a coughing orchestra this morning from them.
He`s still alive anyway so that's the main thing

Lizard_Moon

Grecco wrote: »

I doubt he`s a PI, hes not scouring but he still is just so dam thin and weak. I

An weanling doesn't need to be scouring to be a BVD PI.....unfortunately

bbam

Grecco wrote: »

but the Vet I have isn't much good at animal treatments from past experience (He is good to me for the TB testing IYKWIM that's why I keep using him)

There is so much wrong with that statement I won't even go there..:rolleyes:

I've no idea what you paid for this animal but you're loking like loosing your investment, plus paying the knackery €60-€80 to take him..
If you spent that €80 on a vet callout you might actually get this animal back on its feet and hold onto your investment, maybe even turn a few bob too..

If this is a young animal you could try milk replacer. 2L morning and evening, I'd add glucose, 2-3 table spoons, and a few eggs, 2-3, to each feed. This will give a boost in protein & energy and the warm drink can only help make it feel better.. There is a milti vit tonic can be added too.

A huge factor in downed animals is hydration and electrolyte balance, lack of these results in lowered blood pressure which depresses the animal further and also restricts absorption of any feed taken. From there it is a downward spiral with one feeding into the other until the end.

Someone mentioned it being a PI, its worth considering, I'm not sure they all scour all the time..

towzer2010

Grecco wrote: »

I doubt he`s a PI, hes not scouring but he still is just so dam thin and weak.

That sounds just like the PI I had last year. Never scoured but was thin and weak.

pakalasa

When I was a young fella, we had a calf that was born abour 3 wks premature. It couldn't stand and too weak to suckle. I nursed it twice a day with a mixture of eggs, poitin, glucose and milk. I tied a rope over the rafters of the shed and pulled it up so that it would stand. It survived, but never was 100%. A bit of TLC can go a long way.
BBAM's post above reminded me of it.

What age is he Grecco?

Farmer Pudsey

I'd be afraid of PI as well or else as a calf he got bad peunomia. When you know the history of an animal it is a help. Eggs,milk, and glucose as well as what another poster said Ivy. If feeding ration see if he will eat a bit of mash (bran and beet pulp with warm water) however if he will not eat it when warm no point in letting it in front of him. If you want to leave dry food in front of him beet pulp, flaked maize and barley or a weanling crunch.

My own opinion is that you are up against it, you win some you lose some. Even if he make it you will have to watch him do not let him out until May next year and make sure it will be dry weather for a weaek after you let him out (if you get that far).

If you get the vet get him to blood test for PI also have you taken his temperature he may still have the peunomia

If you get to the stage 2-3 weeks down the line where he is stronger use an oral dose no ivermectin as it will clog the lungd

whelan1

any progress?

Grecco

whelan1 wrote: »

any progress?

Thanks for asking

Poor fella died last night, I knew he was on the way out the day before as he started cutting his teeth. Vet said that it was the first attack of pneumonia that done the damage and that he was more that likely badly fluked.
Might get the knackery to open him up to have a look at his liver not that it would do any good now

jomoloney

Grecco wrote: »

Thanks for asking

Poor fella died last night, I knew he was on the way out the day before as he started cutting his teeth. Vet said that it was the first attack of pneumonia that done the damage and that he was more that likely badly fluked.
Might get the knackery to open him up to have a look at his liver not that it would do any good now

why not take him to the Dept lab , cheaper than knackery and more thorough