calf cant stand

solerina

We have a 2 day old calf who has never stood, difficult calving so possibly oxygen deprived...but didn't appear so, is panting a little bit too. We have stomach tubed her so far. OH reckons she is a lost cause and will die anyway so hasn't called the vet...any ideas what could be wrong with her/ and possible suggestions/ treatment (until we probably ring vet /she dies)

WheatenBriar

Keep the calf hydrated,as often during the day with something like effydryal
Make sure you have sprayed its navel with a lasting disinfectant and don't give it too much milk
Give it some but very little,the last thing you want in a weak calf is a scour

The calf should be light,so over the coming days if it lives and is stable or gaining strength ,stand it up on all fours with you stabilising it and taking the weight
2 people doing that is better,one at the front and one at the back
Exercise its joints as often as you are passing for a few minutes
It will get up eventually as long as it isn't unfortunate enough to get an infection

As regards being oxygen starved,let's not think that for now
If the calf is bright in the head and with full eyes (giving it that drink as often as possible,say quarter an effydryal tablet in a litre,4 or 5 times a day including last thing at night and first thing in the morning) it will start standing and eventually moving around on its own

It sounds like an awful lot of effort,but it isn't really and well worth it if it gets over this patch if you get me?

solerina

WheatenBriar wrote: »

Keep the calf hydrated,as often during the day with something like effydryal
Make sure you have sprayed its navel with a lasting disinfectant and don't give it too much milk
Give it some but very little,the last thing you want in a weak calf is a scour

The calf should be light,so over the coming days if it lives and is stable or gaining strength ,stand it up on all fours with you stabilising it and taking the weight
2 people doing that is better,one at the front and one at the back
Exercise its joints as often as you are passing for a few minutes
It will get up eventually as long as it isn't unfortunate enough to get an infection

As regards being oxygen starved,let's not think that for now
If the calf is bright in the head and with full eyes (giving it that drink as often as possible,say quarter an effydryal tablet in a litre,4 or 5 times a day including last thing at night and first thing in the morning) it will start standing and eventually moving around on its own

It sounds like an awful lot of effort,but it isn't really and well worth it if it gets over this patch if you get me?

This is the bit that worries me...I am not sure she is...seems to be 'swaying' her head about a bit when you do sit/prop her up.


Thanks !!!

WheatenBriar

solerina wrote: »

This is the bit that worries me...I am not sure she is...seems to be 'swaying' her head about a bit when you do sit/prop her up.


Thanks !!!

That *could* be anything
Without seeing it myself,it's impossible to say,because they can do that with an infection of some kind
It could be something as simple as the calf having a cramp or being sore from being either out flat or in the one position all the time.
Don't be disheartened if it dies,it's still worth the effort for the poor delicate thing,hopefully it will pull through though
Pack some nice fresh straw around it,keeping it cosy,there's some cold weather coming

Limestone Cowboy

solerina wrote: »

We have a 2 day old calf who has never stood, difficult calving so possibly oxygen deprived...but didn't appear so, is panting a little bit too. We have stomach tubed her so far. OH reckons she is a lost cause and will die anyway so hasn't called the vet...any ideas what could be wrong with her/ and possible suggestions/ treatment (until we probably ring vet /she dies)

Fluid in the lungs possibly, is it kinda gurgling as its panting?

Goshen

It won't survive.

Base price

We have a bull calf that is about 7 weeks old now. It was a difficult calving. The calf didn't stand for 3 days and when it did its front knuckles kept bending over. Brought him up to the vet to have a look as I thought bracing on the front legs would help. Vet did not want to put on braces but while doing the general exam, listening to heart, lungs etc, heard fluid on the lungs and gave him 2 injections and gave us some to give him over the next few days.
Calf is now able to stand on the front legs without knuckling over since Sunday but that was after holding his legs in the correct or near correct position while he was standing for about 10 mins four or five times a day.

solerina

Thanks everyone, yes she is panting a lot....think OH is going to ring the vet afterall. Will post back with developments one way or the other.

greysides

I certainly wouldn't give up on her. In the best case scenario the answer could be quite simple in which case you've lost 2 days sitting on your hands without at least ringing the vet.

Greengrass1

I've a bull calf here pinned since it was born.
Found him in calving pen with head back under his body. Only just born now
took a week to stand took two weeks before his neck got straight. Then he got an awful scour took 10 days to cure that his comrades 8 wks old are double his size and now he has a big swollen back hoof and can't walk.

Just going to be a runt I think

tanko

Greengrass1 wrote: »

I've a bull calf here pinned since it was born.
Found him in calving pen with head back under his body. Only just born now
took a week to stand took two weeks before his neck got straight. Then he got an awful scour took 10 days to cure that his comrades 8 wks old are double his size and now he has a big swollen back hoof and can't walk.

Just going to be a runt I think

Has he got joint Ill now?

solerina

Thanks all...calf has died ...natural causes, so none the wiser as to what was wrong !!

tanko

solerina wrote: »

Thanks all...calf has died ...natural causes, so none the wiser as to what was wrong !!

Probably a result of the difficult calving.