sick calf

wool521

have a calf a month old and this morning the calf has swelling on one side of his neck and is holding his head to one side,doesn't seem able to straighten his neck,he got a shot oxycomplex on friday on the side thats swollen,has anyone seen this before?

Base price

Could be a abscess forming at the injection site.
What did he get the injection on Friday for?

dzer2

This could be from a dirty needle

Not to hijack the thread Have a calf here that is 10 weeks old. About 3 weeks ago went into the field to see he had a bit of a scour. So I got the chaps to catch him to give him a powder and shot. He ran wild around the field but eventually into the small pen and we administered the dose and let him out. He galloped off to the cow. When he got to the cow he fell down and started to shake and thrash about. It was the same as an epileptic fit. I sat him up and it took him 20 mins to get up and then he started to stagger around. Later that day he was lying down and when he got up he was unsteady. The following day he was fine.
Well this morning went out to check the cattle and he was having another fit head bashing and thrashing the legs. He was at it a while as there was a lot of marks in the field where he was. Again I sat him up and held him until he stopped. Have checked him a few times since and he has being lying down. When he gets up he is very unsteady on the feet.

Any ideas?

Base price

dzer2 wrote: »

This could be from a dirty needle

Not to hijack the thread Have a calf here that is 10 weeks old. About 3 weeks ago went into the field to see he had a bit of a scour. So I got the chaps to catch him to give him a powder and shot. He ran wild around the field but eventually into the small pen and we administered the dose and let him out. He galloped off to the cow. When he got to the cow he fell down and started to shake and thrash about. It was the same as an epileptic fit. I sat him up and it took him 20 mins to get up and then he started to stagger around. Later that day he was lying down and when he got up he was unsteady. The following day he was fine.
Well this morning went out to check the cattle and he was having another fit head bashing and thrashing the legs. He was at it a while as there was a lot of marks in the field where he was. Again I sat him up and held him until he stopped. Have checked him a few times since and he has being lying down. When he gets up he is very unsteady on the feet.

Any ideas?

Not a short answer but get your vet.

trixi2011

dzer2 wrote: »

This could be from a dirty needle

Not to hijack the thread Have a calf here that is 10 weeks old. About 3 weeks ago went into the field to see he had a bit of a scour. So I got the chaps to catch him to give him a powder and shot. He ran wild around the field but eventually into the small pen and we administered the dose and let him out. He galloped off to the cow. When he got to the cow he fell down and started to shake and thrash about. It was the same as an epileptic fit. I sat him up and it took him 20 mins to get up and then he started to stagger around. Later that day he was lying down and when he got up he was unsteady. The following day he was fine.
Well this morning went out to check the cattle and he was having another fit head bashing and thrashing the legs. He was at it a while as there was a lot of marks in the field where he was. Again I sat him up and held him until he stopped. Have checked him a few times since and he has being lying down. When he gets up he is very unsteady on the

Seen something like it before ended up being a clostodial disease from the soil id be calling the vet to have a look

wool521

had a bit of a chill on friday so gave him the oxycomplex

dzer2

Base price wrote: »

Not a short answer but get your vet.

trixi2011 wrote: »

Seen something like it before ended up being a clostodial disease from the soil id be calling the vet to have a look

He is fine there now drinking off mammy

Base price

wool521 wrote: »

had a bit of a chill on friday so gave him the oxycomplex

Have a feel of the lump if you can. I presume it in the same area where he got the injection. If it is an abscess the general swelling will become more compact and form into a raised lump over the next few days. It may then need to be lanced by your vet.
In the meantime keep an eye on him to ensure that he is eating and drinking.
Is he on a cow?

Base price

dzer2 wrote: »

He is fine there now drinking off mammy

I am not been a smart ass but I presume he has been drinking off mammy every day since you witnessed the first fit 3 weeks ago otherwise he would be skin and bone at this stage yet he is still showing signs of having this problem.
I don't know how much your vet charges for a call out (€35/€50) but if he was mine I would either get the vet to call or load him into a trailer and bring him to the vet.
Easier to find out what the problem is and get it rectified rather than possibly loosing a good calf.

whelan2

dzer2 wrote: »

This could be from a dirty needle

Not to hijack the thread Have a calf here that is 10 weeks old. About 3 weeks ago went into the field to see he had a bit of a scour. So I got the chaps to catch him to give him a powder and shot. He ran wild around the field but eventually into the small pen and we administered the dose and let him out. He galloped off to the cow. When he got to the cow he fell down and started to shake and thrash about. It was the same as an epileptic fit. I sat him up and it took him 20 mins to get up and then he started to stagger around. Later that day he was lying down and when he got up he was unsteady. The following day he was fine.
Well this morning went out to check the cattle and he was having another fit head bashing and thrashing the legs. He was at it a while as there was a lot of marks in the field where he was. Again I sat him up and held him until he stopped. Have checked him a few times since and he has being lying down. When he gets up he is very unsteady on the feet.

Any ideas?

had one like this is was a pb aa calf, the fits got more frequent and she died, had vet with her , she was a bit younger than your one

greysides

wool521 wrote: »

have a calf a month old and this morning the calf has swelling on one side of his neck and is holding his head to one side,doesn't seem able to straighten his neck,he got a shot oxycomplex on friday on the side thats swollen,has anyone seen this before?

It's most likely that it would be a reaction to ingredients in the injection. The antibiotic can be quite nasty. Some calves seem more susceptible than others.

It says this on the datasheet:
Overdosing by intramuscular injection may give rise to swelling at the site of injection. Treatment should be symptomatic.

Another thing that is possible is a haematoma if a biggish blood vessel was punctured.

An abscess, as mentioned, is possible but to my mind less likely.

Usually, at least three successive days of treatment should be given to reduce the risk of the development of antibiotic resistance. Maybe this was done (or not given the consequences of the first injection) but it wasn't mentioned. It's something that's very important and worth bearing in mind for more practice.

greysides

dzer2 wrote: »

This could be from a dirty needle

Not to hijack the thread Have a calf here that is 10 weeks old. About 3 weeks ago went into the field to see he had a bit of a scour. So I got the chaps to catch him to give him a powder and shot. He ran wild around the field but eventually into the small pen and we administered the dose and let him out. He galloped off to the cow. When he got to the cow he fell down and started to shake and thrash about. It was the same as an epileptic fit. I sat him up and it took him 20 mins to get up and then he started to stagger around. Later that day he was lying down and when he got up he was unsteady. The following day he was fine.
Well this morning went out to check the cattle and he was having another fit head bashing and thrashing the legs. He was at it a while as there was a lot of marks in the field where he was. Again I sat him up and held him until he stopped. Have checked him a few times since and he has being lying down. When he gets up he is very unsteady on the feet.

Any ideas?

What was the 'powder and shot'?

Is he still okay?

dzer2

greysides wrote: »

What was the 'powder and shot'?

Is he still okay?

2 Sulpha Powdesr for the scour and entrodrin 5 mls for 4 days

Calf is fine this morning

dzer2

Base price wrote: »

I am not been a smart ass but I presume he has been drinking off mammy every day since you witnessed the first fit 3 weeks ago otherwise he would be skin and bone at this stage yet he is still showing signs of having this problem.
I don't know how much your vet charges for a call out (€35/€50) but if he was mine I would either get the vet to call or load him into a trailer and bring him to the vet.
Easier to find out what the problem is and get it rectified rather than possibly loosing a good calf.

Yeah he is with the cow the first fit took place when we changed the cattle to a new field and the same has happened when we changed them again.

dzer2

whelan2 wrote: »

had one like this is was a pb aa calf, the fits got more frequent and she died, had vet with her , she was a bit younger than your one

Ah sorry to here that.

The calf is nearly 3 months old and is surly 120 kgs You wouldn't be fit to hold him unless in a pen

Will take him to vet when we can catch him now:(

greysides

dzer2 wrote: »

2 Sulpha Powdesr for the scour and entrodrin 5 mls for 4 days

Calf is fine this morning

Is this the stuff?

dzer2

greysides wrote: »

Is this the stuff?

justed checked prescription its entrodril max

greysides

Sorry, can't find that stuff on Google to check the ingredients.

Base price

greysides wrote: »

Sorry, can't find that stuff on Google to check the ingredients.

You will have to copy and paste the link -
https://www.hpra.ie/img/uploaded/swedocuments/LicenseSPC_10999-127-001_26012015114939.pdf

If we get something from the vet and I am unsure of dosage or type of administration (IM/SC/IV) cause I cannot read the label, don't have the prescription to hand and it's to late to phone the vet I refer to https://www.hpra.ie/homepage/veterinary/veterinary-medicines-information/find-a-medicine?page=1

greysides

No problems there then.

dzer2

greysides wrote: »

No problems there then.

Ah no the vets top notch in fairness.