Navel infection in calfs

cacs

I have a four week old calf with a navel infection . He got four rounds of antibiotics and is starting to get jointis. Super calf double muscle Charolais . I think he is a goner . Has anyone any suggestions

lenihankevin

Maybe get vet to flush joint surgically and long long long course of antibiotics and painkillers?

frazzledhome

cathal irwin wrote: »

I have a four week old calf with a navel infection . He got four rounds of antibiotics and is starting to get jointis. Super calf double muscle Charolais . I think he is a goner . Has anyone any suggestions

Not to be smart but the knacker is the answer at this stage IME

hallo dare

We had 3 or 4 calves years ago with a naval infection. Like that, the vet gave loads of antibiotics, but he also opened the naval at the side so it could be flushed out with a syringe . Thankfully they all pulled through. Best place to leave them to recover was out in the field, not in a shed.

cacs

I was talking to a mate there he said try an anti botic zooprevio. I will while they are up and about you want to keep trying

agriman27

I had a lot of trouble one year with navel ill, I blamed the iodine because I realised it was really old stuff that was knockin around for years. Such a simple thing but it caused me a lot of hardship and stress. Noroclav is supposed to be the best remedy

cacs

Cheers I never thought of the iodine most likely picked it up from the ground .

greysides

Get your vet to look at the calf. Perhaps the navel could be surgically drained. It may have spread the infection to the joints.
If more than one joint is involved the outlook becomes worse than it already is. Which isn't good.

cacs

Yea cheers he has been out a few times did not suggest draining.

greysides

Draining may not be possible if there's no distinct abscess cavity.

cacs

There isn't . It is just a hardening of the naval cord . I honestly think he is for the knacker yard. I will contact the vet and try once more with zuperio. But I am not hopeful . Thanks for the comment

whelan2

what had you been injecting him with? i always find bathing the navel in salt and water a great help.

greysides

The outcome of any infection will always be the result of a balance between the animals immune status and the virulence of the bug. In the case of Neonatal Septicaemia/Navel Ill/Joint Ill complex the immune status is going to be totally dependent on the quality, quantity and timing of the colostrum it received. A human infant is born with virtually all it's maternal-derived antibodies already received yet it benefits from breast feeding. A calf is born with that part of its blood absent. If it doesn't get adequate colostrum that part stays missing until (..if..) it has the chance to replace it as it develops its own immunity.
It has been found that if colostrum is inadequate (70% of calves going through marts) then no antibiotic is going to save a septicaemic calf.

If disease is progressing despite administration of an antibiotic then I suspect a different antibiotic won't make a difference as, for whatever reason, I suspect this calf may be lacking.
Big calves, often the shapier calves, seen to be more susceptible as I suspect their entry process into this world is often more difficult than the smaller calf, whether help was needed or not. A calf that exits feeling as if its run a marathon isn't going to be as quick to suckle, suckle for long enough or absorb as much colostrum as the smaller hardier calf.

I'm not trying to put the boot into the OP (who understands his situation) but taking the opportunity to explain why it's SO IMPORTANT to sort out a calf with colostrum when the time is right. You grab the opportunity or you can never compensate for it.

Deepsouthwest

greysides wrote: »

The outcome of any infection will always be the result of a balance between the animals immune status and the virulence of the bug. In the case of Neonatal Septicaemia/Navel Ill/Joint Ill complex the immune status is going to be totally dependent on the quality, quantity and timing of the colostrum it received. A human infant is born with virtually all it's maternal-derived antibodies already received yet it benefits from breast feeding. A calf is born with that part of its blood absent. If it doesn't get adequate colostrum that part stays missing until (..if..) it has the chance to replace it as it develops its own immunity.
It has been found that if colostrum is inadequate (70% of calves going through marts) then no antibiotic is going to save a septicaemic calf.

If disease is progressing despite administration of an antibiotic then I suspect a different antibiotic won't make a difference as, for whatever reason, I suspect this calf may be lacking.
Big calves, often the shapier calves, seen to be more susceptible as I suspect their entry process into this world is often more difficult than the smaller calf, whether help was needed or not. A calf that exits feeling as if its run a marathon isn't going to be as quick to suckle, suckle for long enough or absorb as much colostrum as the smaller hardier calf.

I'm not trying to put the boot into the OP (who understands his situation) but taking the opportunity to explain why it's SO IMPORTANT to sort out a calf with colostrum when the time is right. You grab the opportunity or you can never compensate for it.

Had a vet here when I was v young, when called to a sick calf the first thing he would always ask was "did he get colostrum? Cos if he didn't I'm wasting my time." Never forgot it.

cacs

Hello That is supper advice. Yes he sucked and got i would say 1litre of colostrum in the first 2 hours.
I would say he got another 2 Litre in the next 2-4 hours. We had to bring him by a section. but i think it is down to the fact he is big soft calf and possible did not hit the infection fast enough with hard hitting antibiotics when it was first noticed. Thanks for the advice well noted

frazzledhome

greysides wrote: »

The outcome of any infection will always be the result of a balance between the animals immune status and the virulence of the bug. In the case of Neonatal Septicaemia/Navel Ill/Joint Ill complex the immune status is going to be totally dependent on the quality, quantity and timing of the colostrum it received. A human infant is born with virtually all it's maternal-derived antibodies already received yet it benefits from breast feeding. A calf is born with that part of its blood absent. If it doesn't get adequate colostrum that part stays missing until (..if..) it has the chance to replace it as it develops its own immunity.
It has been found that if colostrum is inadequate (70% of calves going through marts) then no antibiotic is going to save a septicaemic calf.

If disease is progressing despite administration of an antibiotic then I suspect a different antibiotic won't make a difference as, for whatever reason, I suspect this calf may be lacking.
Big calves, often the shapier calves, seen to be more susceptible as I suspect their entry process into this world is often more difficult than the smaller calf, whether help was needed or not. A calf that exits feeling as if its run a marathon isn't going to be as quick to suckle, suckle for long enough or absorb as much colostrum as the smaller hardier calf.

I'm not trying to put the boot into the OP (who understands his situation) but taking the opportunity to explain why it's SO IMPORTANT to sort out a calf with colostrum when the time is right. You grab the opportunity or you can never compensate for it.

+1 Super post.

Numbers grew fast here but labour was compromised. Last year wasn't good for numbers of heifers weaned. Vet organised a visit here before calving started stated all the basic stuff. Was a costly few hrs but more than paid back now. Less than 3% mortality this year.

He got us to snatch and tube all calves take calves out of calving area immediately.

Set up isolation pens for weaker or sick calves

Vaccinate

One stress event at a time

Absolute hygiene with feeding utensils and rubber boots, gloves etc

Clean calving shed 3 times a week

Absolutely no body from off farm into calf sheds or calving area.

We would've used Halicur on ALL calves heretofore but this year full supply still in the box. Hygiene and colostrum in calving area is where it all starts

Timmaay

Some very usually information in this thread. It's another reason I hate late calving cows, more bugs in the shed, and you don't have the time, effort or energy to dedicate to the calves with so many other things happening during April/May /June.

cacs

You are right a lot more bugs in the shed this time of year as opposed to cold weather