Diagnosing a sick calf

king_of_inismac

Hi all,

Father has a sick calf. We've dosed it, put pour on for fluke/worms etc but doesn't seems to be recovering. It's been pretty weak since it was weaned. It had some baldi patches on its legs. Not sure what to try next. Any advise before we call the vet? Photos attached.

Cheers

greysides

King of Inismac, I'm closing this thread for reasons given in the Forum Charter, quoted below. I think you already know that your own vet is your best bet.

Once you have received a diagnosis if you wish to discus it then let me know and I'll reopen this thread. Best of luck.

Veterinary Advice

Posts looking for advice for sick animals have been a source of concern to boards.ie for some years. The problem is that veterinary diagnosis is a learnt, professional skill so it is just not possible, or safe, to remotely diagnose an animal through an internet forum. Welfare concerns demand that animals are treated quickly and effectively. Even the best-intended lay-advice may not be sufficient and may delay seeking proper assistance. Additionally lay-advice may lead to inappropriate drug use, which increases the onset of drug-resistant strains of bacteria.

We also have to recognise that there are now legal rules governing the sale and use of animal remedies. It brings Irish farming into disrepute for these rules to be openly flouted, or for illegal activities/remedies to be suggested.

For these reasons a change is being made to the charter. We recognise that animals are not human and that there are economic aspects of treating animals that do not exist with humans. We recognise that there needs to be a forum for the discussion of animal health issues. Consequently the changes, detailed below, may be subject to change in an effort to find a workable compromise.

Offering Diagnosis:

A competent diagnosis can only be made by a vet and should not be attempted over the internet. It is permissible to recount similar cases and the diagnosis, especially if they had veterinary involvement. Readers will have to be aware of the dangers inherent in making a decision from such advices. Similarly, once an animal has been examined and treated by a vet, there is nothing to be gained by remote second-guessing.