6 week old calf bullied from mother.

techtom · 18-12-2012 11:05PM #1

Hi I have a 6 week old calf that has been bullied from the mother.
I know it is a bit late ...
but
I have him now isolated with mother.
He is a good 7/10 health wise.
His ears are down and he is very strong when i go to catch him but he is a little limp/dull in him self.

I am bottle feeding him with milk now for a week and a half and still no improvement. He does not want the milk.
I am also giving him a small bit of meal but he is not hughly taking to it.

His ears are still down and he is just moping around.

I would say in the last week and a half my efforts show no sign of improving the calf.

He has a dry behind and passes the normal milky stools expected.

Any help please.

mf240 · 18-12-2012 11:20PM

Did he get beastings if not well.........

If he did he needs an antibiotic for pneumonia. You could give him multivit and feed him little and often if he will drink even a little bit 4 or 5 times a day he might pick up, best of luck with him.

bbam · 19-12-2012 12:47AM

Yes beastings are a big deal, bit late now though.

How's his temperature?

If he's been kept away from the cow how hydrated is he? Some electrolyte would be no harm.

bbam · 19-12-2012 12:53AM

mf240 wrote: »

Did he get beastings if not well.........

If he did he needs an antibiotic for pneumonia. You could give him multivit and feed him little and often if he will drink even a little bit 4 or 5 times a day he might pick up, best of luck with him.

I wouldn't jump straight in with antibiotics until there is a reason.
Giving it "just in case" or " it worked the last time" isn't a good enough reason.
I'd be checking the temperature a few times and if it's ok why would you
Start dishing out antibiotics??

mf240 · 19-12-2012 01:03AM

bbam wrote: »

I wouldn't jump straight in with antibiotics until there is a reason.
Giving it "just in case" or " it worked the last time" isn't a good enough reason.
I'd be checking the temperature a few times and if it's ok why would you
Start dishing out antibiotics??

I know what you mean but if his ears are down hes most likely coming down with something also dont be suprised if a calf that is malnurished doesnt have a raised temperature as he may be to run down to mount an immune response.

There is a tonic my vet makes up that you feed through the milk to a weak calf has helped a couple for me.

techtom · 19-12-2012 07:01AM

Calf got a good start.
Easy calving. Was isolated with mother or first 4/5 days and got ample beastings.

It was after this the problem started .. any way we are where we are.

I have been milking mother out and giving it to him for the week and a half and still the ears are down.

I have also put water out for him a week and a half ago and he is urinating quite a lot.

I am trying to give him a small bit of meal by hand but he is not taking to it.

He is very strong. He is only a bit dull and the ears are down. He also shows no interest in the mother.

When I am giving him the milk he gives this bit of a short dry cough (1 only)

when I am giving meal he gives the same short dry cough (1 only)

In the early part of the last week and a half he improved slightly. but this improvement has stopped and he is just holding his own.

he needs either an anti biotic or a booster or something to take him past this point.

moy83 · 19-12-2012 08:55AM

The vet would be your best bet at this stage so you would know for definite whats up with him .

bbam · 19-12-2012 10:13AM

Take his temperature..
Are his eyes prominant and glossy, if you pinch some skin is it good and loose or does it stay up in a tent for a shirt while??

Tenting Test for Dehydration:

A good test for dehydration is the skin tenting check. To conduct a tenting test:
1.Firmly pinch the loose folds of skin on the neck of the calf and check to see how long the skin remains tented.
2.If the skin remains tented for 2 to 6 seconds, the calf is moderately dehydrated. Start oral feeding of a good electrolyte like Kentrol to assist rehydration.
3.If the skin remains tented longer than 6 seconds, it is an indication that the calf is severely dehydrated (10% dehydrated). Calves observed in this state of dehydration need professional veterinary interventions with intravenous fluid administration. Following the intravenous therapy, oral electrolyte therapy should be continued to maintain proper hydration.

ceannfort · 19-12-2012 10:25AM

Some infection is running on the calf. Find out what. Mostly likely navel or chill. Also check for sores in the mouth. Unlikely but have seen it stopping calves sucking. If your calf is healthy I would restrain his cow. Put honey or sugar in the calfs mouth and try to get him to suck his own mother. Rarely could get a calf that sucked a cow for a few weeks to suck a bottle.

techtom · 26-12-2012 07:57AM

Hi guys,

Just giving you a little closure on my calf. I took the calf to vet. She told me that he had early pneumonia.

She injected him with two drugs.

The calf was back sucking that evening. Happy days.

Thanks for all the help.

techtom · 26-12-2012 07:57AM

Hi guys,

Just giving you a little closure on my calf. I took the calf to vet. She told me that he had early pneumonia.

She injected him with two drugs.

The calf was back sucking that evening. Happy days.

Thanks for all the help.

pakalasa · 26-12-2012 12:50PM

You're on the ball there, Techtom. Not easy spot small signs like that. the makings of a good stockman (or woman).:D

hugo29 · 26-12-2012 03:28PM

techtom wrote: »

Hi guys,

Just giving you a little closure on my calf. I took the calf to vet. She told me that he had early pneumonia.

She injected him with two drugs.

The calf was back sucking that evening. Happy days.

Thanks for all the help.

Good work, I was going to say I had something similar with a calf of maiden heifer, calf got mouth ulcers from sucking a blind tit, turned out maiden heifer was not maiden, now always draw heifers after calving to check

6 week old calf bullied from mother.

Comments