sick calf

ldcoupe wrote: »

Have a month old calf thats not himself. Noticed he had a slight cough last couple days but took his temp and was normal, called vet and he told me could even be from the straw shaking it out.
This evening his ear dropped on one side. he is still running around but just not himself. Vet thinks could be early stages of meningitis. Whats the chances of calves pulling through if was? He got lots of beastings and was always in a clean dry bedded shed.

Vet came out there and treated accordingly. Into vein and nuflor, + 3x3mm nuflora for next 3 days.

I have what your describing here too i think.
4 week old calf, had been coughing a lot for a few days, was keeping an eye on him.
usually quite lively and jumping about in the straw, went out two mornings ago and he wasnt himself, noticed one his ears dropped slightly and quieter than usual. Stood him up and he moved away but not at his usual speed.
Threw load of straw in for him and got stuff to give him from vet for him.
He Seemed worse off when i got back and had bit of a chill, gave him injection and seemed in better form the following morning.
Gave him the 2nd injection today. Seems much better but still coughing. Will be keeping a close eye on him.
Have weanlings coughing since that cold snow snap 2 weeks ago, wind had come from different direction and in on top of them.
Was thinking they all got a chill.

Is he still sucking the cow ok?

RD10 wrote: »

I have what your describing here too i think.
4 week old calf, had been coughing a lot for a few days, was keeping an eye on him.
usually quite lively and jumping about in the straw, went out two mornings ago and he wasnt himself, noticed one his ears dropped slightly and quieter than usual. Stood him up and he moved away but not at his usual speed.
Threw load of straw in for him and got stuff to give him from vet for him.
He Seemed worse off when i got back and had bit of a chill, gave him injection and seemed in better form the following morning.
Gave him the 2nd injection today. Seems much better but still coughing. Will be keeping a close eye on him.
Have weanlings coughing since that cold snow snap 2 weeks ago, wind had come from different direction and in on top of them.
Was thinking they all got a chill.

Is he still sucking the cow ok?

Give him half a small glass of poitin fill the rest up with Luke warm black tea you'll have a different calf in the morning

lab man wrote: »

Give him half a small glass of poitin fill the rest up with Luke warm black tea you'll have a different calf in the morning

I’d say stick with what the vet gave you or you’ll have no calf in the morning........

ldcoupe wrote: »

Thats strage,seems the exact same. Yes sucking cow alright and seems to be even chewing cudd. Always nibbling bit hay.

Yes sounds similiar to mine. Any draft coming in at him?
How is he today after vet?

I've had a few calves over recent years with similar symptoms and our then Vet showed me what to do. First thing I do is to gently put my finger (wear a clean glove) down into the ear and check if there is any liquid gunk. If so then I gently wash the ear out with warm (blood temp) salt and water using a syringe, turn their head and drain as much as possible out. They normally shake their head afterwards anyway. Then gently syringe 5ml of Betamox into the ear and get a shot of Resflor from the Vet.
Our Vet one time mentioned mycoplasma bovis as a possible cause. We had it happening with calves that were vaccinated with Rispoval rs+pi3 but they got better within a few days.

ldcoupe wrote: »

Different calf this morning. Ears are back to normal and he running around shed. Thank god! Tomorrow is the last dose of newflor for him so hopefully keeps going the way he is.
Thank you for all the replies

Always nice to see that. Makes you feel a proper farmer looking after your animals.......

Will be calling the vet first thing in the morning. Just wondering for peace of mind what it could be. Have a 14 week old calf bucket reared calf. She is off milk replacer now. She seems to twitch and kick her legs when trying to urinate. She just doesn't seem to be herself.