I have a 5 day old calf that just isn't thriving and would like some of your thoughts on what to do. She was born on Sunday and since then has done very little other than lay in the grass. I have seen her look like she was nursing from across the pasture for only a minute or two. The mother has a huge bag and is very protective. I do not think the calf has grown any and was very small at birth. Thanks for any advice.
5 day old calf question.
- Thread starter Pharmer
- Start date
Rookie
Well-known member
Pharmer, have ya contacted the vet yet? That would be a good 1st move. Other than small size and lack of energy, is the calf exibiting any signs of illness like difficulty breathing, runny nose or eyes,etc?? Have ya offered her a bottle to see if she's hungry?
george
george
Running Arrow Bill
Well-known member
If the calf is still alive after 5 days it must be nursing!
How much did the calf weigh at birth?
If it isn't running around and playing at 5 days, then something IS wrong. Call the Vet. Separate the calf into a separate pen and examine it. What breed of cattle are they?
How much did the calf weigh at birth?
If it isn't running around and playing at 5 days, then something IS wrong. Call the Vet. Separate the calf into a separate pen and examine it. What breed of cattle are they?
Could be silent pnemonia. I'd give her 5cc La-200 "or" 1 to 2cc of nuflor (IM), then follow it up with a shot of B12 (IM). Check her progress and if she still seems weak in two days, hit her with the anitibiotic again. Get her out of the wind, but not out of fresh air, where you can keep an eye on her, and moma can tend to her. Any sudden change in weather could cause her to worsen quickly.
Generally you have to do a little more than "offer"... :lol: I fed a dairy bull calf his first bottle this afternoon and he threw a huge fit. Didn't want me near him, didn't want his mouth open, didn't want the bottle in - but then he did want the milk! Drained the bottle.
I'd supplement her with a bottle, so you know how much milk she's getting (sometimes those cows can have huge bags, but it's mostly just swelling, no milk), and then pen up the cow and calf for a day or two to keep an eye on them and make sure the calf nurses. Also, if it were mine, I'd give a Bo-Se shot and Vitamin B complex shot. If your area isn't deficent in selenium it wouldn't be a problem, but our area certainly is and most of my calves get a Bo-Se shot. The Vitamin B seems to give them an appetite and generally perks them up - I've given that to several calves that "just didn't act quite right". (However, it's worth noting that they also had some other problem I was/would be treating them for - ie scours or pnemonia.)
I'd supplement her with a bottle, so you know how much milk she's getting (sometimes those cows can have huge bags, but it's mostly just swelling, no milk), and then pen up the cow and calf for a day or two to keep an eye on them and make sure the calf nurses. Also, if it were mine, I'd give a Bo-Se shot and Vitamin B complex shot. If your area isn't deficent in selenium it wouldn't be a problem, but our area certainly is and most of my calves get a Bo-Se shot. The Vitamin B seems to give them an appetite and generally perks them up - I've given that to several calves that "just didn't act quite right". (However, it's worth noting that they also had some other problem I was/would be treating them for - ie scours or pnemonia.)
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jerry27150
Well-known member
how old is the cow, does she have much milk in that bag. he could be sick or not getting enough milk. is he breathing shallow. if you think he might be sick i would give him a shot of somthing
jerry27150
Well-known member
1848, i find la 200 works better if give 8 cc to a calf
She doesn't seem to be sick. I just don't think it is eating enough. What are some ways to get it to take a bottle? I think I might try that again tomorrow along with giving it a penicillin shot. How often would you feed it and would you stop at some time and let it go back to nursing?
jerry27150
Well-known member
if you have a nursing bottle, make sure you open the hole a little & put fingers in corner of mouth to open it & stick nipple in on top of tongue ( works best if you put calf's head between your legs to hold him) then squeeze mouth together a few times til he starts to suck. when he gets a taste he will usually start sucking. if he gets the hang of it they usually can suck mother also & you just supplement
Rookie
Well-known member
Pharmer":1rajwcey said:
Smear a little molasses on the nipple the first time ya offer it to her. A little sweet stuff works wonders sometimes
george
jgn
Well-known member
Calves from what I have observed do little other than eat and lay in hiding for around the first week. If you have seen the calf nurse I don't think I would worry a lot for another couple of days. I have a calf that was 1 week old yesterday and today was the first day I had seen her walking with her mom and the rest of the herd and up running and kicking up her heels.
Dee":1vyyxtvf said:
:?: I started using it on the advice of my vet. I have good luck with it. Quick turn around, especially when the calf has already progressed and LA would be too slow acting (worse cases). I have used it on very young calves, prior to them getting started on grass.
jgn":imxj0n8v said:
jgn is right. Young calves will do allot of lying around. Some who get allot of milk can be real lathargic after eating. It seems real big calves can have a tendency to act like this too for a week or so (maybe due to birthing stresses). I know if I had to be pushed through an opening like a playdoh machine I might be wore out for a few days too... :lol: Is momas teats staying clean like the are being suckled? Are they swelling as if there were peaked from not being suckled? Many calves will do all their playing and romping in the evening (just before dark).
Medic24
Well-known member
Good luck! :cboy:
fellersbarnoneranch
Well-known member
We were concerned with a heifer a week ago. lethargic, day2 we moved the pair and the thing stumbled and layed out on her side for a minute before she stumbled on in a dizzy to the new pasture. She wasn't getting a great hold on the teat, and seemed weak to stay after it. We made up a bottle and worked on her in the hay ring where mama could watch. She drank some--with little enthusiasm. While rubbing the hiney, we noticed she hunched up and was straining--all blocked up and thick if you know what I mean. I routinely give a saline enema to our new foals, so I had one handy at the barn. I am not a vet and didn't run this by one, butt (pun intended) everything came out fine in the end! A day and a half later after nursing supervised 2X/day she was running and romping with the rest. I think a lot can be said for supervised nursing and a weak calf. Hope yours is looking up!
