Angus Calf Cough

[Marshall]

We're bottle feeding an Angus calf. He's about 3 months old now. He takes a bottle fine and loves grass. He doesn't eat much calf starter though. He has developed a cough and periodically holds his mouth open, tongue out and makes a light bellaring noise. It looks like he might be trying to vomit. After several minutes of this, it just goes away for a couple hours or more and then returns. Could this be a virus or infection?

Marshall

 

[Kelly]

Check it's temperature. It could be he has a respiritory infection. If he has a temp , give him a shot of Nuflor and another one 2 days later. It sounds like he is having trouble breathing - possibly lung damage if he has had the cough for a while.

 

[Anonymous]

This could also be lungworm. If he's not febrile, consider an avermectin--either ivo, cydectin, dectomax etc. Lungworm is a parasite which can be detected with a special fecal test called a bauerman fecal test (detects larvae)

As always, when in doubt, ask your vet! We're really not mercenary monsters!

Good Luck!
V

 

[certherfbeef]

As always, when in doubt, ask your vet! We're really not mercenary monsters!

Vicki, you are very, very knowledgeable and more than helpful. I have more faith in the replies i get from you than my vet. Cannot normally get him to the farm. Instead he calls and "tells" me what to do, gets short w/ me when I ask too many questions and then charges me for a phone consultation. It is just a good thing I haven't had a major emergency in the past several years or he would get more than my opinion!!! THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR TIME AND KNOWLEDGE
-Certherfbeef ;-) :cboy: