Hello. I am new here, and I apologize if all of this has been covered in the past. I will try to be brief. I am in a hurry, as we are losing another calf as I type.
We raise two bull calves per year, castrate them, and raise them for beef. We have had success buying them from the local auction in the past. All calves that we have purchased, have gotten scours, however, up until this spring, all have recovered nicely. (We raise them on goat milk, and they have thrived on it.) In the past, the calves got scours at about 10 days-2 weeks old. This year, they are getting sick at 3 days, and go downhill very quickly. (We usually give them both goat colostrum as well as dried colostrum within a few minutes of bringing them home, as we know that time is of the essence, where colostrum is concerned.)
This year, calves are selling VERY cheap. We have now lost two of them from dehydration due to scouring. I did fecals on both of them, and saw nothing out of the ordinary. One survived for 2 1/2 weeks, the other only one week. (We have done/are doing, electrolytes, (alternating with milk at least two hours apart,) sub-q fluids, b-complex, oxytetracycline, probiotics. We even tried the raw egg thing on one this afternoon! We are now in the process of trying to save the third one. All were kept in different areas on our farm. This third guy, has been ONLY on cow milk.. no goat milk, as we were afraid that might be the problem, (however, two other calves are thriving on it... and one is now 6 weeks old.) Those also, came from the auction.
I am thinking of getting a vet out here in the morning, just to LEARN.. if nothing else, as I doubt this dehydrated baby can be saved at this point. I am hoping that the vet might have a few suggestions, as well as show me how to do an I.V. (I worked in an animal hospital almost 30 years ago, but do not remember.) Any pointers? This is very sad as well as frustrating, as it seems we are doing everything possible to save these guys... (my husband euthanized the last 2, as they were way beyond help at that point.) I am thinking about asking for some Banamine, as that might just help calm the gut down a bit....
My suspicion is this... that the ones we are losing, never got colostrum from mom... maybe the two that are doing well, did! AND... is there ANY hope at all for this guy that we are trying to save now? His eyes are very sunken, tho we gave him 1000 cc's lactated ringer's sub-q today, as well as keeping up with electrolytes and milk. I am even giving him imodium at this point, as he seems beyond hope now, as the fluids do not seem to be enough, ALTHOUGH, he IS alert and sucking, and bumping for a bottle.. Go figure! His eyes are SO sunken, that his lashes are rubbing on his eyeballs and making them water. Poor guy.. He sure does have the desire to fight! Any help would be appreciated! Thank you in advance! We are very tired and saddened about losing these poor little guys....
We raise two bull calves per year, castrate them, and raise them for beef. We have had success buying them from the local auction in the past. All calves that we have purchased, have gotten scours, however, up until this spring, all have recovered nicely. (We raise them on goat milk, and they have thrived on it.) In the past, the calves got scours at about 10 days-2 weeks old. This year, they are getting sick at 3 days, and go downhill very quickly. (We usually give them both goat colostrum as well as dried colostrum within a few minutes of bringing them home, as we know that time is of the essence, where colostrum is concerned.)
This year, calves are selling VERY cheap. We have now lost two of them from dehydration due to scouring. I did fecals on both of them, and saw nothing out of the ordinary. One survived for 2 1/2 weeks, the other only one week. (We have done/are doing, electrolytes, (alternating with milk at least two hours apart,) sub-q fluids, b-complex, oxytetracycline, probiotics. We even tried the raw egg thing on one this afternoon! We are now in the process of trying to save the third one. All were kept in different areas on our farm. This third guy, has been ONLY on cow milk.. no goat milk, as we were afraid that might be the problem, (however, two other calves are thriving on it... and one is now 6 weeks old.) Those also, came from the auction.
I am thinking of getting a vet out here in the morning, just to LEARN.. if nothing else, as I doubt this dehydrated baby can be saved at this point. I am hoping that the vet might have a few suggestions, as well as show me how to do an I.V. (I worked in an animal hospital almost 30 years ago, but do not remember.) Any pointers? This is very sad as well as frustrating, as it seems we are doing everything possible to save these guys... (my husband euthanized the last 2, as they were way beyond help at that point.) I am thinking about asking for some Banamine, as that might just help calm the gut down a bit....
My suspicion is this... that the ones we are losing, never got colostrum from mom... maybe the two that are doing well, did! AND... is there ANY hope at all for this guy that we are trying to save now? His eyes are very sunken, tho we gave him 1000 cc's lactated ringer's sub-q today, as well as keeping up with electrolytes and milk. I am even giving him imodium at this point, as he seems beyond hope now, as the fluids do not seem to be enough, ALTHOUGH, he IS alert and sucking, and bumping for a bottle.. Go figure! His eyes are SO sunken, that his lashes are rubbing on his eyeballs and making them water. Poor guy.. He sure does have the desire to fight! Any help would be appreciated! Thank you in advance! We are very tired and saddened about losing these poor little guys....
