Average Time Update

[Okie403]

Ok...here goes Round 2.

With some help and persistence, the calf born Sunday morning was Sunday even... very shaky and weak. No real change, but last nite notice his left back leg, especially the mid leg joint seemed swollen... and tonite it is definately swollen. He can move but very slowly and gingerly. I have worked the leg and it is sore.

Guess he got stepped on or something very early in life... He'll nurse if you hold him across a knee and put his head on the teet. He gets tired quickly and He's so wobbly that we're still bottling or drenching him.

Ideas or comments??

I really enjoying reading these boards...I learn alot...

 

[xbred]

only my opinion, but you're describing symptoms of a pulled calf at birth..was it a natural birth? leg and back injury often leave calves in a weak shakey condition..did the calf get its' mother's milk after birth??

 

[Okie403]

Hi xBred,

It was a natural birth...found it in the pasture on Sun at 7am. Had checked Mom on Sat about dark and she didn't look like she was going to have it...slightly bigger in the back, no discharge...but it had been raining (one reason to be thankful) so who knows... Gave collostrum around 5pm on Sun and have milked cow twice and fed a couple of time since for a cpl of pints each time and have also given milk replacer twice.

Some folks tell of an umbillical cord infection...what happens with that?

 

[Sage]

Umbelical infection moves to the joints but this seem too quick??? What about Selenium defeciency, generally front legs won't go straight but might affect rear legs, not sure?

 

[dun]

Invected umbilical is basicly navel ill and can spread to the joints and become joint ill. Whopping doses of pen for a long period of time is the only thing I know of for a treatment.

 

[shortyjock89]

If it is a Selenium problem, we give 4 cc of BOSE. We give it to all of our lethargic calves, and it really makes a difference. It's like a jump-start for them. I hope that it's not Navel Ill..that stuff can be nasty. Pen. is the only thing that I know of that can clear it up. And like dun said, if that's the case, you're going to need alot of it.