Bloat ?

[sjr725]

I'm new here but have a question...
I have 8 steer calves - about 600lb - they are all out of really old cows so I pulled them off the cows in July , they were calved in Feb,so the had a pretty good start and all were right around 400 when we weaned them. Anyhow, they have been on the same irrigated grass pasture all summer and getting a little COB, about 3-4 lbs each per day. All of the sudden one of them bloated on Monday - we yarded him up and gave him a drench and that seemed to help almost immediately but the lingering problem is he just hasn't bounced back, he's lethargic, not eating well, now a snotty nose. He had diareaha the day after the drench - but I don't think that's too unusual - it just looked yellow - like the medicine and has improved now. Anybody have any experience with this? I've had older cows bloat after being turned out on the hayfields in the fall and after the tubing/drenching ect. they usually go right on with no ill effects? I'm stumped with this guy.

 

[Howdyjabo]

For gas bloat the best treatment is to tube it-- works fastest and you don't mess with the digestive tract.
Obviously it won't work for a frothy bloat.

Bloat if let go too long can damage the lungs.
What are you trying to get it to eat?
Seperating them from their companions can casue one to go off- obviously putting him back in where he bloated is risky--but you could try to give him some company.

 

[MrGale]

take its temp....101 is normal....some of the drench might have gotten into the lungs....listen to them with a stethoscope....if gurgley, it may be a pneumonia....

 

[sjr725]

thank you! The steer is feeling much better and he's eating and all appears to be OK. I did keep him yarded up for a few days but put two other steers with him - gave them a bloat block. The odd part to me is that he has been out on that same grass pasture all summer, eating all the exact same feed, grass is brome orchard mix and was irrigated - hasn't been watered in about a month and is just starting to turn with the frost? Steer had no fever and his lungs were pretty clear, although I could have easily gotten a little of the drench in his lungs - he wasnt' terribly cooperative through the process!
thanks all for the input.
Sharon