Bloated Calf

[Kate]

We have a 5 month old bull calf that looks bloated on right and left side. Not eating grass but nurses his mother. What can I do for this and why is this happening? Thank you for any info.

 

[Chris H]

He's 5 months old and not eating grass? Do you have him/them on a dry lot? Are you feeding hay, or what?

 

[Kate]

He and his mother is on open pasture with other cattle. No hay, pastures are still green here. When he is not nursing he just stands around. I have never seen him eat grass. Thought I might try and offer him sweet feed but then again thought this may make him bloat even worse. Open for any suggestions. Thanks.

 

[Chris H]

OK. If he's on pasture he's likely eating forage. Do you have much clover in the grass, even just patches of the low growing clover? Is the bloated look a recent thing, or has he always looked like that?

 

[Kate]

Bermuda grass mostly, not a lot of clover. He has always looked that way. He was a big calf when born, we had to pull him. He has always looked a little bloated but now that he has some age on him he is really bloated and looks like he is malnutrition everywhere else except his stomach.

 

[dun]

From your latest description it sound like he's pot gutted. That's either worms or not enough nutrition from the cow up to this point.

 

[wbvs58]

Check that he has an anus.

 

[Kate]

I don't think pot gutted. Have had one of those but this is quite different. This little fellow is bloated on both sides like he swallowed a balloon and is really tight.
Yes he has a anus too but thanks to both of your comments.
I'm beginning to think he was born with some kind of blockage or something.

 

[Kate]

Another thing I noticed that may be the problem, he has no cud. Could this be the problem?

 

[dun]

Another thing I noticed that may be the problem, he has no cud. Could this be the problem?

Yup. In the old days we would steal a cud (really tough on fingers and hands) and feed it to the one that didn't have a cud (almost as hard on fingers and hands). Now they have probiotic pastes you can give them that will get the rumen flora working.

 

[Limomike]

Another thing I noticed that may be the problem, he has no cud. Could this be the problem?

Yup. In the old days we would steal a cud (really tough on fingers and hands) and feed it to the one that didn't have a cud (almost as hard on fingers and hands). Now they have probiotic pastes you can give them that will get the rumen flora working.

I think dun hit it on the head. Not enough nutrition from the momma cow, and you should probably give him some probiotic paste, and see what he does. At 5 months old, he should be grazing and sucking.

 

[Kate]

Thanks guys. I will try the probiotic paste.

 

[Nite Hawk]

a bit of yogurt wouldn't hurt if you don"t have the paste handy...
Nite Hawk

 

[KNERSIE]

Still deworm him making sure the product covers milk tapeworm as well

 

[Beefy]

what is milk tapeworm?

 

[jerry27150]

i would check with vet as it sounds like something is not developed right