Boating calf

[tom4018]

I would like another opinion on a calf that is bloating. Found him laying down this morning with foamy froth coming out, thought he was dead. Tubed him and got it to go down but he bloated back pretty quick, tubed him again, gave some mineral oil both times. Local vet suggested a couple boluses, one was sodium bicarb the other was something ending in lax or lox. He was getting pretty big again and tried tubing with nothing coming out, sometimes the tub comes with what looks like green manure almost, like one that is on green lush pasture. Has to use a needle on his side to get him down this time.

I tubed him again and got a lot of air out and gave more mineral oil. I have not seen him poop, since he has been laying around today, not seen him up but he has moved some not sure how. I actually gave a warm water enema to see if it would help.

Would you have any suggestions other that what local vet mentioned? He is about 300 pounds, had him for a few weeks, no change in feed since then, other than a different bale of hay but other calves are ok.

 

[Nesikep]

I have never had it, but I have heard of chronic bloaters.

Could try giving him some epsom salts to make sure he's not clogged up, or even just plain salt... beyond that I don't have much of an idea

 

[tom4018]

I have never had it, but I have heard of chronic bloaters.

Could try giving him some epsom salts to make sure he's not clogged up, or even just plain salt... beyond that I don't have much of an idea

We tried every thing we knew, tried what one vet said and got ahold of our normal vet this morning, he mention putting something in him. He was on his way and calf died. I am not sure that he did not have some type of obstruction. Oh well first feeder calf we have lost, learn and move on.

 

[cowgirl8]

I have a young cow that i suspect is a chronic bloater. I believe that when we wean her calf i may cull her. I've caught her twice with puffy flanks. Husband came in and asked when she was going to calve because she was really big. She had a month old calf at her side, so she was bloating then. I checked her the next day and sides were flat. I know not selling her now, its only a matter of time.
One morning when i went out to check cows, i had 4 bloaters all at once. I was running around rolling cows over with my bare hands. Saved them all. Turned out that since it wasnt wet, hay was being fed in the same spot and dalis grass seeds had accumulated in the bottom of the hay rings. These cows were filling up on them and bloating. We now never feed dalis grass hay in the same spots.
We had one yearling heifer bloat and die this winter. Seems when we keep a large group of calves, we always have one bloat.

 

[Rafter S]

I don't have anything to offer, just thought you might be amused to know that the title made me curious enough to look at the discussion. I thought you were taking a calf for a boat ride.

 

[hillsdown]

Since it sounds like you did pretty much all that one can do with bloat I would guess that he has an obstruction of some kind especially if you never saw him poop and the mineral oil actually move through him.

My other guess would be a perforated ulcer .

 

[bmoore87]

I had one same situation that would bloat once or twice a day. I sorted it out and gave it long stem hay and gave it dexamethasone for 5 days. I was told that some of the chronics bloat due to swelling in the throat and that can sometimes help. It worked for me.

 

[bird dog]

I had one like that and it came from a bout with pneumonia. I fixed the pneumonia but then he started bloating. The vet had him a few days and said when the bloat is caused by the pneumonia it is not fixable in his opinion.

 

[txffamom]

Sorry you lost the calf.

My daughter's calf bloated several times within a few days. Vet said give mineral oil and keep her moving til she poops and the bloat goes down. This took about 30-45 mins each time. Said keep her on hay only for 24 hours. Come to find out, it was her feed. A week or so before this started, we added a feed that was finer, almost dusty, and once we pulled that feed, she hasnt bloated.

 

[tom4018]

I don't have anything to offer, just thought you might be amused to know that the title made me curious enough to look at the discussion. I thought you were taking a calf for a boat ride.

Guess I can't type or spell, maybe both. :lol:

 

[JWBrahman]

"Bloat Block" contains Poloxalene, that is probably what your vet said.