Calf fell through the ice

[MurraysMutts]

This poor baby. My friends bottle calf. She's a pretty awesome lil heifer.
Unknown how long she was in the pond. But the ice was thin enough she fell in and couldn't escape. Good thing they checked on em. I hope she makes it!!
Got a hair dryer on her now, trying to dry her up. She's in a warm garage now.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Doesn't take long to fry ones brain.
Something about hypothermia in a calf.

 

[MurraysMutts]

Doesn't take long to fry ones brain.
Something about hypothermia in a calf.

Definitely hoping for the best. And hoping she wasn't there long. She can't get on her feet tho. I'm skeptical but hopeful. She does seem alert and moves her head about ok tho. Someone told me to try drenching with some whiskey! Hmmmm

 

[coachg]

Warm bottle of milk

 

[MurraysMutts]

Warm bottle of milk

I like that idea!!
Shes been off a bottle for a long time, but I bet she just might try. I just got an update. She's laying with her head up and chewing cud!!

Shes about 250lbs. Took 3 people to get her in the trailer.

 

[Dave]

Last year I had a new born get into the irrigation ditch on a snowy morning. It was soaking wet and shaking. I stuffed it into the floor boards on the passenger side of the feed truck. The heater on that thing really works. I drove to the house, left the truck running, and went in and ate breakfast. Half hour later I drove back out and found mom. Unloaded a dry warm calf who went to sucking right away. I called it a win.

 

[Rancher]

sounds like a good sign if chewing cud, try the warm mild tho

 

[MurraysMutts]

They must've caught her in time. She's up!!
And somewhat dry. She'll live in the warm garage tonight. WHEW!!
She was only down about 4 or 5 hours total. Thank goodness.
Well. 4 or 5 hours after they found her anyway

This is her. She's such a sweetheart. And so curious. She just had to come check out the new kids a lil while back.

 

[Mark Reynolds]

I'm glad she seems ok. Watch her for any developing respiratory distress for about the next 48 hours.

 

[farmerjan]

Warm water to drink with electrolytes, gatorade, or something... even molasses.

Thank goodness she was found in time... Hoping for her to make a full recovery. So glad she is on her feet.

You don't want to give warm liquids/milk to an animal until the core is warmed and they can drink naturally... it can actually do more harm...
Calves are big... but with lambs and even small calves, getting them in a tub of warm/hot water will get the blood flow to the extremities faster and warm the whole body that way...
Warming her with the hair dryer and the heater and warm out of the dryer towels are the fastest way to get warmth to the body which will return to the core, and circulate throughout the body.

 

[greybeard]

If in cold water for hours but still able to move her lower extremities while in there, it's still much better than being stuck in cold mud and no movement possible. Permanent Nerve and muscle damage is much more probable in the latter conditions.

 

[Katpau]

farmerjan
Thank you for the information on warming a calf. I have been wondering about the value of tubing an unresponsive hypothermic calf with warm milk in an effort to warm them up from the inside. On at least two occasions I was told to do this by experts, one of whom was a Vet. Those calves died shortly after what seemed to be a successful tubing. I have often wondered if I had just continued warming them as you suggested, if there was a chance they could have made it.

 

[bird dog]

Good article on this topic in Progressive Cattle

Hypothermia in calves: Causes, treatment and prevention

Hypothermia – lower than normal body temperature – is one of the major causes of death in newborn calves. Warmth and colostrum are the two most important factors in calf survival.

www.agproud.com

 

[farmerjan]

I will never again tube an unresponsive calf with warm liquid. Warm up the outside, the blood flow will return to the heart and warm it up slower but not a shock to the system... have seen that especially in lambs...
This is not "proven" except through years of different experiences...

 

[Travlr]

Definitely hoping for the best. And hoping she wasn't there long. She can't get on her feet tho. I'm skeptical but hopeful. She does seem alert and moves her head about ok tho. Someone told me to try drenching with some whiskey! Hmmmm

A little chocolate or coffee in a small amount of warm milk, and warm some towels in the microwave. Her body temp needs to get to normal. Once they get chilled they have a hard time controlling their body temp so it's likely it will take some time to get her back to normal.

 

[TexasJerseyMilker]

I have head that calves found that were born in sub zero temperatures in the north people put them in the bathtub for a good long soak in warm water.

 

[GoWyo]

I have head that calves found that were born in sub zero temperatures in the north people put them in the bathtub for a good long soak in warm water.

We have brought back several in the bathtub. Use about 100* water and in 10-15 minutes they can be resurrected. Then towel off vigorously and a hair dryer to get them dry. Then the dose of colostrum and they are ready to go. That's for a really bad one. Usually floor board of the pickup for 30 minutes or so can get them going. Best thing is to avoid the situation altogether if at all possible, but things happen.

 

[MurraysMutts]

All back to normal and back with the herd!
Vet gave her some resflor I think she said. She will be checked daily for a bit!
I know lots of folks up north have "calfwarmers" tho I think this calf is too big for one of those. Anyway, all is well!
That's her at the end down there. Hopefully she's learned her lesson too!

 

[TCRanch]

Good article on this topic in Progressive Cattle

Hypothermia in calves: Causes, treatment and prevention

Hypothermia – lower than normal body temperature – is one of the major causes of death in newborn calves. Warmth and colostrum are the two most important factors in calf survival.

www.agproud.com

Says content only for registered users.

 

[TCRanch]

We have an old propane heater in the workshop that we fire up for cold calves. Dry them off vigorously with towels and a blow dryer first, then get them settled in front of the fire with heavy moving blankets (and that's partially because the cement floor gets cold). Depending on the age of the calf and whether they already received colostrum, I wait until their temp is normal and give them a bottle (or tube if I have to) either colostrum replacer, colostrum supplement, milk replacer or electrolytes.

This little girl was about 6 weeks premature and temp 97.