calf sick,, weezing..

[keith]

Newborn calf 18 hours old.. weezing.. think it has fluids in lungs.. Vet is out till 48 hours.. what to do in the intrum..

any advise is appreciated..

i keep pounding on its back and sides to loosen anf hopefully will cough it up..

anything else ??

thanx, Keith

 

[3MR]

Id probably hit it with some Baytrill or nuflor if you have it. I guess I should say thats exactly what I would do.

 

[Alice]

I notice you are from Vermont. Was the calf born in the cold or snow? Do you know if it was a difficult birth and/or how long it laid in the cold wind (assuming that is the case)? Did the mother get up and get the sac licked off quickly? Have you got it into somewhere warm? Is it's mother trying to care for it? Did it get some colostrum?

I can remember once my daddy taking a calf wheezing like this and holding it up side down by its legs and swinging it back and forth. I also remember him sticking a piece of straw up it's nose to try to make it sneeze. I'm sorry, I can't remember the outcome.

Give it a shot of AD&E, make sure it's getting plenty of nourishment, and give it a shot of antibiotic and a big squirt of probios. Since your vet is unavailable, maybe you could call another one and ask if you could have a dose of nuflor until your regular vet gets back.

This is what I would do. I'm sure others would be more helpful with this.

Alice

 

[hillsdown]

Did you take it's temperature? Do this before treating and let us know the temperature.You can treat with 3cc's of Nuflor intermuscular and 2-3cc's Dexamethasone it is an antiflammatory which is used sometimes on newborns with lung issues.Also when does it wheeze.Is it during or right after nursing and how does it lay?Oustretched on it's side with it's neck out;Or normal with it's little legs tucked underneath?The best way to get fluid out of lungs especially right after they are born is to put them on their bellies and tuck their little legs underneath them and rub the sides of the calf gently until the raspiness becomes less..Hitting and hanging the calf upsidedown is the old way and does more damage then good.Remember they may weigh 80lbs but they are just babies and their joints and bones are not that strong.Let us know how you are doing.

 

[Alice]

Did you take it's temperature? Do this before treating and let us know the temperature.You can treat with 3cc's of Nuflor intermuscular and 2-3cc's Dexamethasone it is an antiflammatory which is used sometimes on newborns with lung issues.Also when does it wheeze.Is it during or right after nursing and how does it lay?Oustretched on it's side with it's neck out;Or normal with it's little legs tucked underneath?The best way to get fluid out of lungs especially right after they are born is to put them on their bellies and tuck their little legs underneath them and rub the sides of the calf gently until the raspiness becomes less..Hitting and hanging the calf upsidedown is the old way and does more damage then good.Remember they may weigh 80lbs but they are just babies and their joints and bones are not that strong.Let us know how you are doing.

Hitting and hanging the calf upsidedown is the old way and does more damage then good.

You gotta point there...I saw Daddy do this about 45 years ago.

The only thing I might differ with you on is the dexamethazone. I would perfer to use banamine...but, that's just me.

Alice

 

[hillsdown]

Hi Alice, with the Banamine I guess it depends on whether the calf is nursing or wants to, one does not have steroids and the other two do.It depends on alot of different things>Predef;Dexameth;or Anafen.All I know is that when I had a calf in lung/breathing distress my Vet gave it a good shot of Dex to kind of shock the system and get it to breathe regular but he also gave it Predef.So who knows without a complete diagnoses it's hard to tell.Also I don't know what it cost's in Texas but Anafen is a heck of a lot more than Dexameth or Predef here in Alberta.