A light, mild, temporary case of scours is typical when cattle are moved to fresh green pasture for grazing. Especially is there is high moisture content in the grass and other plants they are eatting. However, there are several warning signs that you want to watch out for, to make sure the scours does not become more severe- which can lead to other additional problems.
1. What is the constistancy of their feces? Is it watery, meaning more water than feces and VERY liquidy? Is there SOME consistancy to it, meaning its the normal color just more liquid than firm? Is there mucous or blood in the feces? If its the second of what I mentioned, this is normal during the first few days or couple of weeks as their bodies and digestive systems because more adjusted to the newer diet. If its the first or or third of what I mentioned, then the scours are more severe and you will need to take measures to prevent it from getting worse. I will mention what to do further in this post.
2. Are they becoming more emaciated (thin)? Meaning are they starting to lose their body fat and muscle content in their body. If this is the case, you will need to take measure to prevent it from getting worse.
3. Is their coat (fur) becoming more dull and rough in texture? If so, measures will need to be taken to prevent further illness.
4. Are they becoming dehydrated? Are they drinking their normal amount of water?
5. Are you supplementing their grazing with other feed such as grain, or hay? If so, stop feeding the grain, and do not feed them hay such as alfalfa, timothy, or orchard grass hay. Just feed them regular grass hay.
6. Are they standing humped up with legs close under the belly and back partially arched? If so, this means they are suffering abdominal pain.
Treatments:
Depending on the severity of scours, add water soluable oxytetracyline. This antibiotic is targeted towards treating scours. Do not add sulpha antibiotics if the cattle have severe scours, as this can damage the kidneys and can kill the animals if the animal is severely dehydrated or has a low temperature (regular temp is 101.5 degress F), anything below 100 degrees F is serious and means the animal has hypothermia (which can be caused by stress from moving the animal, or severe weather changes). Also add electolites to the water, such as "Bounce Back" to add the vitamins, minerals, and other needed things such as microbials for the digestive system which severe scours can kill off within the digestive tract. Severe dehydration may mean you will also have to supplement with subcutanious IV injections. If the body temperature gets too low, you may have to move the cow(s) into a barn where you can get their body temperatures up. Heat lamps are the easiest way to do this, if its a calf- you will probably have to cover with a blanket, possible give a hot water bath to raise the body temperature. You can also give the animal kaopectate or pepto-bismol to help stop the diahrea.
Severe scours can lower the body's immune system and leave the cattle open to secondary infections, which is another good reason to place the animal on electrolites and antibiotics. In some cases, the animal can become so ill it can contract pnuemonia and die within hours or several days. This is why keeping a close eye on the animal when they start showing signs of scours to help prevent secondary problems, illness, and possibly death. If you can afford it, it is advised that at first signs you call a vet.
Hope this helps.