Help settle this...(contamination question)

[Wisteria Farms]

....ok... we've had a calf that's been battling pneumonia now for 3+ weeks.

One of us says that the barn that she's in cannot have ANY healthy cattle go through it until the calf is removed and it has been sanitized as best as possible with bleach/lysol/whatever (and preferrably sit empty for a few months). Furthermore, what about the outdoor area where the sick calf was let out to stretch her legs... contaminated too?

One of us says that with all the antibiotics she's had, and continues to get, that she shouldn't be contagious and shedding the disease and that its OK to have healthy cattle/calves run through that barn and cross that pasture where the sick one was.

Who is right? What has your experience been.

 

[dun]

I would go with the first option if only to be really careful to not take a chance on contaminating any other calves.

 

[ChrisB]

No doubt option 1 is better. But I have never locked animals out of the barn or sterilized anything because one happened to get sick. Not saying you should do this; but if it was me I would put a lot of fresh bedding down and get rid of any feed or water the sick one had access to and forget about it. Maybe I've just been lucky.

 

[hillsdown]

It depends on what she has , pneumonia could be a secondary infection from what really is the cause to her problems.

Clean out all bedding she was on ,you can spray it with bleach BUT that really does not kill everything. I would just air it out, and make sure everything is cleaned as best you can.

How is she doing , any progress at all ?

 

[larryshoat]

It depends on what she has , pneumonia could be a secondary infection from what really is the cause to her problems.

Clean out all bedding she was on ,you can spray it with bleach BUT that really does not kill everything. I would just air it out, and make sure everything is cleaned as best you can.

How is she doing , any progress at all ?

Good advice I think, just to make you feel like you've done all you can do. The reality of it is that cattle face many challenges in terms of health, and when they are unable to meet those challenges we have to ask why. I think the right question is not what's wrong with their environment, but rather what's wrong with the cattle, why can't they meet the day to day challenges that they face. I would take a good look at my vaccination program, along with good sanitation.

Larry

 

[Wisteria Farms]

Update...well this has been one of those things that makes you want to pull your hair out.

She's still alive... we've given her doubledose Nuflor every other day for a week... last dose was two days ago. She started eating grain again and taking her bottle really well BUT... tonight I notice she's having a hard time breathing...only this time its different... its hard for her to breath OUT and she has a loose cough. She never did get rid of her cough but its worse. So I'm thinking this might have now gone into diptheria... I'm trying to research the penicillan dose I should give her...I know what a standard dose is but I think the dose for diptheria is different. I don't know though.... right now there's no foul smell to her breath (I haven't looked yet for ulcers)... My vaccination program is good... (for the rest of my cattle) but this one we brought in from outside and she got sick before I could vaccinate her... (although I DID vaccinate her two days ago along with the last of the Nuflor) just because I'd read that several of you do and thought "what can it hurt"... I don't know.. I just don't think she's going to make it and that's OK because I know I've really done everything I can ...

 

[msscamp]

....ok... we've had a calf that's been battling pneumonia now for 3+ weeks.

One of us says that the barn that she's in cannot have ANY healthy cattle go through it until the calf is removed and it has been sanitized as best as possible with bleach/lysol/whatever (and preferrably sit empty for a few months). Furthermore, what about the outdoor area where the sick calf was let out to stretch her legs... contaminated too?

One of us says that with all the antibiotics she's had, and continues to get, that she shouldn't be contagious and shedding the disease and that its OK to have healthy cattle/calves run through that barn and cross that pasture where the sick one was.

Get her out of the barn. The fastest way to make a healthy animal sick is to confine them in a barn. I fully understand that she needs shelter, but it is impossible to properly ventilate an enclosed barn so as to eliminate ammonia from urine, dust, germs, etc. I would put her under a 3 sided shed so she has shelter from the heat/rain/etc.

As far as sanitation/putting healthy animals in it, that is going to depend on whether she has bacterial pneumonia or viral pneumonia. If bacterial pneumonia, she should not be contagious. Viral pneumonia and all bets are off since viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics. Dirt floor or concrete? If dirt, remove all manure/bedding and hose the barn down with a 50% bleach solution, then spread ag lime on the floor. If concrete, remove all manure/bedding and simply hose it down with a 50% bleach solution - don't forget the undersides of things, feed tubs, water tubs, etc.

 

[vclavin]

Update...well this has been one of those things that makes you want to pull your hair out.

She's still alive... we've given her doubledose Nuflor every other day for a week... last dose was two days ago. She started eating grain again and taking her bottle really well BUT... tonight I notice she's having a hard time breathing...only this time its different... its hard for her to breath OUT and she has a loose cough. She never did get rid of her cough but its worse. So I'm thinking this might have now gone into diptheria... I'm trying to research the penicillan dose I should give her...I know what a standard dose is but I think the dose for diptheria is different. I don't know though.... right now there's no foul smell to her breath (I haven't looked yet for ulcers)... My vaccination program is good... (for the rest of my cattle) but this one we brought in from outside and she got sick before I could vaccinate her... (although I DID vaccinate her two days ago along with the last of the Nuflor) just because I'd read that several of you do and thought "what can it hurt"... I don't know.. I just don't think she's going to make it and that's OK because I know I've really done everything I can ...

I was told to never give vaccines and antibiotics at the same time.Interferes with immunity they tell me.I'm pretty sure vaccine while sick won't help either. Has the calf been tested for BVD?
Valerie

 

[GMN]

Update...well this has been one of those things that makes you want to pull your hair out.

She's still alive... we've given her doubledose Nuflor every other day for a week... last dose was two days ago. She started eating grain again and taking her bottle really well BUT... tonight I notice she's having a hard time breathing...only this time its different... its hard for her to breath OUT and she has a loose cough. She never did get rid of her cough but its worse. So I'm thinking this might have now gone into diptheria... I'm trying to research the penicillan dose I should give her...I know what a standard dose is but I think the dose for diptheria is different. I don't know though.... right now there's no foul smell to her breath (I haven't looked yet for ulcers)... My vaccination program is good... (for the rest of my cattle) but this one we brought in from outside and she got sick before I could vaccinate her... (although I DID vaccinate her two days ago along with the last of the Nuflor) just because I'd read that several of you do and thought "what can it hurt"... I don't know.. I just don't think she's going to make it and that's OK because I know I've really done everything I can ...

Double doses of nuflor, I don't think thats right, My Vet says max is 2 doses. You may be doing more damage than good now with excess antibiotics, kidney failure, etc.. is a common for extended antibiotic use. If she does survive she will surely be prone to infections, as her immune system willbe effected.

GMN