How to tube

[Alan]

Can anyone explain in writing, since you can't be here for the visuals, how to tube a calf. Avoiding the wind pipe, how far down the throat, simply a funnel on the end of the tube to pour fluids through, etc.

Thanks
Alan

 

[msscamp]

Can anyone explain in writing, since you can't be here for the visuals, how to tube a calf. Avoiding the wind pipe, how far down the throat, simply a funnel on the end of the tube to pour fluids through, etc.

Thanks
Alan

The easiest way I have found is to straddle the calf with one hand under his jaw extending his head. Insert the tube at the corner of his mouth and feed it slowly down his throat. If you can find an esopheageal feeder that the bottle disconnets from the tube it's better because that way you can hear/feel air being expelled if it is in the calfs lungs instead of stomach. If you cannot find one of those, then hopefully someone else will respond, because I'm not going to be much help. I personally have never tried to use a funnel, but it looks like to me that you would end up with a lot of air in the calfs stomach. I wouldn't think that would be a good thing. Good luck!! Also, tubing tends to make their throats sore and can make it more difficult to get them to nurse because of the pain on swallowing. Hope this helps!!

 

[jt]

dont consider myself to be and expert, but i will tell you how i tube my calves...

i strattle them and with my left hand i hold their heads up and insert the tube into their mouth, down the left side of their throat... slowly.. the tube i use is about 18" or so long and i put almost all of it into their throat... i know its right when i can feel the bulb of the tube just under the skin on their left side of their chest area... not sure that makes much sense, but when i have the tube in the right spot i can reach behind my left while i am strattling them and feel the bulb just under the skin in their lower neck area... if i cant feel the bulb just under the skin or on the left side, i do not let the milk loose from my feeder.

as i am tubing, i will stop the flow every so often to make sure they are not getting it too fast... seems like sometimes they are struggling if the milk goes down too fast.

just my experience...

good luck...

 

[jt]

let me clarify something a little further... i have a feeding bag that i bought from jeffers... that tube may not be quite 18" long... cant remember and it is not with me right now... anyway, i am saying this so you wont try to force too much tube down the throat... that tube could only be 15"..?? anyway... if you buy one it will have some instructions on the package and if it is like mine, you will put most of the tube into the calfs mouth..

good luck

jt