I'm stumped

[cowmilker]

Five month old heifer calf didn't want her grain yesterday morning. Checked on her in afternoon- temp. 106. Banamine brought temp down to 103. Was kicking at her belly so I'm thinking stomach upset. Half-heartedly ate some hay and grain but not much. Temp this morning 104- really not interested in eating. More Banamine. Doesn't carry herself like hardware is the problem- she's never been on pasture. Gave her some Pro-Bios to help her gut population. Tonight temp 104. Tubed her with some electrolytes and another shot of Banamine. Here's the puzzler- she's keeps licking the end grain of the two-by lumber of the mangers. I'm thinking something's deficient, but what do you get from 35 year old yellow pine and why a fever? Would appreciate any ideas- thanks.

 

[dun]

If it was me I stop the banamine and hit her with a serious antibiotic.

 

[Anonymous]

Is that 2x treated? That could be its own problem.

 

[Red Bull Breeder]

What you been feeding?

 

[Jogeephus]

How does she move and does she show any signs of bloat?

 

[tom4018]

Is her navel ok? Had one once that had problems with a navel infection, really suprised me on a older heifer.

 

[cowmilker]

I appreciate the attention. I will give her a shot of Nuflor this morning. Lumber was probably treated when the barn was built (long before I got there). Now that I think about it, they used copper sulfate back when. Checked her over from head to toe yesterday- no sign of any injury. Navel looks fine and she doesn't flinch when I touch it. Doesn't appear to be bloated but my only experience with bloat was finding someone's cow dead one morning.

 

[Crazy Farmgirl]

Is she pooping normal? Not too loose or too hard?

Bloat will show on the left side.. stomach will appear distended just behind last rib and feel hard to the touch but will sound hollow when thumped. May have difficulty breathing.

Has she been vaccinated yet? wormed?

 

[chippie]

Sometimes cattle will lick something when in abdominal pain. I had one that was sick and it kept licking the chain that kept the gate closed.

 

[cowmilker]

She's being given a calf sweet grain mix (18 % protein) and a good mixture of hay- no changes in diet. I've seen her eat the hay but not the grain. She is stalled with a 6 month old heifer. I've not seen the sick one poop, but the quantity and quality of what I fork out leads me to think there is no problem there. Vaccinated at 8 wks with Cattlemaster Gold. Not boostered yet as she isn't six months. Wormed with a pour on in Sept.
New thought today: The 6 month old is experiencing her first bout of hormones, but I've not seen her try to mount the sick one, only my wife and myself. She just licks the other calf. Could be a back injury of some sort. The little one does seem especially sensitive when I run my hand down her spine.
Chippie- Abdominal pain is what my gut is saying- your calf's licking behavior would be further evidence. Thanks all. Craig

 

[rockridgecattle]

Unless you separate the two you will really not know if the sick one is pooping. An animal, penned up can poop alot.
You did not mention what the poop was like.
You did not mention if you see here chewing her cud.
Kicking the belly is a sure sign of problems in the gut, likely in the rummen. You need to get the rumen going again.

My first thought if this was my animal would constipation and rumen problems because of grain overload. Some animals are more sensitive than others. As well, some animals eat fast, some eat slow, so the sick one could have been eating at the other's grain too. If it were my animal I would start with a drench of mineral oil, epsom salts and bloat eze... We normally give a cow near a liter, sometimes two of the mineral oil and a cup or two of salts. So adjust for the calf.
At 5 months should be able to chute her and then halter her and dump the bloat eze down, the plastic bottles work well for that. Follow directions. Then take the bottle and add in mineral oil and epsom salts then give it the same way. The calf will fight it. But if i can do this to a cow, me, a 5'3 woman, this should be a walk in the park.
There is another product you can get from your vet. I don't remember the name, glycern, glycol,,,?? anyhow it is pink, but clear like syrup, and has a bitter taste and smell. Meant to help get the rumen going.
Oh yeah, while the calf is in the chute, once you are done, knead the gut area for a few minutes
Then once it's better, the grain will be tender on the system. Start light and work up slowly. Add rumensin to the grain