Lethargic calf

[Little Joe]

I’ve got a 3 month old calf that’s lethargic, rectal temp 105. Cows bag looks pretty full like it hasn’t sucked today. There is some perilla mint in the woods that they can get to but never have had a problem with it. We also have cases from the Asian longhorn ticks in Arkansas. Its breathing seems to be normal, it can run if you try to catch it.

 

[kenny thomas]

It has a fever so it needs something. Not sure what.

 

[GoWyo]

Draxxin and banamine pour on would be my go to. 105* is pretty high.

 

[TCRanch]

My guess would be pneumonia with a temp that high. Agree with @GoWyo on the Draxxin (or generic) and Banamine Transdermal but I generally see faster results with Resflor Gold.

 

[Little Joe]

I appreciate the replies. I went to check on the cows about 6:30 yesterday evening, they all came to one end of the paddock because it was time to rotate and I noticed that calf wasn't with the other calves. I found it laying on the other end of the paddock and I was able to walk right up on it before it realized I was even there. After about an hour I was able to get cow and calf to lot to check temp. I immediately text my nephew who is a vet tech and text another vet nearby. Heard from nephew about 8:30 and he was going to have draxxin and banamine ready for me this morning. Checked calf before 6 this morning and it had died over night. He seemed to think pneumonia or something viral. We have had some pretty wild temp swings recently from 80 to over night lows of 40 along with rain, I'm thinking maybe that combo did it. He said none of the symptoms seem to go with a tick borne illness or perilla mint. I noticed no other symptoms besides lethargic and fever, Tuesday it was with the rest of the calves and seemed normal.

 

[GoWyo]

I appreciate the replies. I went to check on the cows about 6:30 yesterday evening, they all came to one end of the paddock because it was time to rotate and I noticed that calf wasn't with the other calves. I found it laying on the other end of the paddock and I was able to walk right up on it before it realized I was even there. After about an hour I was able to get cow and calf to lot to check temp. I immediately text my nephew who is a vet tech and text another vet nearby. Heard from nephew about 8:30 and he was going to have draxxin and banamine ready for me this morning. Checked calf before 6 this morning and it had died over night. He seemed to think pneumonia or something viral. We have had some pretty wild temp swings recently from 80 to over night lows of 40 along with rain, I'm thinking maybe that combo did it. He said none of the symptoms seem to go with a tick borne illness or perilla mint. I noticed no other symptoms besides lethargic and fever, Tuesday it was with the rest of the calves and seemed normal.

Pneumonia kills them fast, especially the mannheimia haemolitytica version. If I see a sick one, treatment should have happened 12-24 hours prior, meaning you can't wait overnight or they will be dead or FUBAR. I have learned the hard way more than once.

On edit: I would run every calf through the chute and get a temp on them. They will strike a fever before they show any obvious sickness. Treat anything at 103.8 and above.

 

[Little Joe]

Pneumonia kills them fast, especially the mannheimia haemolitytica version. If I see a sick one, treatment should have happened 12-24 hours prior, meaning you can't wait overnight or they will be dead or FUBAR. I have learned the hard way more than once.

On edit: I would run every calf through the chute and get a temp on them. They will strike a fever before they show any obvious sickness. Treat anything at 103.8 and above.

Unfortunately, I had no one willing to get me any medication until morning.

 

[GoWyo]

Unfortunately, I had no one willing to get me any medication until morning.

I understand that and it is a terrible helpless feeling - get your vet to sell you say a partial bottle of draxxin kp or just draxxin so you have it on hand. I am serious about running the rest of your calves through the chute and getting a temp on them. If none are hot then you have some peace of mind and if they are, you can get them treated.

 

[TCRanch]

@GoWyo is on a roll! Well done!

@Little Joe, sorry about the calf. I always have Draxxin/Macrosyn, Resflor Gold, LA300, Banamine Transdermal, Baytril, Dex and Sustain boluses on hand. Just in case.

 

[moses388]

Sorry, Little Joe.
I lost a newborn. She was a big red heifer. When I found her it looked like she was laying on top of her own head.

 

[bird dog]

Sorry, Little Joe.
I lost a newborn. She was a big red heifer. When I found her it looked like she was laying on top of her own head.

I had one like that last week. I saw the cow go off to calve so was watching from a distance. I saw the cow get up so I drove the s x s over to check it out. When I got up to them I said to myself "Oh &%#@" the calf doesn't have a head. But it did. The calf's was twisted all up with its head tucked under the body. I think that one might have been lost had I not been there just a minute or two after it hit the dirt.

 

[Little Joe]

Are there any preventatives I could give to possibly keep this from happening in the future, as of now I haven’t been working calves until close to weaning but if I could prevent having this happen again I would. I’ve never had an older healthy calf just suddenly fall ill and die.

 

[mwj]

The best thing is close observation and a quick response. They are good at hiding the fact they are sick. A little off is usually something much worse.

 

[bird dog]

Are you vaccinating for Mannheimia?

M. Haemolytica​

Mannheimia Haemolytica

• Produces a leukotoxin, which can kill white blood cells and severely damage the lungs
• Flares when stress events and/or viruses weaken the immune system and can double in quantity every 27 minutes4
• Can quickly lead to severe illness or death

Leukotoxoids — their arch enemy, your secret weapon

• The PRESPONSE SQ vaccine contains both bacterial surface antigens and leukotoxoids
• The leukotoxoids stimulate the immune system to produce anti-leukotoxin antibodies, which neutralize the destructive action of leukotoxins
• This allows the white blood cells to ingest and destroy M. haemolytica organisms, minimizing lung damage

 

[GoWyo]

Are there any preventatives I could give to possibly keep this from happening in the future, as of now I haven’t been working calves until close to weaning but if I could prevent having this happen again I would. I’ve never had an older healthy calf just suddenly fall ill and die.

We vaccinate at branding (45-90 days age) and again at preconditioning (150-190 days age) with Bovishield Gold One Shot and Enforce 3 and with Ultrabac 7 with Somnus. Helps to fight off the summer and September pneumonia cases. September gets challenging around here due to the variation in weather (90* down to below freezing and 40-50 degree temperature swings). Still get a couple per year, but we are on them as soon as we see them. They die fast and it's almost always the big growth calves that seem to get sick.

 

[TCRanch]

Are there any preventatives I could give to possibly keep this from happening in the future, as of now I haven’t been working calves until close to weaning but if I could prevent having this happen again I would. I’ve never had an older healthy calf just suddenly fall ill and die.

I give Inforce 3, a respiratory intranasal, when I tag and administer a First Defense bolus Day 1. Calves get Triangle 4+PH-K, Cavalry 9 (or Covexin 8, whichever is available), an autogenous pinkeye vaccine and wormed at appx. 3-4 months and again at weaning. I rarely have a younger calf get pneumonia; it's generally after they've been weaned.

As @mwj said, calves are good at hiding sickness. It's the predator response. If they see you, they'll perk up. But if you watch from a distance, look for a droopy ear, or lying down when the others are grazing, nursing, playing. Off by themselves, not eating much, watery eyes, maybe a snotty nose. Trust your gut. If a calf doesn't seem "right", it probably isn't.

 

[Little Joe]

Ran the rest of the calves through the chute yesterday evening, all had temps 102.5-103.5. Got Draxxin and Banamine from vet and gave them all a dose. I’m keeping them in the lot so I can keep a check on their temp, have more banamine if needed. I’ve got to find a better way to get scripts, the vet charged me $50/ml for the Draxxin. $150/calf just for the Draxxin.

 

[kenny thomas]

Ran the rest of the calves through the chute yesterday evening, all had temps 102.5-103.5. Got Draxxin and Banamine from vet and gave them all a dose. I’m keeping them in the lot so I can keep a check on their temp, have more banamine if needed. I’ve got to find a better way to get scripts, the vet charged me $50/ml for the Draxxin. $150/calf just for the Draxxin.

Thats not a fever temperature. And go back to the vet and question the price. Draxxin has gotten much cheaper. I think the last generic draxxin i got was less than $1/cc. Even with the original Draxxin it should be no more than $5 per calf for that small of a calf. $150 per calf is a rip off.
I use Inforce 3 also plus Presponse.

 

[Silver]

Wow, I don’t believe I ever paid more than $5 CAD for Draxxin even at its peak pricing.

 

[Little Joe]

Thats not a fever temperature. And go back to the vet and question the price. Draxxin has gotten much cheaper. I think the last generic draxxin i got was less than $1/cc. Even with the original Draxxin it should be no more than $5 per calf for that small of a calf. $150 per calf is a rip off.
I use Inforce 3 also plus Presponse.

I was told by the vet that over 102 is fever and should be treated since one already had pneumonia.