My 10-day-old bull died today.

[Spot & Bubby]

He seemed absolutely perfect when I gave him his bottle at about 5pm yesterday.

At 8am he was listless, refused his bottle, his mouth and nose were filled with dirt, and his mouth was cold.

Vet examined him by 9:00. No fever, no congestion, heartbeat normal... No cause identified. Administered antibiotic, steroid, colostrum, Multi-min. No diagnosis,

Returned calf to his momma by 10:15ish. No change in condition after two hours. Two more hours passed and little Rush was gone.

Keeping an eye on twin brother, Mush, who seems to be 100% fine. Hoping for the best going forward.

I'm sad. Really sad.

 

[MurraysMutts]

It's heartbreaking losing one that you bottle feed. The dang things get into your heart.

Hope the other one continues to do well for you!

 

[wbvs58]

Sorry to hear that.

Ken

 

[Double R Ranch]

Very sorry to hear this. It never really gets easier loosing them. At least not for me. You tried your best. Sometimes we just can't save them. Hope the twin does well.

 

[SBMF 2015]

I'm sorry. Sometimes the hardest part is not knowing a cause.
Sounds like you did everything right. Sometimes it just isn't meant to be.

Keep a close eye on the other one and I'd maybe give it the same treatment the vet gave this one. Just as a precaution.

 

[Mrcopier]

 

[uplandnut]

Sorry to hear this. Hope the other one does alright for you.

 

[kenny thomas]

He seemed absolutely perfect when I gave him his bottle at about 5pm yesterday.

At 8am he was listless, refused his bottle, his mouth and nose were filled with dirt, and his mouth was cold.

Vet examined him by 9:00. No fever, no congestion, heartbeat normal... No cause identified. Administered antibiotic, steroid, colostrum, Multi-min. No diagnosis,

Returned calf to his momma by 10:15ish. No change in condition after two hours. Two more hours passed and little Rush was gone.

Keeping an eye on twin brother, Mush, who seems to be 100% fine. Hoping for the best going forward.

I'm sad. Really sad.

View attachment 55783

Im gonna be the bad guy and ask a couple questions about your vet. You state there was no fever, no congestion, normal heartbeat but your vet administered antibiotics, steriods, multimin, and colostrum.
First off at 10 days old the colostrum isnt going to do anything. Colostrum needs to be given only in the first few hours of life.
If there wasn't any congestion or fever then why antibiotics and steriods?
Im sorry you lost the calf but you need a new vet in my opinion.

 

[Travlr]

He seemed absolutely perfect when I gave him his bottle at about 5pm yesterday.

At 8am he was listless, refused his bottle, his mouth and nose were filled with dirt, and his mouth was cold.

I'd like to know if he had dirt in his gut.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Im sorry you lost the calf but you need a new vet in my opinion.

I was going to say the same thing. Throwing the whole medicine cabinet at an animal is pretty poor practice for a average cattle man let along a schooled vet...

 

[jltrent]

You didn't state, but I have taken great care of them for several days and if they don't get the colostrum in a timely matter, they can go south really quick. Like KT said the vet was like a lot of people get doctored and put on a mountain of meds they don't need just to throw something at them. If you are not in good shape the doctors will finish you off from over kill. What I have never understood if there is a 50ml dosage, 250ml dosage and a 500ml dosage the doctors will start you out on a 500ml dosage. Either cure or kill you.

 

[Ky hills]

Sorry the calf died, it seems like you certainly tried. I have to agree with @kenny thomas I would question the credibility of a vet that gave colostrum to a 10 day old calf. I could certainly see giving it electrolytes,
Did it get colostrum at first?
Was the calf scouring?
I used to raise quite a few dairy calves on bottles and I've lost several of them at times especially early on.
I think the calf getting adequate colostrum as soon as possible but definitely within 12 hours is almost a prerequisite for calf survival. It is possible for a calf to live without receiving colostrum but I would say that is extremely rare and other conditions would have to line up just right.
Also after the initial feedings of colostrum, we like to start them out on a reduced amount of milk replacer ( less than the directions on the milk replacer bag says), We start them out with a lesser amount of powder but with the recommended amounts of water, depending on the size of the calf. Personally like d give less powder and water to a 40-50 calf, then still less than recommended amount of powder but a fairly full dose amount of water for a larger calf.
Over time, gradually increase the milk powder, and watch for signs of scouring, they can scour so easily. So many pathogens can manifest along with scours, Once they hit the 2 week mark, that's kind of a milestone accomplishment. I've found if a calf makes it to past 2 weeks, it's very likely to continue to thrive and if it does get sick at beyond that point generally speaking it will respond to treatment pretty well.

 

[AmandaQ]

He seemed absolutely perfect when I gave him his bottle at about 5pm yesterday.

At 8am he was listless, refused his bottle, his mouth and nose were filled with dirt, and his mouth was cold.

Vet examined him by 9:00. No fever, no congestion, heartbeat normal... No cause identified. Administered antibiotic, steroid, colostrum, Multi-min. No diagnosis,

Returned calf to his momma by 10:15ish. No change in condition after two hours. Two more hours passed and little Rush was gone.

Keeping an eye on twin brother, Mush, who seems to be 100% fine. Hoping for the best going forward.

I'm sad. Really sad.

View attachment 55783

I am so sorry, this breaks my heart for you.

 

[Dave]

Why didn't the vet just go ahead and throw the kitchen sink at it? A cold mouth I would try IV electrolytes and prayer. Because at that point nothing else is going to work.

 

[Dave]

I think sometimes when the vet knows it is a lost cause they throw things at it just to attempt to make the owner feel better. Personally once they have a cold mouth I have never had any luck making them recover.

 

[Lucky]

When the patient can't talk sometimes all you can do is your best. We rarely use a vet in situations like this. It's amazing how something so tough can go so quick.

 

[Spot & Bubby]

Thanks, everyone, for the comforting sentiments.

To those of you advising I watch the remaining twin, Mush, closely, I assure you that I am helicoptering the nursery every chance I get. It's odd to me, though. that Mush has completely reversed his attitude toward me as of this morning, Sunday. For 10 days he ran to greet me (and the bottled snacks I bring), jumping and playing, letting me pet him, following me around. none of that happened today. That's how it's supposed to be, but I was looking forward those sweet nuzzles. He shouldn't need the bottle going forward; Spot makes plenty milk for one calf. There's no sense getting too close to a bull bound to be a steer.

I appreciate those of leading the torches-and-pitchfork charge against my vet, but I don't have a complaint about the care he provided for this particular calf. Even without giving a diagnosis, the treatments were, to me, not unreasonable.

Of course, Doc and I are both aware of the importance of first milk for passive immunity in newborns. Rush & Mush were both able to nurse in the optimum time frame and both received supplimental doses of replacement colostrum in that same window, just in case. But there's more to colostrum than just antibodies. Nutrients in colostrum are in higher density than in later milk including: proteins, fats, carbs, vitamins A, D, E, & B12, minerals (including calcium and potassium) among other nutrients that support gut health and are benificial to a calf even beyond the passive transfer window.

and Bossman might have told Doc that the twins are the first calves out of my own heifer and to throw everything at the calf that might help a lost cause since the ranch pays the bill as long as my cattle are with the ranch herd.

Sometimes there's just something wrong with new-born calf. Especially out of a first calf heifer who calves by herself. Especially a twin. Especially a second born twin. Little Rush was not born with odds in his favor.

 

[Spot & Bubby]

I'd like to know if he had dirt in his gut.

I thought the same thing.

 

[4hfarms]

Sorry for the loss of the calf......just a sad fact of farm animals.

 

[Spot & Bubby]

The evening before he passed. We played and goofed off.