PROBLEMS WITH CALF

[scottfarms01]

HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP US. WE GOT A SMALL 1 WEEK OLD BLACK ANGUS CALF. THE MOTHER BELONG TO A NEIGHBOR-- SHE HAD THIS CALF AND WITHIN TWO DAYS THE MOTHER DIED,SO WE TOOK THE CALF. IT HAD A LARGE SWELLED AREA ON ITS BACK LEFT LEG AROUND THE KNEE AREA. I GAVE IT SEVERAL SHOTS OF PENICILLIN AND CALLED THE VET. HE SAID IT HAD UMBILLICAL INFECTION AND TO KEEP GIVING IT PENICILLIN. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE SELLING WITH DOWN AND IT WAS WALKNG FINE, THEN THE TWO FRONT LEGS SWELLED UP AT THE KNEE JOINT I STARTD PENICILLIN AGAIN AND CALLED THE VET. HE SAID THERE WAS NO INFECTION JUST THE AFTERMATH OF THE INFECTION. THE FRONT LEGGS ARE BENT BACK AT THE KNEE JOINT. HE DOES TRY TO WALK HE WALKS HUMPED OVER WITH MOST OF THE WEIGHT ON ITS BACK LEGS AND SLIDS ITS FRONT LEGGS. ACTS LIKE HE HAS ARTHRITS AND WILL NOT PUT MUCH WEIGHT ON FRONT LEGGS OR WILL NOT BEND THEM. HE WILL FOLLOW ME WHEN I HAVE THE BOTTLE IN MY HAND. HE IS PUTTNG ON WIGHT AND HAS A GREAT APPI. VET SAID THERE WAS NO INFECTION AND MASSAGE ITS FRONT LEGGS AND PULL DOWN TO GET HIS JOINTS AND LEGGS STRAIGHT. I EVEN PUT SPLINTS ON THE FRONT LEGGS FOR A WEEK TO STRAIGHTEN OUT, IT HELP BUT HE STILL WON'T BEND HIS LEGGS. HAS ANYONE EVER HAD THIS BEFORE AND WHAT DID YOU DO SHORT OF GETTING RID OF HIM. I HAVE SAVED SEVERAL CALFS BEFORE AND THE KIDS THINK I CAN DO IT AGAIN-HELP!!!

 

[mgman]

I've had a couple of calves with front legs like you described...and both times the condition cleared up on it's own over time with no treatment.

 

[Kelly]

Has the vet actually seen the calf or is he telling you what it is based on your phone call? I would have it looked at by a vet & check the temperature for infection.

 

[scottfarms01]

THE VET CAME OUT TO THE FARM. HE DID NOT TAKE ITS TEMPERATURE BUT FELT THE JOINTS IN ITS FRONT LEGS AND SAID IT DID NOT HAVE A FEVER OR INFECTION. THE CALF ACTS LIKE IT HURTS TO WALK ON THE LEGS.

 

[frenchie]

Sounds like a mineral problem.

 

[TheBullLady]

Sounds like septicemia, which is painful joints caused by an infected navel. I had a calf given to me years ago when I raised bottle calves that had it.. but I can't recall what we gave him for it. He did get better! His appetite is half the battle with calves.