Sick Calf

[cornstalk]

Morning all,

Noticed one of my heifer calves (550lbs) looked a tad lethargic last night. This morning went out to feed, and although she came up to the bunk, she was clearly under the weather. (lethargic, droopy ears, runny nose)

I walked her into the headgate, and took her temp. 105 deg. :shock:

I carry on hand Pen G, and LA-200. Gave her 24 ml of LA-200. I cant help but feeling there are probably better antibiotics on the market these days. I figure I'll give her 24-48 hrs now and recheck her temp.....and determine if further action is needed.

Any insight on this "classic" situation? What are most of you using as a general shot for a sick calf?

BTW: These calves were vaccinated and boosterd with BoviGold5, One Shot, and TSV-2 at the time of weaning about 4 weeks ago.

 

[cfpinz]

Have been using Nuflor as a first shot here lately, used to use LA-200, Nuflor is a big improvement. If the animal doesn't respond to Nuflor, then it's a shot of Micotil, I am a believer in that stuff. This winter I'm going to try Baytril as the first line, a couple folks on here have talked me into trying it. I also give a shot of banamine with the Nuflor/Micotil.

cfpinz

 

[mitchwi]

Nuflor with a Banamine chaser ;-) The Nuflor is spendy, but it has not failed me (yet)

 

[sjr725]

Just curious - don't at all mean to be confrontational, but why would you be so quick to medicate? Maybe she has a tad of bloat or just digestive upset that would work itself out in a day or so? I guess I just worry about over medicating. I don't as a rule feed any medicated feed and I'm more of a mind to wait and see if I just have one head that is "a tad lethargic". I want to know that an antibiotic will work quickly and effectively if I need it and worry that overuse will lead to ineffectiveness. Thats the main reason I won't use medicated feed for small calves - if they scour on that stuff it's hard to knock out the bacteria with additional antibiotics. As I said, just curious - and this is just my opinion.

 

[Howdyjabo]

This time of year with a temp of 105 and signs of illness to back it up- I'd treat. Unless it was an obvious bloat-which could elevate the temp that much .

We had the Baytril rep come out a few months ago--he told me something I found interesting
He says they would take all but the one dose treatment off the label if it didn't cost so much(government regs).
We started using it that way and its been doing well. The repull rates for most loads was 0% and a few ran up to 20% .
Thats about the best you can hope for :)



LA200 MIGHT work for a homegrown calf- but I would double the doseage(SQ) and make sure to hit them again at least one more time in 48hrs- And seriously concider a third dose.
If the temp didn't drop and it didn't look better after the first treatment of LA200- I'd hurry to switch in this case as LA200 has become so iffy. Normally I'm for staying the course unless things get bad.

 

[cornstalk]

Just curious - don't at all mean to be confrontational, but why would you be so quick to medicate? Maybe she has a tad of bloat or just digestive upset that would work itself out in a day or so? I guess I just worry about over medicating. I don't as a rule feed any medicated feed and I'm more of a mind to wait and see if I just have one head that is "a tad lethargic". I want to know that an antibiotic will work quickly and effectively if I need it and worry that overuse will lead to ineffectiveness. Thats the main reason I won't use medicated feed for small calves - if they scour on that stuff it's hard to knock out the bacteria with additional antibiotics. As I said, just curious - and this is just my opinion.

I've been around cattle my whole life. I know a sick calf when I see one, and have learned the best thing is to get a temp right away. Temp is the best indicator as to whats going on, and a 105 temp isnt something your going to want to wait around and see what happens with. I dont over use antibiotics, although I do vaccinate quite aggressively.

I Really wasnt looking for insight as to wether I should or should not treat. I've been down the road of negligence, and in this business one cant afford to many oversights. Pneumonia is one of the leading detrimental problems in cattle. If overlooked, and IF the critter recovers on it's own, permanent scaring can and will take place within the lungs, greatly hindering efficiency...if not resulting in fatality.

 

[bward]

Great reply cornstalk and ditto on that.

When thier temp is that high we hit them with Nuflor and Banamine. The Banamine gets them feeling good enough to eat and drink and by the time its worn off (24 hours or so) the Nuflor should be taking care of the illness.

We had a fresh weaned and prevaccinated calf a couple weeks ago get really sick. Like you, all we had was LA200 and one shot was enough to get him better.

 

[Alice]

Nuflor with a Banamine chaser ;-)

Exactly what I'd do...unless it became obvious the nuflor wasn't getting it. Then, I'd hit it with Draxxin, cross my fingers, and hope for the best.

Alice

 

[Howdyjabo]

Like you, all we had was LA200 and one shot was enough to get him better.

This is why useing LA200 has gotten so iffy.
Yeah your calf got better-- but he also had a few bugs left around that the first shot wasn't enough to get rid of- so now you have only the resistant bugs floating around your place waiting on an immune compromised animal to flurish in. Then the LA200 won't work quite as well- and next few times quits working at all.

Need Full treatments-- no matter how good the animal looks-

Thats why if you haven't abused LA200 some isolated farm calves still do well on it.

 

[bward]

Yeah your calf got better-- but he also had a few bugs left around that the first shot wasn't enough to get rid of- so now you have only the resistant bugs floating around your place waiting on an immune compromised animal to flurish in.

huh? The calf made a complete recovery with one shot so there are no 'bugs' floating around. If it hadn't cleaned up the infection he would have had a relapse....LA stands for long acting which gives you 3 to 5 days of coverage depending on the administration. He had improved greatly within 24 hours which is a good indication that it was working well. He had a FULL treatment.

 

[Howdyjabo]

LA200 has adequate blood concentrations for up to 48hrs.

The "golden rule" is to have effective concentrations for 4-6days.
(Except baytril - it has an unusual mode of action.). With treatment continued 24 to 48 hrs past symptoms.

and yes the immune system on some(most homegrown) animals can regain control and keep control after the initial knockdown -IE no relapse.
The imune system can get control even without antibiotics on some animals- but you are right(in previous post)that the risks and possible long term damage are not worth taking.

All I am saying is that the risk of not doing at least two doses of LA200 are not worth the risks or long term damage(in this case resistant organisms) either.

They make Tetradure- to be used as a single dose of Oxytetracyclines. I believe it has adequate blood concentrtions with one dose for 5-7days.

 

[milkmaid]

Yeah your calf got better-- but he also had a few bugs left around that the first shot wasn't enough to get rid of- so now you have only the resistant bugs floating around your place waiting on an immune compromised animal to flurish in.

huh? The calf made a complete recovery with one shot so there are no 'bugs' floating around. If it hadn't cleaned up the infection he would have had a relapse....LA stands for long acting which gives you 3 to 5 days of coverage depending on the administration. He had improved greatly within 24 hours which is a good indication that it was working well. He had a FULL treatment.

LA200 stands for liquamycin at 200mg/mL.

Tetradure is oxytetracycline same as LA200 or Agrimycin200 or Maxim200, etc -- but Tetradure is concentrated at 300mg/mL and lasts a week. I've only used it once (abcess on a calf's jaw) and really liked the result.

 

[Howdyjabo]

I assumed with their claims of having theraputic levels for 7 days they found a way to extend the time release too.

 

[msscamp]

Just curious - don't at all mean to be confrontational, but why would you be so quick to medicate?

This time of year is notorious, in my area at least, for respiratory illness due to widely fluctuating temps from day to night. A calf that is lethargic, has droopy ears, and a snotty nose is usually a done deal for respiratory problems. To wait to medicate tends to mean one will be dealing with a full-blown case of pneumonia that is just that much harder to treat, plus it further stresses the calf because of the tendency for repeat treatments to get it under control - not to mention possible permanent lung damage if allowed to go too long. We prefer the one-dose treatment of Baytril.

 

[shorty]

I always try LA-200 first ,if it doesn't work I'll use nuflor, it usually works , but you have get it from the vet.