Sick calf?

[gulfso]

We have a calf born we believe in the last 24 hours. We found it this afternoon appearing very weak and seemed to be walking on his "toes". The mother is staying with him and attentive but we don't believe he's been nursing. His eyes are very bloodshot too.
We have another calf that we're bottle feeding so we tried giving the sick calf the bottle just to see if he would take it. He ended up drinking a quart and a half and seemed a little stronger after drinking. If he hasn't gotten colostrum is there anything else that can be done? Not sure if the "toe" walking is caused by weakness or something else. Any suggestions?

 

[cowvet]

Keep the colostrum going into him - you only have 24 hours for those antibodies to be absorbed through the gut.

Toe walking probably indicates short/contracted tendons - this will come right by itself after a few days

 

[gulfso]

We don't know if he's gotten any colostrum at all but plan on getting some as soon as the co-op opens 1st thing in the morning.

 

[mdmdogs3]

can you milk his mama
you'd get her colostrum and you'd get it now

 

[gulfso]

Tried that. She licked me 3 times so I put up a white flag. This is not a fist time momma. That makes me wonder if she thinks there is something wrong with the calf and she is doing what nature tells her and is leaving it alone.

 

[gulfso]

That was my husband typing. The momma tried to kick him 3 times not lick him and it's not a first time mother.

 

[Alice]

Tried that. She licked me 3 times so I put up a white flag. This is not a fist time momma. That makes me wonder if she thinks there is something wrong with the calf and she is doing what nature tells her and is leaving it alone.

If you cannot get the colostrum from the mother, and I'd keep trying, then 1st thing in the morning get the dried colostrum down that baby. Get more than one bag of it...get at least 3. Pour it down that baby as often as it will drink it. Then cross your fingers and pray.

Baby calves can be raised w/o having had colostrum, but it's a hard row to hoe. Give the new baby a shot of vitamin AD&E, make sure it gets probios at each feeding, and feed the baby milk replacer mixed with less water that indicated on the bag. Do it every 4 hours...3/4 complement of milk replacer to 1/2 bottle (2 pints) of water...every 4 hours until you've gotten at least 6-8 pints of milk replacer down it in a days time. That's after you've gotten the 3 bags of dried colostrum down it...and that could take at least a day and a half. And, continue giving that baby the same recipe until it's 2 weeks old...and still alive...and hasn't scoured...and is not weak.

Do not overfeed the calf on liquid. A baby can only absorb so much liquid...that's why mixing the milk replacer with less water is important.

Oh gosh, there's so much going into something like this when the calf can't nurse it's mother.

And, on the flip side...after you've given the calf the dried colostrum, it may be strong enough to nurse it's mama...don't stop trying with that. If that happens, you might not need to fool with milk replacer at all.

And, before I forget to add this...this is what I would do.

Alice

 

[Alice]

I forgot to address the walking on it's toes thing...it most likely has slightly contracted tendons. If the tendons were severely contracted the calf could only halfway hobble with it's toes totally buckled under.

Since it is walking on it's toes, it is having a hard time nursing, or it's not nursing at all...which goes back to what I've written above.

The tendons will straighten themselves out.

Alice

 

[gulfso]

Thanks...we're going to try the colostrum and see what happens.

 

[I luv herfrds]

Definately don't quit on trying to milk Mom. A stop kick stick will work on both a beef cow and or a milk cow,the only problem I ran into with a beef cow is needing someone to hold the stick in place. A rope cinched in front of the bag will stop her kicking too. Also get your shoulder in the flank and that way she won't be able to get you as bad(Been there,done that)
A head catch is helpful in this situation. A squeeze chute won't work.
By the way having your shoulder in her flank will give you advance warning of her trying to kick, and being in that close she won't be able to get her foot high enough to land a hard blow. My milk cow taught me all this when she kicked me out of the pen three times, literally!

 

[gulfso]

Got about a qt of the colostrum in him this morning and turned him and moma into a small paddock. He started walking as soon as I got him in there and seems to be walking a little better but still is tensed up. He probably walked 200+ yards and then finally layed down. Moma was still licking him and rubbing on him but hasn't settled down enough for him to try and suck. Plan to go back and check him at lunch and try to get some more fluid down him. Still open for suggestions.

 

[Alice]

His little legs will straighten out. In the meantime, it is really important that he continue to get nutrition. Keep feeding him, but not large amounts in two feedings. Smaller amounts throught the day until he can get around better and gets stronger will definitely be to his benefit.

Alice

 

[gulfso]

Still feeding him milk replacement. His legs are not straight but each day he walks a little better and a little longer. He is only drinking maybe a qt 3 times per day. Still a bit humped over from the leg thing which is putting him in a position that he can not get to suck from moma. How long before she dry's up? They are still in the pen together

 

[Alice]

How big was he when he was born?

 

[gulfso]

I would guess about 35 pounds.

 

[hillsdown]

I would guess about 35 pounds.

That sounds awfully light for a calf have you weighed it or are ya just eyeballing it.My border collie weighs 35 pounds.Remember they look little but when you pick them up it all becomes clearer.If she really is only 35 pounds then she has more problems than just her feet she probably did not develop properly.

 

[cattleluvr18]

wow 35 pounds is tiny. are you sure it aint 53 pounds i hope. ( i know that doesnt sound very big but i had a calf survive at 53 pounds) i've also seen that vitimin D milk has helped give them some strangth. we gave about 2 quarts for only like twice a day for only a day or so or else they'll get scours.

 

[gulfso]

Didn't weight him but he felt awful lite. He is drinking more each day so as long as he does ..gonna try and hang in with him

 

[cattleluvr18]

Didn't weight him but he felt awful lite. He is drinking more each day so as long as he does ..gonna try and hang in with him

i hope he keeps building up his strength.

 

[MoGal]

Durvet (brand name) puts out a colostrum bolus and I really don't know how effective it is.

Some of the oldtimers tell me if you don't have colostrum on hand then try to get at least some raw eggs down them....