We acquired 2 bottle beef calves last week and one is not doing so well. The heifer is about a month old and the bull calf 2 months old. The heifer (Sissy) was a little lethargic when we got her home (Wed evening). She was not interested in a bottle (were told that she was on the bottle). The next morning (Thurs), she was still not taking the bottle or bucket so we started tubing her (I noticed that she has ulcers on the back of her tongue). We feed her medicated milk replacer in the morning and evening and electrolytes throughout the day. On Friday. we had to IV her belly cavity (we could not get the IV in the neck vein). No temp. We also administered 4ml of NuFlor IM and 8ml orally. About three hours later she was doing great. She was up, curious, drank from a bucket. On Saturday morning she was still doing well. She was drinking milk and electrolytes from a bucket most of the day. About dinner time she stopped taking in fluids again. We have been tubing since Saturday evening. Milk in the morning and evening and electrolytes every 2-3 hours via tube. Yesterday, she started showing signs of scours and had a temp of 103.2. The first movement was like egg whites and very slight traces of blood, since she has just had the routine scours movements. She spends most of her time lying down.
We are very new to cattle and are at a loss. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
We are very new to cattle and are at a loss. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.