Sick calves

[Sisson farm]

I need help with sick calves. I have a charlet herd that is coming down with some thing that we can't figure out what it is. It starts out with a dry cough in calves that range in ages of 3 months to yearling calves. They keep the cough for weeks before they develope a sore and tender left leg that causes limping and swelling near the hoof. Note, only in the left leg. With in 3-4 weeks they die. They do not have weepy eyes, but do start to get a white mucus out if the nostrils. We tried la-200 with no results and now are trying excenel rtu. Has any one else had these symptoms in their calves and what is it and what causes it.

 

[redsimangus]

I would talk to my vet and maybe even have him post a dead one. have you took the temperature of the calves when they were sick and if so what was it? does one of their ears droop when they are sick?? I doubt its mycoplasma but we had one with mycoplasma and he had one droopy ear and a temp that was as high as 106.5 to 107. he also was limping on ( this was awhile back so can't remember for sure) but I'm pretty sure it was his left front leg.

 

[Texas PaPaw]

Need to get them to a vet YESTERDAY and get this situation figured out. Almost impossible to diagnose on the internet. Until you know what they are infected with, can't develop an effective treatment plan. Can pay many vet bills with the value of 1 calf.

Not my intent to be rude just trying to emphasize the urgency of the situation. Time is of essence!!

 

[Sisson farm]

Didn't take any if the posts rude. I hope to find the problem through all the suggestions I get. I have called the vet out and he cut open one if the dead calves and said it was pneumonia and put them on the la-200. Needless to say it has not cured them and it is not pneumonia. We have called I a second vet who is just as bewildered as we are but has put them on the new anti biotic. I am really hoping the new meds work but still need help with the problem and what has caused it.

 

[Texas PaPaw]

Can't believe a vet would recommend LA-200 for anything but pinkeye or foot rot, as it hasn't been very effective for respiratory for over 20 years. Hearing some foot rot is not responding to LA now.

My guess is it is starting as either a viral infection or pneumonia and then mycoplasma comes in. What has worked best for me in those cases is to give draxxin then wait 7 days and give a second round of draxxin. If they are real sick when treated the first time, add a 2cc/100 shot of baytril at the same time. Don't think excenel is effective on mycoplasma and must be given every day. Excede is same active as excenel but shot lasts a week. Mycoplasma is a nasty bugger and takes 14 days of antibiotic treatment to effectively knock it out. That's the beauty of Draxxin as 1 shot lasts a week but does work slow. Not all antibiotics are effective with mycoplasma. It can affect the lungs, joints, eyes and ears so can be various symptoms. Might want to google "treating mycoplasma bovis". Learned some good information a few years ago that way.

Hope you get a handle on this soon. Had a bout with myco a few years ago and don't want to go down that road again.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Something else could be causing stress. Stress will cause pneumonia in calves.

Nuflour and banamine is the best thing for pneumonia in my opinion. PawPaw is right. Most vets know better.

Pneumonia will kill them. Quick. Something else is likely wrong and the stress is getting the best of them.

Large animal vet is your best option.

 

[Sisson farm]

Have had 2 large animal vets look at them. We have taken the sickest one to have tests done. We are suppose to get the results back tomorrow. I will post when we know what it is. I'm very hopeful. Texas papaw, I think you hit it on the head. Thank you.