Steer Calf Down

[Wrangler]

My husband and I just took over the management of a horse/operation. The last manager had a 450 lb. steer calf on the ground the day they shipped. He threw him in a stall in the barn and there he stayed in the dark until we took over. This little guy doesn't seem to be able to get up. Appetite was good and he was drinking well. We tried to lift him in a sling yesterday but his legs are getting stiffer and stiffer. The light in his eyes seems to be leaving.

This last manager was giving single shots of penicillin and Nufloor for everything. Most of the stock has probably built up resistance to the antibiotics by now. Tonight we gave him 5 cc of Liquimyacin which was all that was in the vet barn. Any ideas why a calf won't rise? Doesn't seem to have pneumonia or anything respiratory. There are no apparent physical injuries.

Any thoughts on what to do or which antibiotics would be best would be helpful.

 

[angie1]

If he is alive by the time you read this (first of all WOW!), second ~ take his temperature. I am guessing at this point it is going to be below normal. Its hard to advise here, sounds like your calf may be is going to or has already quit on you, and it is only a short matter of time. Liquimyacin isn't going to touch it if NuFlor has been abandoned. What about eating and drinking ~ anything? Need anymore history if you can provide.

 

[angus9259]

If it's pain related, you could try bantamine.

 

[Wrangler]

I am going to have to head to town to buy some banamine. The last guy took off with a bunch of drugs: banamine, nufloor, penicillin. I gave the liquimyacin SC as directed but that was the only thing I had that mentioned Staph and Streph possible infections. So I figured something that might be an anti-bacterial could help. The calf has been down for about a month or more. We are trying to fix so many darn things now with the horse operation and cow operation. It's only about 43 Pairs so it's not that big. My husband cowboyed for 15 years but has been working other random jobs like firefighting the last 7 and he's racking his brain trying to remember what he gave for each situation.

The back legs went stiff on me first and I poked and prodded the hips and body structure and didn't find anything out of whack. Last night he started to get the stiff bent neck look which probably only gives me a day or so before he dies. Dang it.

 

[rockridgecattle]

I agree with the taking of the temp. As well with the drug list.
I would consider chronic lung damage though. Even though you think he might not have a respiratory problem, i would not rule it out.
Did this other manager (term loosely used) vaccinate the animals? Were the cows done pre breeding?
I would also tube with good electrolytes to get the acid out of the system, and rebalance it. Down for about a month, a vet should have been consulted a long time ago. Not your fault i know.
What kind of feed was it on?

 

[Wrangler]

Going to grab some electrolytes today. That steer has been on Grass Hay and protein tubs. Just got off the phone with a buddy and he says to cut my losses. Possibly give a Vit. D & E shot. I believe everyone was vaccinated pre-calving? Will have to check with the owner. We are still trying to figure out the who is who and what is where around the outfit.