Urgent

[Trixie Club Calves]

I have a show heifer who we've just brought in from outside, she has blood icicles around her mouth. She sounds like she can barely breathe and she's shaking. She was born in March 2024, currently 680ish lbs. Any ideas of what's happening? We're 45 minutes away from the nearest vet.

 

[Trixie Club Calves]

I have a show heifer who we've just brought in from outside, she has blood icicles around her mouth. She sounds like she can barely breathe and she's shaking. She was born in March 2024, currently 680ish lbs. Any ideas of what's happening? We're 45 minutes away from the nearest vet.

She also has zero appetite for hay/grain/cakes

 

[kenny thomas]

Sounds like she has major lung damage from some type of shipping fever. Better get a vet or something fast. How many days have you had her?

 

[Ky hills]

I agree with KT, I'd be getting in contact with a vet ASAP. The vet we use the most is around 40 minutes away too.

 

[Trixie Club Calves]

Sounds like she has major lung damage from some type of shipping fever. Better get a vet or something fast. How many days have you had her?

We've had her for 3-4 months, called vet, he said she probably had some sort of trauma, or has a bad respiratory infection which is unlikely considering how fast it happened

 

[TCRanch]

What is her temperature? Sometimes it's hard to tell when they have pneumonia, and it can hit fast. Have you looked in/around her mouth to see if maybe she was kicked, teeth loose, trauma, maybe a foreign object lodged?

 

[Trixie Club Calves]

What is her temperature? Sometimes it's hard to tell when they have pneumonia, and it can hit fast. Have you looked in/around her mouth to see if maybe she was kicked, teeth loose, trauma, maybe a foreign object lodged?

We haven't checked her temperature. We just looked at her this morning, she's not shaking anymore, blood seems less, and she ate a few bites of her grain. Still breathing bad. Couldn't find anywhere that was obvious she got kicked or had some sort of trauma. I think the blood was/is coming from her nose slowly.

 

[Ky hills]

If she's breathing hard my guess would be some kind of respiratory illness. They can hit very fast and take an animal out very fast too if not treated quickly.
Is she holding her head down?
A lot of times stress caused from weaning, changes in weather etc can cause "shipping fever". Lots of times in fall of the year especially calves can get sick extremely fast and it takes hold of them very fast once they are sick.

 

[Mrcopier]

Keep us updated

 

[Trixie Club Calves]

If she's breathing hard my guess would be some kind of respiratory illness. They can hit very fast and take an animal out very fast too if not treated quickly.
Is she holding her head down?
A lot of times stress caused from weaning, changes in weather etc can cause "shipping fever". Lots of times in fall of the year especially calves can get sick extremely fast and it takes hold of them very fast once they are sick.

She's either holding her head up, or almost holding her head up/out, guessing trying to get more air.
Weird thing is we haven't had any change in weather, haven't been hauling, and nothing has changed on her daily routine.

 

[Ky hills]

Yes, holding her head out would imply to me a breathing issue. Does she have any sign of bloat?

 

[Hpacres440p]

In the time it's taken on here, I would have had her loaded and at a vet…

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Temperature is the FIRST thing anyone suspecting a problem. Go from there.
If she has a temperature she needs treatment ASAP

 

[Trixie Club Calves]

Yes, holding her head out would imply to me a breathing issue. Does she have any sign of bloat?

No bloat.

 

[Trixie Club Calves]

In the time it's taken on here, I would have had her loaded and at a vet…

We called the vet, and he didn't seem very concerned. We may call a different vet today for another opinion.
He sounded like he really thought she just had some kind of trauma.

 

[puzzled in oregon]

Sounds like a right smart vet

 

[Brute 23]

We called the vet, and he didn't seem very concerned. We may call a different vet today for another opinion.
He sounded like he really thought she just had some kind of trauma.

Find another vet. At a minimum he/she should have suggested you bring it in to take a look. Most don't like saying much with out seeing them in person.

 

[simme]

Vet did not seem concerned - is that supposed to be good news or bad news?

Many have already mentioned getting a temperature. That advice is cheaper and more important than a second vet consultation. Get that thermometer in that heifer now.

Any good vet that hears those symptoms is going to ask about her temperature. And wonder why when you tell them that "we have not taken her temperature".

Get her temperature.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

The temp is the FIRST thing a vet asks.....well, a good vet.

 

[Dave]

Or at least give her a blast of antibiotics. If she isn't sick it won't hurt her. And if she is sick it will start her on the road to recovery.