Sick calf

[Rob30]

I just bought 3 bottle calves. One has a swollen knee and ankle. I have started pen G treatment. The joints are soft and I have been flexing the joints at feeding times. He does stand on it for a bottle. But he spends most of the day laying down. Any suggestions on what else I could do to help him.

[Ken Scharabok]

Two possibilities come to mind:

It was injured in some manner. Vet may want you to use cortisome (spelling?) injections.

Joint or Naval Ill: Usually caused by an infection acquired through the naval cord after birthing. May or may not respond to antibiotics such as streptomycin and penicillin. Talk to your vet.

[Paula]

I agree with Ken.
We raised lots of bottle calves and I don't think we ever had one recover from joint (navel) ill. Spent lots of money/time/effort treating them though. Seems like they always got pneumonia as well as getting septic.
Talk to your vet about symptoms (have you taken the calf's temp?) and treatment and decide if it's worth the effort/cost if it turns out to be joint ill.
Is the swelling still just in the one leg? Are the joints hot?
I can't think of one calf we had who had joint ill who had swelling in just one leg (doesn't mean it can't happen though) - maybe it's just an injury.