What illness could this be?

[southerngurl]

My grandpa's calf has something wrong with it. I don't know much about cattle. He said it's back legs are swollen and it can't hardly use them. It has a hard time laying down because of it. What might this be? It is just a few days old and was fine.

[topside1]

Do a google search on Joint Ill....The best I can recall I've seen this years ago, I cure it and it may have been Joint Ill....good luck

[Ronney]

You don't say how long the calf has been like this but I would advise that your grandfather get vet advice as soon as possible. Without seeing the animal, it sounds suspiciously like Blackleg which is one of the clostridial diseases. Do you know if he vaccinates against these? IF it is Blackleg, it kills quickly (12 to 24 hours).

Irrespective of that, with swelling in both legs there is obviously something very wrong going on and a vet would be the best bet.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[tinknal]

Blackleg usually kills before any symptoms show up. Most navel infections (joint ill) I've seen has shown up in a single front knee several weeks or more after birth, but for now I would work this theory and dose the calf with antibiotics. The trouble with calling a vet is that you pay $150 for a visit to save a $100 calf, and I can guarantee that the vet will take it's temp, listen to it's lungs, and gives the calf a shot of penicellen and 2 sulfa boluses.

[southerngurl]

I called this morning and grandma said she has started it on penicillin. She said she thought it might be naval ill. They've had cattle for a long time, but I don't know much about it. They called me because I have a lot of animals and know about this stuff sometimes, plus I have the internet. I have horses and goats but don't know much about cattle.

I will read up on the joint ill. He didn't dip the cord when it was born.