Lathargic bottle calf

red hott farmer · #1 12/18/08, 10:23 AM

I have a real weak 3 week oud bottle feed calf that i got last night. a Holstein. He has the scours and he is so lathargic he will not suck on a bottle. I have been helping him and getting him a pint of fluid this am. He got electrolites and milk replacer like the Electrplite bucket said to give him. Should i tube him? if so help. I have a tube feeder. I believe i go on the left hand side. and what should i feed him?

Up North · #2 12/18/08, 12:06 PM

Use the esophageal tube feeder. If inserted fully and properly down the calf's throat, the ball on the end of the dispensing tube will insure the tube goes into the stomach as intended.
I would feed two quarts of straight electrolytes served at cow body temperature for two consecutive feedings, then start mixing milk with the electrolytes if his stool starts to firm up.
Keeping calf hydrated is critical.

A draft free environment and a deep insulating bed of dry bedding material are important as well. If weather is harsh and you have a calf that has lost his body mass due to illness, I have even gone so far as to position calf under a heat lamp until calf is stabilized and taking on nutrition again.

Good luck

LizD · #3 12/18/08, 12:13 PM

What colour are his scours? Is there any blood or is it dark like old blood? Is he just three weeks or slightly older? At three weeks and older, it could be coccidiosis so if there is blood in the feces you should call the vet about a cocci-bolus. What is his temperature? Does he have a cough or rapid breathing? How long has he been down? How are his eyes? Sunken and dull or bright? You should know the answer to all of these things to tell the vet and get the right meds for him. You are right that you have to keep him hydrated and if you have to tube him, call a friend to help get him in an upright position, you can't tube when he is down, make sure that you can feel the ball, with your hand, at the end of the tube in his throat, if it is in the windpipe you won't be able to feel it. Good luck, Liz

red hott farmer · #4 12/18/08, 04:43 PM

His last stools are slightly stiffing up and turing yellow not a mucas clear liquid stool thing. I did put 2 qts of electrolites with an egg and a tbl of cornsyrup down him with the tube. So tonite i will put more electrolites down him and then in the am start mixing him with milk if his stoold start to stiffin more.
His temp is 102.5
no runny rose
Slight pantin breath
His eyes are ok not the brightest but not dull

I did give him some probos also.

red hott farmer · #5 12/18/08, 07:34 PM

the little one passed away tonite around 7 pm.
thanks to the ones who helped and was concerned.

TSYORK · #6 12/18/08, 08:33 PM

I feel your pain! I had a black angus calf that I got from a local dairy that has a respiratory illness this past week. I doctored on him with antibioics, Banamine, energy supplements, and IV's. He was doing so, so well, then when I went into the barn Sunday night (just a couple of hours from last seeing him doing so well) and found him dead. It sounds respiratory, but could have been a plethera of different things. There's always the next one, so don't beat yourself up too bad. Remember, everyone that you get won't live; you'll have some casulties.

Madsaw · #7 12/18/08, 10:43 PM

Sorry fro your loose.
Sounds like the calf had pnuemonia. the panting and slight temp. Many think a calf just has scours. But, anymore we see a calf with scours we treat it if it was a pnuemonia case. A pnuemonia specific injectable with a dose of sulf pills down the throat.
Now I am going to get a few bent here. DO NOT FEED MILK MIXED WITH ELECTROLTYES!!! The electrolytes do not allow the milk to curddle in the stomach to be digested. This is not something I made up. This comes from about 6 differnt vets in my area over the yrs. Feed electrolytes no sooner then a 1 hour before or 1 hour after feeding milk or a milk replacer.
Bob

agmantoo · #8 12/19/08, 07:12 AM

This post is not to single any one person out. It is just an observation and an issue I feel that this forum needs to address. I felt that this calf's destiny was already chiseled in concrete. I also sense that there are others here felt as I did but they are just tired of typing the same think over and over and the poor outcomes. Some of the more successful calf growers here need to work together to create a sticky for those thinking about getting a calf. These new to calf people need to know before hand what to have on in possession PRIOR to getting a calf. The housing needs for the various climates should be suggested. The combined effort information needs to address when and how and what to give when a calf is dehydrated. The reverting to milk and giving electrolytes and how much milk and often needs to be addressed. Some of the home remedies and good intentions take too large of a toll. Many of these calves die from the owner just not knowing what they do not know. I'll step down now.

Madsaw · #9 12/19/08, 07:36 AM

+1 Agman
Bob

topside1 · #10 12/19/08, 07:43 AM

I'll second that motion and will start a sticky thread mid afternoon. For those who want to participate, here's a heads up I will write about "Buying your first calf from the auction or farm".
That is the only portion that I am going to expand on. Other topics as you all know would be feeding, housing, weaning, sicknesses, medications, vaccinations, disbudding, castrating and others....Go to go daylight is burning...Topside

harplade · #11 12/20/08, 06:53 AM

so glad you are going to do this. My DD and I are thinking about getting some bottle calves this winter. Although we have nursed many goat orphans and bottle babies so we know the warmth, keep dry, how to tube, etc., we don't really know calf feed and medications. I'll look forward to reading your thoughts.
Harplade