calf hernias

lasergrl · #1 01/23/09, 08:17 PM

My boyfriend bought me an excellent looking holstein calf for $12.00 (that is the going rate right now for 80# ers) He was just wonderfull looking, the best we have brought home. He sucked ok the first day, second day he started chewing it instead so I tubes him and gave selenium. This am ears down head down, tubed him. NO SCOURS the entire time, no evidence of pneumonia, but gave penn yesterday as precaution and probios. Tonight calf is layed out but would get up if made too. Tubed him. He fell over, and wouldnt you know it, huge hernia behind umbilical cord. Darned, nice black calf. I am guessing he is probably going to die or should be put down? Is there a chance he could be sick from something else and hernia just happens to be there? Gave baytril and b vitamins figured it couldnt hurt just in case its infection. Gums pink, and warm. Feels like bowel type stuff, unable to reduce it.

Could the other calf have caused it from butting him like they do? They are the same size.

Ronney · #2 01/24/09, 04:44 AM

These hernias are not uncommon but I've never had one and therefore cannot suggest how to deal with it other than to ring the vet - which is what I would do. It sounds as though the gut is being pinched and unless that is alleviated, the calf will die.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Cheers,
Ronnie

francismilker · #3 01/24/09, 06:57 AM

I've had calves that have hernias in the past and I haven't had any problems with them falling over from them. Most of the time, unless they are very severe I don't worry about them. With today's market value of holstein bull calves I'd not think the calf worth the price of surgery to repair it though. If you're planning on eating him later I'd just let it go. Sometimes as they get bigger and heavier the weight of their stomach resting on the umbilical hernia causes them to worsen. You might give him some bantamine for pain management for a few days and a shot of baytril a day for about four days.

randiliana · #4 01/24/09, 02:56 PM

Usually they are born with them. Unless they are very big, they don't cause a problem.

I doubt that the hernia is what is causing the problems with the calf. Check his temp, you are likely dealing with a disease, pneumonia, scours or something along that line. Keep him hydrated with electrolytes, and feed him some milk in between electrolyte doses.

Good luck with him.

lasergrl · #5 01/24/09, 03:02 PM

Thank you. This am he only ate a small amount, 1/4 pint maybe, and since I was in a hurry for work thats all he got untill I got home. Actually looks much better this afternoon even though he didnt get a belly full this am. Maybe baytril worked. Still no scours but its getting borderline consistency. Like peanut butter stuck to his tail. Ears still down but standing and looking for the bottle. The hernia looked grapefruit sized yesterday, when he stands up it doesnt feel so bad and he isnt painfull with palpation of it. So I guess I will let him live a little while longer

And I am defimately not calling the vet out on this one, I would euthenise before I would do that. Its interesting what things pop up with calves!

when reselling this calf, if he is doing well in a couple weeks, should he be discounted or is it not important for a meat animal?

randiliana · #6 01/24/09, 03:07 PM

Hernias aren't a big deal unless they are large. Basically the abdominal wall did not seal and there is a hole there. If it is large enough that you are worried about it you can try wrapping something around his belly to maybe help it heal some, but I wouldn't do that unless it was quite large. Post a pic of him and we can evaluate a bit better.

If he is doing well and growing, I wouldn't discount him. Hernias are a genetic thing FYI.