navel still dripping

[Trisha in WA]

A calf I brought home yesterday (he was born Wed afternoon) still has some blood dripping from his navel. At first I thought it was just wet and maybe they didn't dip it. So I dipped it and this morning I saw actually drops of blood coming out. I dipped it again and tied it off. He was very lethargic and not doing well at all. Thought for sure he was a goner. I gave him some herbal stuff to help build his blood up and also a B shot.
My question has to do with his now tied off navel. The blood is backing up and making his navel above the knot swell. Will this reabsorb? Did I do the right thing by tying the navel in the first place? He is doing MUCH better this evening...drinking with gusto and getting up on his own.
Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

Oh additional info. He is Holstein/Jersey cross and came from a local dairy. They say they give colostrum and I have 2 older calves from them (bought at less than 5 days old as well) that are doing very well. I gave him some goat colostrum this evening (just got it from my goat friend) and have more that I will continue to give him tonight.

[myersfarm]

how did you tie off the navel with out getting his MEMBER in there also....might not be blood backing up but urine



tjm

[Trisha in WA]

I just tied a knot in it...and it is low enough down that I am sure I didn't catch anything (and I have seen him urinate since then). There is a good inch and a half of umbilical cord above the knot. In fact it is filling up and looks like a little sausage. I am thinking I should try to tie it higher and drain what is there.
Any thoughts?

[myersfarm]

I realize now you just tied it real low......if it stop bleeding i would just wait a day or two then retie and drain out the blood...keep feeling around it to seee if it builds up heat in the spot....good you caught it so fast......they usually seal in the first few minutes of birth...

tjm