3 week old Holstein calf seems sick

[Genevieve M.]

My neighbor called to say that the calf they bought the same day we bought ours seems sick.

He is scouring, and has a snotty nose and raspy breath.

We gave ours a round of Corrid for cocci, last week, and that cured the scours. When goats have the raspy breathing, we have to treat with specific antibiotics or they will die of pneumonia.

What antibiotics if any would you say we should bring them for their calf?

We bought the calves from a dairy when they were a week old. I'm pretty sure that they got colostrum.

We are feeding ours 3 pints of goat's milk twice a day. I think they are feeding more than that, and mixing milk with replacer.

[francismilker]

If the calf has raspy breathing I'd give it about 3cc Baytril and treat it with electrolytes for the scours.

Honestly though, it's hard to give vet advice on a sick calf I haven't looked at and listened to. Have they taken the calf's temperature. Sounds like pnuemonia to me.

[Genevieve M.]

Thanks.

I haven't seen the calf yet either, but I said we would go out tomorrow. I wanted an idea of what to take with us.

[topside1]

FM, is spot on...Baytril 3-5 ml. Side note keep up the the good work with your calf. 3 pints is great and if you want to increase volume, well just do it slowly...Topside

[Genevieve M.]

My vet said that there was one dosage of Baytril that was to be given for 3 consecutive days, and another dose that you could just give once. He wasn't at the clinic to look it up.

Is 3 cc the complete dose or just the first day?

[Madsaw]

Yeap pneumonia. I have not had any experince with Baytril around here in WI. But, from the reports that I have heard its spotty. Some had luck with it others didn't. For the most part we use pneumonia specific drugs. Draxxin, Nuflur, and Micotil. Draxxin is one shot at the rate of 1.1cc per 100. Its cost alot but works great. Nuflur is cheap per cc but the about the same to treat over all. Then Micotil is a last resort drug now days if the other 2 do not clear it up and the calf is still alive. Its cheap but be very carefull useing it. Its is bad for humans.
I would treat the calf with the draxxin and with sustain III tablets.
Bob

[Genevieve M.]

Thanks. We have Nuflor, but I think we should save that for our dairy goats.

The label on the Baytril says that 5cc given once can be an entire dose, so we will try that first.

I did find out that he is feeding up to 1 gallon of replacer twice a day. That is probably why he is scouring, but I don't think the Corrid for cocci prevention will hurt.

[agmantoo]

With that feeding regimen they will soon kill the calf with kindness and you will not have to worry about the meds.