Cuts by calf's tail - What in the world???

[KIT.S]

One of our 1-week-old bottle calves looks like someone picked him up by his tail, and the skin split on both sides of his tail! It's very strange. He is in a large pen with another calf his age, I checked the building they have and there is no noticable things he could slice himself on, and besides, how did he slice himself on Both sides? Each slice is about 1 1/2 inch long, from near his anus towards his head.

I was prepared to sew the cuts (my daughter had called me at work and said there was a problem), but I don't think that will work, so I sprayed with Blu-kote and gave him a shot of LA200. I'm concerned about flies, and whatever else I don't know. These are our first calves, although we've bottle raised lambs and pigs.

He's eating well, he seems to be poo'ing, he doesn't care if I mess with him there, to look or put on meds, and it looks as though he didn't bleed at all.

Has anyone seen this before? Is there something I didn't do/did wrong? Sigh.

Thanks,
Kit

[Madsaw]

At your local farm store you should beable to find a spray called screw worm spray. This will reply and kill flies and maggots. Very good stuff to keep around. Stinks real bad but works great.
Bob

[KIT.S]

Thanks, I'll go by this evening. This morning he's eating well, but his tongue is all purple! Topside once mentioned that a healthy calf cleans itself, and he hasn't died from injesting the medicine, so I guess he's more healthy than I had worried.
Kit

[randiliana]

I doubt that there is much you did wrong. It is amazing, the things cows/ horses can do to themselves, when there is nothing you can find that would hurt them ;~>. Just keep an eye on the wounds, and he will probably be just fine.