4 month old heifer dehydrated how do I treat?

[gingersgoats]

Due to my newness to raising calves, I have had pretty good luck, however my luck ran out this week. Short story: raised bottle calves for about 2 yrs. Sold 3 steers, bought milk cow and have a yearling and 4 month old heifer. Heifer was doing great raised on goat milk. Moved her to pasture last Monday with milk cow and yearling heifer. She is a Large frame calf. Started with diarrhea last week after introducing a richer hay and different feed. (I know I did not make the best choices here. ) I really do know better. It was a mistake on my part. She got wet and probably chilled in the pasture from a big rain storm and now is dehydrated pretty bad sunken eyes and skin does not bounce back when you pinch it. No coughing or runny eyes. No blood in poo. I gave 2 vet type scour pills with meds in them earlier. Gave pro-bios last night. She is eating and drinking. When I just checked on her she stood and had tons of gas? Poo is thick liquid so some stays on top of hay. Not sure what else to do? I decreased grains yesterday. Any advice with an older calf. I often see this in day or week old calves but never this old. Usually they do great after the first 2 months. We live in southern TN and there is not much green grass in their pasture yet.

[haypoint]

electrolytes

[Allen W]

Past time for a vet, my guess is she has more going on then just diarrhea.

[myheaven]

I say call in the vet get her an Iv and meds. Heifers are worth quite a bit now a days.

[gingersgoats]

Vet cannot get here for 5 days it is just life in our area. I must do most of the doctoring myself. I turned her back out with the other cows this morning. She is eating good and seems alert and well. I have continued the electrolytes, scour pills and pro bios and poo was more of a thick pudding this morning. I am praying she is better. No sunken eyes and skin tent test is bouncing back. I am thinking I will bring her back to the barn when the rain returns Monday so she does not get wet again. I will continue the scour pills through the whole course and continue with the pro-bios until her stool is firmer. Thanks for the advice. I wish we had a local vet that could help. No one in our town does cattle anymore. I am at the outta town vet's mercy, whenever he will fit me in. I drive an hour to get medication from a vet that will sell it to me for cattle, but they wont come vet my animals because of travel. I love this forum. It is very helpful to those who have no one else! Thanks!!!

[haypoint]

Can you transport the 4 month old calf to the Vet?

[Patchouli]

It sounds like stress combined with feed change. Does she get along okay with your other 2 cows? They may have been running her around a bit when you first introduced her. Sounds like you are doing everything you can on your own and she is responding. Keep a close eye on her since stress induced pneumonia is a possibility at this point. Might want to keep your Vet in the loop too in case you need to meet them to get some antibiotics or other meds.

[Annoth]

Go to your feed store and buy a large pistol grip drench gun. Mix electrolytes (or Gatorade if nothing else is available) and drench her by placing the end at the start of the throat and pull the trigger. She'll be forced to drink basically.

Depending on temps in your area will determine how much she needs. A black cattle in hot weather will drink over 10 gallons but a white cattle in cooler water might drink 5 or less per day. I'd give her half a gallon then offer a private bucket. If she still refuses, add a teaspoon of salt every 2 lbs of feed and give her some rations. If she eats it and still wont drink you'll have to keep drenching until the vet can medicate her.

[gingersgoats]

Thanks for all the great advice, I will definitely store it away for the next time. Unfortunately, the only "local" vet comes to you, when he gets around to you. I learned this the hard way when we got our first calves. I do have a vet I can travel to to get all the meds we need, but they are not local. SHe is fine now. I think it was a combination of feed change, hay change, stress of having her "buddy" taken away and then put in a new lot with new heifers and a very cold spell. I did the scour pills, pro-bios, and an electrolyte powder in a half gallon of water 2 times a day for 3 days. So glad we did not have a disaster on our hands!!! Thanks all!

[Spamela]

I'm glad it turned out well for you. Good job!