Coughing Calf

[becki121]

Hey everyone! I recently bought a Chianina Charolais cross calf. He's very healthy, eating and drinking. I have him nursing one of my cows and every time he drinks milk... He like pukes it up and it runs out his nose. It's the weirdest thing ever. But like I said... He's eating hay and grain and drinking water. The only time he pukes and cough and sounds raspy is when he drinks milk from the cow. Any suggestions as to what it might be??? Or has anyone ever seen this??

[DJ in WA]

I guess you know why they sold the calf.

I would do a search for cleft palate in calves.

As a fetus, the roof of the mouth is supposed to seal shut, but due to genetic defect, or toxin like lupine eaten by cow, the palate can fail to close. That leaves a hole between the mouth and nasal passage, allowing milk to pass out nostrils.

Some cases worse than others, so could do okay, but you can read other experiences when you do a search.

[Jcran]

We had cleft palate in a goat kid that symptoms were almost the same; euthanised it.

[MO_cows]

I suspect cleft palate, too. How old is the calf?

[SpaceCadet12364]

Turn him into a steer and when he is big enough take him on a field trip to the local butcher shop.

[becki121]

He is about 4 months old now.... We took him right off his mother in the pasture, and I brought him home and put him on my cow. I've never heard of a clef pallet in cows, I'll have to do some research!!

[becki121]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet12364

Turn him into a steer and when he is big enough take him on a field trip to the local butcher shop.

This is my other option... Especially owning a slaughterhouse!! Lol