Preemie angus heifer- help!

[Jcran]

I've not posted in a millennia but need your expert advice! Today I got a call from a local rancher that they had a cow calve but not come into milk and did we want the calf ( we bought a twin last June). So we zipped out and met him at his barn and the cow was ancient, bony, empty bag ( this guy is renowned for his fat slick cows...good herdsman)...anyhoo, the calf is tiny, maybe 30-40 lbs, probably premature. No suckle response. He tubed her wth packaged colostrum. We dipped her cord, gave 5 cc subq vitamin b and tried with bottles to little avail. I've tubed goats but my save a kid tube is too little. I HAVE a calf esophageal tube kit but it looks too darned long! I'm going out to try it though and wonder if a quart is too much to put down her. Any and all advice welcomed. Goat milk colostrum ( yep I know prolly too late) and goat milk mixed.

[Jcran]

Bump?

[randiliana]

I would get some Selenium into it as well. That might make a big difference.

First, I would suggest weighing it, just step onto a bathroom scale with it, then subtract your weight from the combined weight of you and the calf. This will help you out when figuring any medication dosages AND how much to feed it. You can't expect a 30 lb calf to eat what a 90 lb calf would!

Now, keep it warm, a preemie doesn't have the ability to regulate it's body temp like a full term calf does, and because the lungs are underdeveloped, cold air is very hard on them.

Right now I am dealing with a preemie, that was 32 lbs at birth. Weak, but very lively. I would suggest a shot of Dexamethasone (about 1 cc) which may help the calf's lungs. If your calf weighs in that 30-40 lb range, feed it about 2 cups of milk or colostrum at a time. Smaller, frequent feedings will be better for it than only 2 large feedings. I would be hesitant to feed more than 2 c at a feeding to begin with, but you may need to feed 4-6 times a day.

Watch for breathing problems, and maybe get in touch with your veterinarian as they will be able to help you out with what medications to give if you do end up with health problems.

As my vet told us, 'If it were a human baby it would be in a hospital in an incubator'. The chances of survival of these preemies is not real good, even with the best care you can give them... Good luck!

[Jcran]

She fits in a large dog crate and comes to class with me...my students were silent today because I told them babies need quiet. Bit the bullet and went to the vets to have an assessment done. If she lives the cost will be worth it. Vet thinks she full term or close to it. Good lung sounds, 38 lbs, walked and fought the exam which were all good signs. Prescribed excenel as she probably didn't get colostrum in first 6 hours and said 1 liter 3x a day. Well I can do trickle down and get close to a pint on board so I'm going to try that every couple hoursImageUploadedByHomesteading Today1427253390.688888.jpg

[Jcran]

This morning we had suckle!!!! She has had a great day and is doing well

[randiliana]

That is awesome!

[Bret]

Good work.