The Poultry Keeper

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Ok...Don has a little one month old steer calf here at home. Got him for free, only because he has pneumonia.

I went out, bought milk re-placer, electrolyte mineral supplement, salt mineral block, sweet oats, and inject-able penicillin.

Gave him (him has been named Freezer, by Don) the penicillin. Tried enticing with milk re-placer but breathing is so labored that he won't suckle. Cleaned up his nose area and washed down the weeping from his eyes, and put some Vicks (mentholatum rub) on his nose to help relax his chest and lungs.

The farmer who had him, noticed the symptoms yesterday. We brought him home this morning. He won't drink at all.

How long can he go without drinking? Should I look into having the vet come out and get fluids in him intravenously?

Ok all you cattle ladies...time to shine and rise to the challenge. Wink

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7165 Location: isle of lewis

i'm going to put toni on to this she says will he suckle on your hand at all
suz

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

nope, tried that...even dipped my hand in the milk replacer first. Confused

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7165 Location: isle of lewis

i have tube feed before but it is horrible to do and almost impossible on an animal that is awake ,can you get mentol crystals ,i'd make up some with hot water making sure that it cannot get burned (or your self )
have you feed bottled feed a calf before,(sorry if i'm tring to teach you old tricks]
how long hasn't it had a drink for. can you get real cow milk or calastrom
toni

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7165 Location: isle of lewis

toni says this might help ,with a calf it would pro be a 2 man job ,you can help by putting your hand over the head this feels like an udder ,
if the calf refuses to take the teat you apply pressure with you thumb and finger at the corners of the mouth and then held the mouth on it holding the head up so it goes down ,but i'd becareful with this one as you don't want any more fuild on the lungs and also just read garlic can help ,but if you are worried i'd call the vet in so he or she dosn't get a call out in the middle of the night ,as toni said to me the problem is no food or water ,and the streght to fight off infections is reduced
suz

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

sorry Deb, have no knowledge of this at all, but really hope you get the little chap to drink soon

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

He was in a pasture with mum up till this morning. Presumably, he had access to her milk up until then...whether he choose to drink or not is anyone's guess.

He isn't that far gone, as he did a good pee when he got home here. He did slurp some warm water out of a bucket, after the milk replacer episode didn't go over. It wasn't a lot of water, but it was some.

Right now...(yes, never a dull moment here)...Don is in the process of putting in a new well pump as our's died in the middle of trying to get chores done, after coming home from doing the last 60 bales of hay and getting the calf settled. I am waterless for the next couple of hours, so will not be able to try a new batch of milk replacer until then.

Tried the 'make it feel like an udder' trick also, with the first go around. Even had one hand inside his mouth with the nipple to squirt it so he would get the idea. He is just tired and weak. He has slept since...so hopefully once the water is on and after the antibiotics have had a chance to get through his system, he will feel more like eating tonight.

He isn't too dehydrated yet. I did the skin pull test (when I had to give him his shot). Keep fingers crossed for little Freezer and if you come up with any other ideas, let me know.

Thanks for trying.

debcat · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:40 pm Post subject:

Hope he does ok
I've tube fed lambs and it's not nice Sad

If he's used to Mum he might take a while to get the hang of the bottle Confused

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Upon the 11:30ish check on him....Freezer has passed away. Sad

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7165 Location: isle of lewis

i'm so sorry,deb some calves like goats just give up ,you did everything you could ,it sounds as if even the vet would have struggled
suz

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

It's just hard sometimes. The animals in your care rely upon you to make it all better....sadly I was not capable enough this time around. Sad

He was sooooo cute too. Even Don said tonight that he was attached and would not be able to let him live up to his namesake....then an hour later, he was gone. Sad

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Forgot to add....at 10:45pm, we finally had water again.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7165 Location: isle of lewis

toni and her boss tried for a week to save a calf a couple of weeks ago ,when it died they found out its gut was not joined together properly ,so sometimes what ever you do you cannot help ,it's even worse when it's happens to a little one.toni says she's so sorry
suz

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Thanks Toni.

debcat · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:35 am Post subject:

really sorry Deb Crying or Very sad