EMERGENCY CALF

[Lindsey_Pulver]

Is he eating at all? Can you try to get him up?

We got him to eat some; the woman who sold us the calf said he needs electrolytes tubed. He is moving a little now- we were told he just has a belly ache(?) And not to feed him. What are your thoughts?

 

[Lindsey_Pulver]

Is a vet an option? That’s probably your best bet.

We do not have a vet near here and also unfortunately no way to transport him

 

[TheCluckyClucker2]

How did you get him home?

 

[coach723]

If there are cattle in your area, there's got to be a vet somewhere.
https://www.agriculture.com/livestock/cattle/health/calf-scours-symptoms-treatment_280-ar47114
http://county-vets.co.uk/veterinary-services/farm-animals/cattle/calf-scour/

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

We got him to eat some; the woman who sold us the calf said he needs electrolytes tubed. He is moving a little now- we were told he just has a belly ache(?) And not to feed him. What are your thoughts?

This I don’t think is a belly ache. He needs to eat to keep up his strength!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

There is a high chance that your calf has a bacterial or viral infection since it has both neonatal calf diarrhea (calf scours) and is coughing (signs of lung irritation and could already be or lead to pneumonia). I would call up whoever you got this calf from and ask if it received colostrum although I have a strong feeling it didn't. Your first course of action is to give fluids with electrolytes and checking your calf's temperature with a rectal thermometer. Knowing your calves temperature will help you gage the severity and give you a better idea of what is actually going on. I know you said that you don't have a vet nearby, but I would seriously consider phoning around for a farm vet (many large animal vets do farm calls). If you have any neighbors with livestock or any large farms nearby ask them what vet they use. Unless you have quite a bit of experience with livestock first aid it's going to be very difficult to navigate this. I will say this NEVER buy livestock that is showing signs of a respiratory distress before you even bring them home. There is a very high chance they have a bacterial or viral infection that can easily spread to other livestock.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/understanding_calf_scours_for_cow_calf_producers_part_1

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/calf_scours_signs_treatment_and_prevention_part_2

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5680732/