911 EMERGENCY Vet on vacation til the 29th!!! Very sick calf

[jojobean]

Info:
Week-old Holstein, 100lbs (big boy). Began scouring right when we brought him home. Did the usual electrolyte for two feedings, then the MR/electrolyte mix. Did Sulmet for five days. It has been touch and go...in the morning he will moo and be at his feeder for his breakfast...we have to tube him to get any fluids down him during the day (electrolyte), usually feeds by himself by evening.

This morning he took his bottle fine and I went out 3 hours later to give him electrolytes. He was down, grunting, couldn't breathe swollen left side. Used a needle to get the gas out quick. Had to do that a few times over the course of a few hours...he was also severely dehydrated. Gave him some electrloytes and gas-X.

I was able to get him to stand and walk to a cooler pen. He is in there now, still grunting when breathing. I...am honestly at a loss on WHAT exactly to do. He is still dehydrated from scours...but he is bloated as well so...Is it rumen? Is it abomasitis? I don't know, and like I said, the vet is GONE until Monday

What would you do? Continue with fluids and gas meds so he doesn't go into shock? I honestly thought he might die there for a minute, but he was able to lift his head when he got the electrolytes, and then stand. If pushing fluids with bloat...do Ijust do a quart every hour or so or go for 2 quarts? I only have Sulmet on hand...

adding that he has been on milk for a few days, the usual 2 quarts for twelve hours, with electrolytes in between. I added probiotics to his milk, which may have set off the bloat His current temp is 102.7 I just went out to him, was able to get him to stand...still breathing heavy, rumen no longer distended...possible abomosal inflammation. BUt that is just it...I don't really KNOW.

 

[elevan]

Do you have Lactated Ringers or Sodium Chloride so you can give SubQ fluids?

 

[jojobean]

I do not

 

[elevan]

This is something that you might try :/

I'm not extremely knowledgeable in cattle but I threw the kitchen sink at my calf when he went down and I was able to save him, so keep trying.

 

[elevan]

Can you call another vet and ask them to give you some lactated ringers or sodium chloride?

 

[Cricket]

I'd for sure stop giving him milk if he's bloating.

 

[jojobean]

Some good news. I went out there about twenty minutes ago to give him fluids and he was standing...and farting. Gave him the fluids and went out just now and he had walked out and laid down by himself in another part of the pen. Legs under him (not straight out like this morning), head up, ears turned forward in response to his name....all encouraging signs. I know better not to get TOO encouraged though, because of how quickly things can go awry. His temp went down to 101.8 as well. Still has labored breathing, the poo is still scours, but with a touch more substance than just green water if that makes sense?

SO how long technically can a calf go without milk? We already had him off as per the norm, but he is still scouring so we put him back on. How long will the scours last? Seriously will he EVER be able to handle the milk sans issues? I am using the purina brand. I am afraid that he might starve? What if I add gasX to his milk bottle...would that cause any odd reaction?

Thank you, I will look up that and try and ring a vet, although I wouldn't be able to get it today as we live 45 minutes from town.

and thank you all for the replies, this has been very stressful.


Oh, should we administer fluids during the night or...???

 

[jojobean]

This is something that you might try :/

I'm not extremely knowledgeable in cattle but I threw the kitchen sink at my calf when he went down and I was able to save him, so keep trying.

This is basically what happened today. He was down, legs out, mouth open, cold limbs, could barely breathe. Didn't know what to do, but in one moment I had the attitude that he was almost already dead, and would die if I didn't do Something. That is when I went to my bathroom cupboard and got some gasX and continued tubing those fluids.

Poor little bugger has had a rough start to life.

 

[jojobean]

temp up to 104.8 this evening. Gave him fluids and abx....found a vet up north a ways and will call them in the morning. My dairy farmer friend says they use gener-lyte so I will try and find some tomorrow as well (feels like I have tried most of the mixes already).

He was a little spunky when taking his mix this evening. But then he urinated and had diarrhea and right afterwards he was head down, nosing things and could hardly walk. Hopefully will be able to report that he is alive and mooing at his feeder again tomorrow.

 

[elevan]

What have you given to slow or stop the diarrhea? I would give some pepto or gelatin to slow / stop the scours.