Sale barn bottle calves ... Banamine?

[SJRabbitryandfarm]

I have been tasked with caring for 4 sale barn Holstein babies. I think they're 1-3 weeks old none are tiny and young. 2 are vigorous and fine.. all 4 had a shot of antibiotic from the sale barns vet ( I do not know what it was ..) maybe exceed..? I have banamine on hand 2 act like they probably have pneumonia how much can I give them? And how. I can do iv.. but I'm not very confident in it. Actual owner knows how fragile bottle calves can be and absolutely isn't going to be mad if I loose one+ but I wanna do what I can for them all 4 are eating. One isn't eating the whole bottle but probably. . 80% one is very noisy and weird after her bottle . Also have la200 la300 and draxin on hand. But they had a shot Friday night of .. something .. ( I'm going to assume it would be something long acting. ..)

 

[Mini Horses]

Banamine is for pain & swelling. I'd use la200

@farmerjan....you the cow lady....help

 

[Mini Horses]

Also, these can be given subQ. So, will be easy for you to do.

 

[farmerjan]

Banamine is not going to do them any good for pneumonia... unless the breathing is extremely painful.... by then it is likely you will not save them....

Couple things... feeding the bottles... How high are you holding the bottle??? Too high and a calf will aspire some fluid into lungs.. some do it because they drink too fast... nipple end made too big for milk to go through it? Yeah, we all do that... Hold bottle lower it should not be much above their shoulder height when small ... For a visual... calf's neck should make a bit of a "u" shape when drinking... it causes the windpipe to close with the actual throat/"food pipe" (esophageal groove) to let the milk go into the abomasum.

Do not do any IV on calves unless they are severely dehydrated and need fluid... that is the only way to get into their system... Personally I do not give IV's... I am not good at it and if they get that weak, they need a vet.
Since you don't know what the vet gave them, yes, it is probably long acting... BUT... if it was excede that is not my drug of choice... works good in some specific situations but not as broad based.
Use LA 300, age/size appropriate dose... and make sure to follow with repeat doses... I don't have a bottle in front of me, but thinking that it is a "repeat in 2 or 3 days" ? Oxytets all are gram positive and gram negative so should hit most of the stuff. I find Draxxin is better for things like pinkeye, some pneumonia things... but usually a one shot deal and if disease is not kept at bay, so theraputic levels get high to stop the disease from replicating, for it to work before it fully does the job, a 2nd dose is needed. Besides it is way more expensive. It is good for some things but we try to go a different route to start. Draxxin works very good in a dart gun when we have to treat on pastures where there are no catch facilities.

If the calf seems satisfied with 80% of the bottle and acts okay otherwise, do not try to get them to take the rest... Calves should always "be a little hungry" when bottle fed. Encourages them to get started on grain sooner too.
Honestly, I will hit anything here sick with a shot of penicillin and a shot of oxytet... same time, different sides of the neck SQ.... and then follow up with another oxytet shot in 2-3 days.

This will do nothing for scours...

 

[farmerjan]

Also, I like Nuflor for pneumonia... vet has suggested it a couple times when I have called to ask his opinion... since he does our preg checks and such, he will do phone consults with us. And he knows I will get him to come it it is something I am not sure of....

 

[Ridgetop]

Everything @FarmerJn said. Banamine is for pain not infections. If the calves are droopy make sure they don't scour. Probiotics can be given for bad tummies, the gel is available in most feed stores. If they seem dehydrated, you can also give electrolytes in paste form. The pastes and gels work best because calves often won't drink if they are feeling off. The paste electrolytes also will encourage calves to drink since they are salty.