Sale barn calf with shallow/increased respirations - ADVICE

[WildRoseBeef]

He's not chewing? That's not good....yet it certainly explains why he prefers the grain over the hay! Maybe you should try and get the vet to have a look at his mouth to see why he's not chewing like he is. I know you don't want to stress him out by getting him in the stall or chute or whatever you have, but something has to be done to make him get better. He could have some sort of tooth infection or abscess in the mouth or something that's obviously making it too painful for him to chew his food properly.

 

[SuburbanFarmChic]

Time to find out if you can give Mucinex to cows? Are there any large animal expectorants?

 

[raykour]

I gave this calf another chance. I made him an outdoor pen this afternoon. He is about 50 feet from any other cows. He has eaten some hay (finally) His respirations are still high, but he has been up and down. I have still not seen him chewing CUD, but once gets more roughage into him maybe that will change. He has a fighting chance I think. I wouldn't say he is BETTER, but he is at least the same as he was on day 1. He'll probably always be a problem, but maybe I can get him going.

 

[SuburbanFarmChic]

Glad to hear he's trying to make a come back. Hopefully he pulls through for you.

 

[raykour]

Just an update this calf is still trucking. He is eating better and really grooming himself good. But, he still is breathing fast and coughing occasionally. Someone told me his lungs are "burned" which I am assuming is the same thing as what people say is "chronic" where they just never get better. I wonder how long I should wait to see if his breathing improves. There is no way he can put on any gain breathing 60 times a minute.

 

[redtailgal]

.

 

[raykour]

I really appreciate all the input on this calf, who I am calling Huff N Puff. To answer all your questions, I have NOT listened to his lungs. I did put him through the chute yesterday to give him his 2nd dose of EXCEDE and I also vaccinated him for pastuerella. At this point I decided it couldn't hurt and might get his immune system going. Something I could have done then, but I am not going to do it now just for curiousity sake....he has been treated for everything and now just needs to start to get better.

The day I bought him (8 days ago, to be exact though it seems like an eternity) I poured him with ivermectin, as I do all of my calves before I even get them off of the trailer. So, if he does indeed have lungworms, he has been treated for them and for any secondary issues he might have been having.

In addition, he has been chewing his cud a lot more and eating very enthusiastically. But, his breathing has not changed much and he does still cough (not a dry cough, but not a particularly wet one either)

I can retreat him with ivermectin in another week I believe or I saw another product called Levimesal it said treats lung worms, but I don't think I have ever seen that at the store.


~Whitney

 

[redtailgal]

.

 

[raykour]

I am in Colorado, but I got this guy from the sale barn and have no idea where he came from.

He is turned out today in a paddock by himself and still the same. He seems to FEEL fine. He willingly moves out and around, eats, etc. but the shallow breathing continues. I have been told on another board that his lungs are "burned" and he will just never heal and always be a bad doer.

I'd like to just put him out and what will be will be, but if he DOES have something contagious, I don't want him exposing my other critters.

 

[elevan]

I don't know if this is right or not but I read somewhere that a calf with "burned" lungs doesn't live more than 2-3 weeks at most. If that were it and that statement is true, I'm sure your calf wouldn't be here right now...

I sure hope someone with cattle experience can comment on that.