I have a new heffer calf that was born a week ago this past Saturday. I believe that she is a premature calf. She was born early on Saturday while I was at work. She never had the strength to get up on her own to suck. Her mother had plenty of milk though. So, I moved her to the barn and attempted to get her to eat. She would not eat from a bottle, so I fed her from a tube. Did this for a couple of days. Three days had gone by and we finally got her to stand alone. The next day she went out and walked all over the farm. We fed her bag form collostrum the first night. The next day we fed her her mother's milk. Two days later I gave her calf kick start for two days consecutive. We gave her B12 on Monday and again on this past Thursday. She was doing so good. She finally ate 2 pints of milk this past Saturday on her own. Then, she went out and ate from her mom some. I let her stay out with the mother to find her later sick. I put her back in the barn as she appeared wet/runny nosed and sick. I have given her 1mL of antibiotics (Pen-Aqueous)for the last 3 mornings and she will not get up. She has slept literally for 3 days. She is warm and dry, she poops okay while asleep, but will not get up or wake up. Her breathing seems calm, steady and strong with no haspiness from her lungs. Does anyone have a recommendation to get her awake and going? Is she like this maybe because she is premature? The vet told me to give her a week to 10 days when she was born and now we are approaching this. We have gone from bad to good to worse, and I hate to lose her now. Anyone have a suggestion?

-- Jim Wills (wills1@jobe.net), December 17, 2001

Answers

Has it got a temp? I forget exactly what a calf's temp should be 102 would be close I'd think. I hate it when they do this kind of thing!!! I'd repeat the B12, even double dose it. Has it had a vitamin E/selenium shot? Could be white muscle, I'd definately give it a try if it hasn't had a shot. 1 ml of Pen seems a bit low, I'd switch to Oxytetracycline in a daily dose format not LA. even if it hasn't got a temp. Unless the B or E selenium do wonders first! Check to see if it's dehydrated. SubQ injections of gluecose might help get it "woke up" Some things to ask your vet anyhow, especially the E/Sel shot (I think the common name for it in the states is BOSE). HTH

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), December 17, 2001.

OK, silly question, Jim, but are you sure she's asleep all the time? Could she be getting up and eating from her mother at night and you just find her sleeping all day? Is her nose still runny? If her manure is good and her lungs seem good, if she doesn't have a temp then I don't see how she is sick. I know, fat lot of good that does you! Just on general principle I'd up the dose of penecillian a bit. I know the dose is 1 ml per 100 pounds body weight but I don't think it hurts to exceed that on an animal you aren't going to market. Other than that I think I'd just wait and see how she does.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), December 17, 2001.

Everyone does know at this point that powdered colostrum contains no live antibodies? It is calories, and does have a laxative effect, like real colostrum, to get that first poop, meconium out of the bowel, but it is worthless for building the immunity any young animal needs. Without a good amount of colostrum in the first 12 hours, neonates have very little survivability. It runs 1 ounce per pound in goats. This is the wait and see your vet is giving you, failure to thrive, is a chapter onto its own in all vet texts, and is caused by the inadequate consumption of colostrum! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), December 17, 2001.

I am 14 years old, but I show heifers in 4-H and know a fair amount. First of all, did she get the colostrum in the first hour? If not, how long after did she get it? Colostrum is an important thing for calves. Please write me and tell me how she is doing and answer my questions. The questions I just asked are really immportant. She doesn't show any interest in the milk, does she.(?) Well, other than that, Until I get the answers, I can help you no more.

-- Amanda N. Mantegna (sweettimber901@hotmail.com), December 18, 2001.