Post by Selden on Oct 19, 2010 8:11:32 GMT -5
Hi all. Sorry I haven't been in touch. This has been a tough little while and at the moment I feel as if I'm juggling too many things. Money anxiety, construction problems, father-in-law death, unexpected snowstorm, having to move animals without a trailer, beloved son suddenly moving out of house in a rage, truck break-down, blah blah blah. Anyway. My current problem:
I got a bull calf last week and he was doing great for several days. Because there was so much going on I didn't wean my 6 month old steer (no time to milk in all the chaos). So they were both sharing Katika's bag at different times. Now suddenly both the six day old calf and the 6 month old steer have terrible scours. It seemed to me that the steer got it first. In fact, I was watching him two evenings ago and thought he was peeing and then realized, oh my goodness, he's not female, THAT'S DIARRHEA. It is greenish gray yuck. The following morning the bull calf had it too.
It is so thin it looks like urine. It stinks. Both of them are still nursing. It seems to me since they both have it, it must be bacterial?
I couldn't deal with it yesterday because I had to truck my pigs to slaughter -- in my truck with failing brakes, yahoo. Today I have to spend the day sitting at the brake place. Tonight, hopefully with the truck fixed, I have to try to move my sheep back to my farm, as the cold (20 degrees) and 8" of snow have weakened the battery charger and shorted their electric fence and they are not safe on pasture.
I am hoping by posting this in the 911 section I may come home to some good suggestions. Should I immediately wean the 6-month steer? I have dithered because at least with nursing I know he's hydrating and getting calories. I have never dealt with serious scours before and this worries me.
I have a few antibiotics and probiotics on hand. I can get some Kaopectate if that is wisest. Just boss me, please, and tell me what to do! Thank you...
I got a bull calf last week and he was doing great for several days. Because there was so much going on I didn't wean my 6 month old steer (no time to milk in all the chaos). So they were both sharing Katika's bag at different times. Now suddenly both the six day old calf and the 6 month old steer have terrible scours. It seemed to me that the steer got it first. In fact, I was watching him two evenings ago and thought he was peeing and then realized, oh my goodness, he's not female, THAT'S DIARRHEA. It is greenish gray yuck. The following morning the bull calf had it too.
It is so thin it looks like urine. It stinks. Both of them are still nursing. It seems to me since they both have it, it must be bacterial?
I couldn't deal with it yesterday because I had to truck my pigs to slaughter -- in my truck with failing brakes, yahoo. Today I have to spend the day sitting at the brake place. Tonight, hopefully with the truck fixed, I have to try to move my sheep back to my farm, as the cold (20 degrees) and 8" of snow have weakened the battery charger and shorted their electric fence and they are not safe on pasture.
I am hoping by posting this in the 911 section I may come home to some good suggestions. Should I immediately wean the 6-month steer? I have dithered because at least with nursing I know he's hydrating and getting calories. I have never dealt with serious scours before and this worries me.
I have a few antibiotics and probiotics on hand. I can get some Kaopectate if that is wisest. Just boss me, please, and tell me what to do! Thank you...