Post by mtcowgirl on Jun 21, 2011 12:28:54 GMT -5
O.k. Mocha calved around 1 am on the 20th, I milked her most of the way out 2 gallons the next morning around 9am. Calf hadn't sucked that I could tell. Tried to get the calf to suck throughout the day still wouldn't finally at about 8pm my husband came home and we tubed the calf just to get something in his tummy. I went out this morning at about 6:30am and her calf was outside she was in the shed just standing there. Her calf mooed when I walked in and Mocha didn't even move, or moo, strange I think, as she is very attentive, so I walk in the barn and she doesn't even notice that I am there, sort of a glazed over look to her eye, I get behind her and give her a healthy swat on the butt to make her move, as she tries to move her back end sways and she almost falls down, I run to the house yelling at my husband to come help. while I grab the IV kit and a bottle of calcium and run back out. When I get there she she laying down already. Get a halter on her, and then I can't find the jugular vein anywhere. Go call the vet and ask him if I can just use the milk vein, he says yes, and I can also do it sub Q and I could also inject right into her stomach in the front of her flank area. he tells me again how to find jugular and I go back out. Still couldn't find the jugular so I run the milk vein as she is laying on her side and I can get to it easy. We run an entire bottle into her, towards then end her ears are starting to flick and her eyes aren't quite as glazed looking. Went back out at nine still down, went out at 10:30 still down, but looking more normal. got her calf up and she started talking to him, shoved him outside in front of her, she sniffed at him and then climbed to her feet, and walked to the water tank, took a long drink, calf is once again trying to nurse her back leg, so I go over to help direct him lower, and he will have absolutely none of it. I try repeatedely to get a teat into his mouth and sucking, nothing. I finally go to the house grab a bottle , milk out a pint and try that still can;t get him to suck or swallow.
What the heck can I do to get this calf to sucking? It is going to be at least 80* here today, I don't want to get him dehyddrated, my husband won't be home until this evening again.
What about Mocha, should I milk her out again, all of it part of it? I don't want her to go down again, she looks alright right now no stumbling or anything, very attentive to the calf.
I am at my wits end here, any suggestions
Bridgett
What the heck can I do to get this calf to sucking? It is going to be at least 80* here today, I don't want to get him dehyddrated, my husband won't be home until this evening again.
What about Mocha, should I milk her out again, all of it part of it? I don't want her to go down again, she looks alright right now no stumbling or anything, very attentive to the calf.
I am at my wits end here, any suggestions
Bridgett