Post by milkmaid on Dec 16, 2014 15:40:19 GMT -5
Classic picture of malnutrition - likely causes are poor quality feed, inadequate amount of feed, and parasites. She's probably deficient in several important minerals as well (selenium, copper, etc) and I wouldn't rule out lung damage from past pneumonia, internal abscesses from navel infections, or a BVD-PI calf here either.
If she's anemic (gums or vulva are good places to check) she has some really serious parasite issues or heart/lung problems. Hopefully she's not that bad off.
Starting points:
-A weaned calf this size NEEDS grain.
-Pick any decent brand name grain from the local store (e.g. Purina, Land o' Lakes, etc) and feed 1% of her body weight (I'd guess she's 250-300 lbs) for 1 week, then increase to 2% of her body weight and keep her there.
-Feed free choice good quality hay - this calf probably needs green, leafy, 2nd or 3rd cutting alfalfa. Green in the middle doesn't mean much. Is it green on the outside? Is it this year's hay? If the answer to both questions is no - then you need different hay.
-Minerals - you need a decent quality loose mineral available for her to eat, and depending on what area you live, a shot of Bo-Se or Multi-min to get her started would be an excellent choice.
-Deworming - something *injectable* in the ivermectin class and repeat it in a month. The efficacy of pour-on dewormers is occasionally questionable and this calf needs to be dewormed. Use a brand name (e.g. Ivomec) not a generic. I might give this calf something oral in the fenbendazole/albendazole class also. Might consider praziquantel as well as I wouldn't be surprised if she has tapeworms too.
-Vet visit - you want heart checked (for a murmur), lungs checked (air moving in all lung fields). Your vet should also have a quality dewormer and injectable mineral if that's something routinely used in your area. S/he may do a fecal test for specific parasites and coccidiosis also. (But deworm the poor calf regardless of results!) Edited to add- a BVD-PI ear notch test on this calf would be a smart decision too.
-If coccidia are found in high numbers, she'll need several days of oral Corid as well.
-Her immune system function is probably inadequate right now so I wouldn't bother with vaccinations at this point.
-She'll probably take 60-90 days to turn around but she'll be very rewarding to watch.
If she's anemic (gums or vulva are good places to check) she has some really serious parasite issues or heart/lung problems. Hopefully she's not that bad off.
Starting points:
-A weaned calf this size NEEDS grain.
-Pick any decent brand name grain from the local store (e.g. Purina, Land o' Lakes, etc) and feed 1% of her body weight (I'd guess she's 250-300 lbs) for 1 week, then increase to 2% of her body weight and keep her there.
-Feed free choice good quality hay - this calf probably needs green, leafy, 2nd or 3rd cutting alfalfa. Green in the middle doesn't mean much. Is it green on the outside? Is it this year's hay? If the answer to both questions is no - then you need different hay.
-Minerals - you need a decent quality loose mineral available for her to eat, and depending on what area you live, a shot of Bo-Se or Multi-min to get her started would be an excellent choice.
-Deworming - something *injectable* in the ivermectin class and repeat it in a month. The efficacy of pour-on dewormers is occasionally questionable and this calf needs to be dewormed. Use a brand name (e.g. Ivomec) not a generic. I might give this calf something oral in the fenbendazole/albendazole class also. Might consider praziquantel as well as I wouldn't be surprised if she has tapeworms too.
-Vet visit - you want heart checked (for a murmur), lungs checked (air moving in all lung fields). Your vet should also have a quality dewormer and injectable mineral if that's something routinely used in your area. S/he may do a fecal test for specific parasites and coccidiosis also. (But deworm the poor calf regardless of results!) Edited to add- a BVD-PI ear notch test on this calf would be a smart decision too.
-If coccidia are found in high numbers, she'll need several days of oral Corid as well.
-Her immune system function is probably inadequate right now so I wouldn't bother with vaccinations at this point.
-She'll probably take 60-90 days to turn around but she'll be very rewarding to watch.