HELP! Premature Calf

[NationBuckingBulls]

Our Hooter Heifer was too young to have a calf and was not supposed to be bred, but it happened. She calved early this morning and the calf is a little early and is very small. He won't eat good and is weak. We did manage to get some colostrum down him and that gave him a little more energy. But we had to tube him to do that and the tube is actually a little too big for him. We are going to try to get some more down him with a smaller bottle. We would greatly appreciate any suggestions that might help us save this little calf.

[Summerrain]

Sorry to hear about the calf.. seems your doing the right steps. If you can get more colostrum down him , that would tremendously help. be sure hes kept warm if he real small. Im sure some other on here can give you more advice.

He may take a botle or nurse momma if he gets more strength from the colostrum.. I wish you the best , dont give up on him, keep going.

[Caja Ranch]

It's hard to tell you without seeing just how small it is but get a goat nipple for you bottle and feed it colostrum as long as you can. Feed it small amounts every few hours instead of trying to give it a large amount a couple times a day. Use a thermometer and heat the milk to around a 100 degrees.If it won't suck and you have to tube it. You can get a clear plastic hose and heat the end so that the plastic rolls back,rounding the edges. This makes it easier to feel when your inserting it on the left side of the throat and it is easier on the calf if the normal tube is too big. It's time consuming but I always like to see them live.

[Summerrain]

Dustin and Jala Nation hows your calf doing today?

[NationBuckingBulls]

The calf is still alive. We fed it through the night. But it is a chore getting her to take any at all. We are going to try a smaller lamb bottle today and see if that helps at all. We tried tubing it, but the regular tube is too big. I guess if the lamb bottle doesn't work we will try some smaller pastic hose and round the edges as suggested and see what happens. We guess her to weight to be about 20 pounds, give or take a few. Her body is about the same size as our 8 month old little girl and she is petite. Thank you for the suggestions and concern.

[Marshall]

Have the teeth brooke thru skin ? Are hooves developed ? Hair cover ? These are some ways to tell if its premature or just a small calf .

[twinpinesmt]

If it doesnt have the above.....does it have a curved spine or a domed skull?

I had one born @ 17# dead and one born @ 20# that lived for a few weeks. My first thought was dwarfism sense we had one the year before, but these didnt really show those symptoms. The big vet school that the angus association uses said "gestationally small" so I never got a definant answer on what was wrong with those two calves. Talked to a few vets and they said that it could be that the live BVD vaccine given at a certain time in gestation can cause this also. We also tested the cows and the calves for BVD and they came back negative. So we switched back to killed and never had another problem.

[NationBuckingBulls]

The teeth have not broken through, but it has all its hair though it is short and fine. The hooves are developed and the skull and spine seem to be normal. But, she cannot stand up.

[twinpinesmt]

sounds like it is about a few weeks to a month early....try some karo to give it some energy. There is also a paste that they sell in most farm/ranch stores, I dont recall the name of it right now...ah nursemate thats it, and try that. Between those two you might get it going.

Is it maintaining its temp, does it have a suck reflex, is it laying up at all?

[NationBuckingBulls]

I just went out to give the calf another feeding. She actually stood up on her own, but was very week and shaky. She seemed to be trying to suck, but just isn't strong enough. I managed to get a little down her, but not much. By Karo, I'm assuming you meant the syrup, so I gave her a little of that too. If she doesn't take some more here in a little while we might just have to tube her with a smaller hose. She seems to be maintaining her temp. pretty well and is penned up with her mother inside the barn.

[Dakota]

Trying to stand is a great thing but something to remember is if she is laying down a majority of the time you might want to hold her up and massaged her legs to get circulation going. Just like us if we were to sit on our foot for a long time the circulation would get cut off and that would make it even harder for her to stand. Best of luck.

[twinpinesmt]

sounds like you are making some progress. I would be tempted to tube it just to get a full belly at least. Good luck.

PS yes that is what I ment by karo:D

[Ruddick Ranch]

i used nanny milk on a premature calf that was weak and not sucking and shes doin fine now?

[Summerrain]

Sounds like shes getting some strength.. remember what Caja said, small feedings and ever so many hours.. just like a newborn human baiscally. Dont want to over feed her in a feeding and be sure its warm. :)

[NationBuckingBulls]

We just fed her again and she started sucking on her own. But, how much Karo syrup would you give her and how much colostrum? We have been feeding her a pint of colostrum (warm) and have given her 2 tsp. of syrup so far. She is eating about every 4 hours.

We appreciate all the advice.

[Summerrain]

I got this from an article I found

The traditional recommendation has been to feed 2 quarts of colostrum as soon as possible after birth and then again, 12 hours later. Feeding too much colostrum is not usually considered a problem - unless it is fed at one time.

[CDA]

After about 24 hours there is really no need for colostrum--

Its a good idea to get the calf up often and massage its legs. Also-if you do get him to take a bottle or if you are tubing her--massage all around her mid section, rump, and legs--this mimics the mother licking the calf that stimulates
the calfs sucking reflex--i was told this by a old timer and it works---i've saved alot of feed lot calves this way---allso-vitapaste works great!
good luck

[Hotflash]

Just keep in mind that Karo syrup does have a laxative effect, so don't give the calf the runs or then you lose ground with dehydration. Small frequent feeding of the colostrum is what it needs. If the calf is premature it's bones may not be fully developed to support it's weight so gentle massaging it's legs would be good for circulation. I would call the vet school closest to you to get some advise in the morning.
http://vetext.unl.edu/FAQ/200604051.shtml

[Hotflash]

Some additional info. Premature calf's mother's colostrum will be of poorer quality as she has given birth before her colostrum is properly formed. Also the baby's specialised colostrum absorption cells will be too immature to function properly. The colostrum you buy will provide nutriments, but are unable to provide immunity. So it's important to talk to the vet to keep baby from getting any infections. It's lungs can be a little underdeveloped so pneumonia could be a problem. It wouldn't hurt to dip the cord with 7% surgical iodine either, since the baby's immune system isn't up to par. Clean dry straw is the best thing for this baby to be bedded in at this time. Good luck.

[twinpinesmt]

The Karo was just to get the calf going, now that it is going I wouldnt worry abou that. Now that it is a couple days old the colostrum is not longer able to be absorbed and I would move it to regular milk replacer or the cows milk. Stimulating the calf is also a very good idea, especially around its behind to get it to poop and pee....unless the cow is being good enough to do the job for you.

[Bowdy]

An old timer told me a long time ago to warm up canned beef broth and mix an egg in it. I've done it several times and its worked for me. Has anyone else ever heard of doing that?

[SLedbetter]

I am in the same boat had one three days ago cant stand yet we have been tubing it, rubbing all over it. Its hooves are white does that make her a premmy

[Jason Fairchild]

Try a Dummy Calf Shot for your calf. I have use this shot for my calves when they were weak or would not suck. The calves usely start acting normal with in 6-8 hours. You can get this shot from the vets office.

[Socks]

I always electrolyte premer calves and dummy calves if they are still really weak after a day or so.Especialy if I have been tubing them.Seems to really wake em up and get em going.Just did 2 last week and another one tonight.Good luck with your calf.

[twinpinesmt]

I have never heard of a Dummy Calf shot, what is it?