Diagnose and Treat Scours in Calves
Calves may develop scours due to bacterial or virus infections. Scours is known as "calf scours" or neonatal calf diarrhea. The primary causes of scours include: Rota virus, Corona virus, Cryptosporidium parvum, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli.
Steps
- Determine if treatment is required. Calves that are moving around in the pasture, with their tails up, probably do not need treatment. Check to see if the diarrhea is yellow or white. If this is the case, treatment is probably not needed.
- Determine if the calf is looking listless. Calves that are lethargic or not participating much in the playful activities with other calves are a red flag to pay attention to. Calves that are also losing condition are also cause for alarm.
- Check to see if the calf is dehydrated. You can check for dehydration by pulling on the calf's neck skin. If the skin "tents" this is a sign of dehydration.
- Determine the calf's body temperature. A normal body temperature ranges from {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. Anything outside of this range is a sign for treatment.
- Separate the sick calf or calves from the healthy herd. You'll want to do this to avoid spreading the disease further.
- Administer fluids using your veterinarian-approved electrolyte solution. You may need to inject the fluids via IV or orally. Follow the package directions when mixing up the solution.
- Feeding the calf water will not work because it will simply pass through his system and not be completely absorbed.
- Follow up with antibiotics, if approved by your vet.
- Follow appropriate nursing care protocol using your vet's guidelines. This may include providing shelter, feed and a warm place to sleep.
- A drawback from providing shelter is maintaining infectious control. You will have to work extra to get rid of soiled bedding and disinfect everything that a calf will touch, from the floor to the fence panels and even the feed bucket.
Tips
- Few vaccinations are available for scours. Check with your vet to determine what he or she suggests.
- A time proven folk remedy is giving the calf a shot of bourbon such as Cabin Still, followed up with a raw egg. You can only do this when the calf is in a warm area such as in the ranch house. The bourbon opens up the calf's blood vessels underneath the skin allowing greater heat transfer between calf and its environment. The raw egg helps treat scours. Check with your vet before attempting this folk remedy.
Warnings
- Promptly contact your vet if 5 percent of your calves have scours and require treatment.
- Contact your vet if greater than 2 percent of your calves have died. Stool samples and freshly dead calves can be examined to determine the appropriate treatment for your herd.
