Calf sick-Need advice

[OH Showman]

I have a calf that has been weaned a little over a week. He and another were coughing, ears down, and snotty noses. They were given Draxin and Penicillin. One cleared up entirely and acted good the day after. The other was still coughing so my dad gave him something else 5 days after. I'm not sure what exactly. Now he's cleared up but won't eat anything and just acts very lethargic. He doesn't run with the other calves when we let them out and breathes unnaturally slow but doesn't cough, doesn't have any nasal discharge, is holding his head up and has alert eyes. We have had bad luck with calves here lately, so I am wanting to get this nipped in the bud. Any input would be appreciated, I will try to find out what he was given the second time.

 

[shortyjock89]

Take his temp and listen to him breathe. Put him in a chute and put your ear right on his back or ribs if you can do so safely.

If he acted that way at my house, I'd assume he still had a little bit of an infection going on, and a tummyache on top of that.

Three things I always have on hand to deal with respiratory issues with calves are Dex, Banamine, and LA 300. We also use Resflor Gold or Zactran, depending on how responsive or serious the illness is.

 

[mbigelow]

The gut is typically full of good bacteria that can be wiped out by strong doses of antibiotics.  I would start him on some probiotics as well as following Olson's advice.