We had a 3 week old premature calf born yesterday that will not stand up or move. In addition, she has cloudy eyes. We have been bottle feeding it since. 1st time Mother is nudging it to get up but it won't budge.

What should we do? Please help.

-- Denise Stephens (dmstephens@sbec.com), January 30, 2002

Answers

Denise, What state do you live in? Whats the weather like? And did momma have access to minerals?

-- Sher in SE Iowa (riverdobbers@webtv.net), January 30, 2002.

I don't really have any suggestions for you, Denise, except to take care of it like you are doing. Three weeks early is about as early as I've ever had a cow come in and still have a live calf from it. This one is probably on the edge. Keep it warm and dry and see what happens. Hope she makes it.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), January 30, 2002.

Wow, you have your work cut out don't you? WE keep preemies warm, warm, warm(with a heat lamp), milk the cow so the baby gets all the good things it needs to get, and spend a LOT of time "walking" the calf around to help it gain strength. Frequent change of positions too as you are fighting possible pneumonia. That and help from the Vet will surely give you and it a fighting chance. Hope all goes well. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), January 30, 2002.

Denise, the reason I asked what state and what weather is because if you are in Iowa or Kansas today..its an abrupt weather change going on. If this calf has come during this great of change..it will only add to its premature birth stress. I asked about your cow and minerals, because again, if your cow was short on minerals, you are apt to have weak calves. They have a hard time standing up and sucking.

Just wanted you to know there was a reason why I asked and I was not being nosy!

Hope the calf is doing better...please update us when you can.

-- Sher in se Iowa (riverdobbers@webtv.net), January 31, 2002.

Hi and thanks for responding. We live in Texas and a big front is in today (lows in the 30’s). She’s in a barn facing south and we have stacks of hay behind her. Previously, she had not wanted to lift her head, but now seems to be doing so. She still, however, won’t stand. How long can I expect her not to stand. We've been moving her, lifting her to see if she'll stand, and rolling her over. She has great response in her legs, I think she's just too weak to stand.

The momma did have access to mineral blocks, so I hope that is a mute point since we have 7 more pregnant heifers which are due any day now.

The vet came out and told us to give her the colostrum (sp?) and milk and we’ve been doing so. I haven’t yet been out this morning, but hopefully she made it through the night. I’ll keep you updated. Thanks again.

DS

-- Denise Stephens (dmstephens@sbec.com), January 31, 2002.

Denise, I think that is great news. She has great response in her legs..Keep up the good work. As long as she is eating..I think time and patience will see her through this. She just needs to build her strength up. I am so happy for you!

-- Sher (riverdobbers@webtv.net), January 31, 2002.