Our 10wk steers have the runs--oh, no!

Qchickiemama

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What to do? Some of the info I've found assumes they're very young when they get the scours. I can't imagine giving them a liquid medicine like peptobismal.

What's the first step to do? We're giving them plenty of fresh water & fresh bedding.

Dh is on a trip, so we're on our own here. Do I call our horse vet? Do I give them Flagyl? I just had our dog at the emergency vet last week for vomiting every 20 minutes for half a day. She's well now, but that vet did say Flagyl is OK for dogs. Is it OK for calves?

Trying not to panic, but if it's contagious, we have several other animals around here I don't want sick!
 

babsbag

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No idea on Flagyl but usually with scours you want whatever is causing it to be cleared out, not just stopped.

Hopefully some cattle people will see this, I am a "goatie". But with any young animal the first thing that comes to my mind is coccidia. The second is salmonella. Is it possible that this is feed related? Have you changed hay or let them have grain or could they have gotten into grain when you weren't looking? Since it it more than one I would say environmental such as cocci or change of feed.

Do they act sick or in pain? Are they dehydrated? That will be the killer before anything else.
 

Southern by choice

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I'd call a vet.
Like Babs I am a goatie but I think e-coli is the most common in calves... :hu
Considering I know nothing about cattle I am no help but I would call a vet. Especially if you are new to cattle... some livestock you just don't have the the luxury of trying things or guessing.

Sure hope it clears up soon!:fl
Tagging @WildRoseBeef & @greybeard
Keep us posted.
 

Goat Whisperer

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I thought e-coli was common in calves too. I know NOTHING about cattle though.

Maybe start them on electrolytes :idunnoI know kaolin-pectin is labeled for cows, but I don't know if you should give it or not. Sorry not much help :(

Are they still on milk or replacer?

@Qchickiemama Use the search bar here on BYHs. I searched "calf with scours" and a bunch of threads popped up. Take a look at them and see what you think.
http://www.backyardherds.com/search/1007594/?q=calf+with+scours&o=date&c[node]=6

Its a good idea to take the calves temperatures. Whatever the animal is, if you suspect something is wrong ALWAYS start by taking their temp.

Do you know any other cattle farmers you can call? I would get in touch with a vet in the morning.
Hope they pull through ok.

@elevan @jhm47 -any ideas???
 

babsbag

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E-coli usually hits much younger than 10 weeks; I remember that when struggling with goats with scours last spring. Salmonella can hit at about this age as can cocci of course. But I too would call a vet; none of us want to lose an animal but a steer is a pretty big financial investment as well as an emotional one so I wouldn't mess around.
 

Qchickiemama

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No idea on Flagyl but usually with scours you want whatever is causing it to be cleared out, not just stopped.

Hopefully some cattle people will see this, I am a "goatie". But with any young animal the first thing that comes to my mind is coccidia. The second is salmonella. Is it possible that this is feed related? Have you changed hay or let them have grain or could they have gotten into grain when you weren't looking? Since it it more than one I would say environmental such as cocci or change of feed.

Do they act sick or in pain? Are they dehydrated? That will be the killer before anything else.
They've been in the open stall, not wanting to go out to pasture most of the day. Staying near the water bucket and just not acting skippy. They're new to us in the last week or two, so the hay & feed we're giving them are all new to them.
 

Qchickiemama

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I thought e-coli was common in calves too. I know NOTHING about cattle though.

Maybe start them on electrolytes :idunnoI know kaolin-pectin is labeled for cows, but I don't know if you should give it or not. Sorry not much help :(

Are they still on milk or replacer?

@Qchickiemama Use the search bar here on BYHs. I searched "calf with scours" and a bunch of threads popped up. Take a look at them and see what you think.
http://www.backyardherds.com/search/1007594/?q=calf+with+scours&o=date&c[node]=6

Its a good idea to take the calves temperatures. Whatever the animal is, if you suspect something is wrong ALWAYS start by taking their temp.

Do you know any other cattle farmers you can call? I would get in touch with a vet in the morning.
Hope they pull through ok.

@elevan @jhm47 -any ideas???
We did call a cattle friend & gave them 2quarts of electrolytes each. (My first time bottle feeding--sheesh, that takes forever!) They're only on grain, hay & pasture. I'll look at those threads. Thanks!
 

babsbag

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Good that you are giving them electrolytes. If they were goats I would assume worms or cocci first. I would be getting a fecal done. Maybe too much grain ???
 

Ferguson K

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Guardia and a few other bad guys come to mind when calves have scours.

Hot feed can also give milk cows the runs. They're a different breed with different needs than the typical beef calf.

If it's everybody it's either feed, environmental, or they picked something up in the way home and it's bloomed.

When in doubt, reach out. A vet bill is cheaper than replacing those calves.
 

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