Why the calf can't stand up
Many who have contacted cattle breeding know that it is a complex process that does not always live up to expectations. In most cases, juveniles die within the first month. That is why the breeding of such animals is considered very difficult and unprofitable in small volumes. But if we take large production, then a completely different picture emerges here, although the mortality of animals remains the same. One of the most common calf rearing situations is when the calf does not stand up.
Why the calf doesn’t stand up
This is a very dangerous situation with unpredictable consequences. But, fortunately, there are methods of treatment and assistance for such animals, and prevention can also be carried out so that in the future you will not face such a problem. It is with this that we all propose to understand within the framework of this article.
Causes of the problem
Before figuring out what to do with such ailments, they determine why the calf does not stand up, which so affected its well-being. It is the reasons that will help to understand what kind of prevention will be effective in order to protect the newborn from this scourge. There are many reasons why a calf cannot stand up, but we will try to highlight the most frequent and important ones.
To begin with, you need to understand that if a newborn calf cannot stand up and if it falls and does not get up anymore, these are two big differences. If in the second case the cause is various diseases, then in the first case there are many more reasons.
- Lack of nutrition. Because of this, the fetus suffers from oxygen starvation, which afterwards can affect not only the raising of the animal to its feet, but also its overall health. Oxygen starvation is also called hypoxia.
- There may be clinical signs, the calf has weak muscles, the skin is completely dry and there is absolutely no fat layer.
- Development of white muscle disease. Scientists claim that it is manifested in newborns and adults from a lack of vitamins.
- A disease called tetany, which also manifests itself from a lack of vitamins. But here the main vitamins, the lack of which causes such a disease, are A, B, D or a lack of manganese, iodine or zinc.
Naturally, it is very difficult to single out all the reasons why babies may not get stronger on their feet, it requires an individual approach to each of the cases.
Help in the first minutes
The first question that arises is what time the calf gets to its feet and how: first to the front, then to the back, or in some other way. In general, a newborn calf should stand up within the first 10-15 minutes of its life. But if a newborn baby does not stand on its feet during the first hour of its life, then this is a sign that something is wrong with it and it's time to take some action.
To help a calf that is unable to stand up, you need to know the reasons mentioned above.Now is the time to move on to what you need to do to help the newborn calf that is not getting back on its feet.
- If there is no veterinarian nearby, then you need to treat according to the following algorithm: clear the airways from the liquid collected there as quickly as possible, it does not allow the calf to breathe normally. To do this, you need to lift the individual by the hind legs, at the same time grasp its nose, and then slightly push the liquid. The main thing is to be extremely careful, and to help the respiratory system of the calf, you can pour cold water on the back of its head.
- With clinical signs, in cases where a one-month-old calf is sick and cannot stand up for a long time. Also, if there is a weak pulse, a weak reaction to various kinds of irritation, etc. (it is important to remember that calves during hypoxia usually look stronger than others), after calving, you need to clear the animal's airways from various foreign objects. After the nasal septum is squeezed and, as far as possible, the tongue is pulled out, and pressed on its base, all this stimulates the cough reflex. It is also recommended to inhale ammonia. This will not help to completely cure the animal, but only help to provide him with first aid. For a complete recovery, you will need to undergo a whole course of treatment - you should contact a specialist who will explain what should be done next.
- In case of disorders of the musculoskeletal systems, it is not recommended to take independent actions. It is better to examine the animal well for the presence of pathologies of the limbs, lesions in the joints or muscles. To do this, the hooves, all joints, muscles or the corolla are well felt. The reaction of an individual, a change in temperature in certain areas, or a change in the nature of tissues, and so on, will help to understand the presence of damage. It is important to know that special attention is paid to the plantar part, at first it cleans well and, if there is any suspicion, it is recommended to remove the stratum corneum, this will help to check for the presence of pus. If there is one or other violations were found, then you should immediately call the veterinarian: this may be one of the reasons why the pet is not standing well.
Prophylaxis
To be able to prevent disease when the calves do not stand up, preventive actions can be taken. The most important prevention steps are applied right up to calving. That is, when it became clear that the cow is pregnant, it should be transferred to proper nutrition. It is necessary to enrich the body of expectant mothers with nutrients and vitamins on time and in sufficient quantities.
The main thing is that neither overfeeding (obesity during the calving period leads to complications during childbirth), nor underfeeding (the fetus will not receive the necessary amount of vitamins) of the woman in labor are not allowed. Large animals require regular walking: such a moment cannot be ignored, it is also important for the baby. It is also important to thoroughly prepare for the very process of childbirth, so that all the essentials are at hand.
Final part
If the calf cannot get up, then the help of a veterinarian will certainly be required, but before he arrives, the owner must be able to provide first aid to such an individual. ... It is important to remember that newborn calves get to their feet very quickly, and if the calf cannot get up, action must be taken immediately.
Based on the information offered, as well as the recommendations of specialists, you can quickly react in a difficult situation, because, as you know, knowledgeable means armed. To avoid problems, you need to monitor your animals.