Many who have been involved in cattle divorce know that this is a complex process that does not always live up to expectations. In most cases, juveniles die within the first month. That is why breeding 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 when breeding calves is a situation where the calf does not stand up.
Why the calf does not stand up
This is a very dangerous situation that is fraught with unpredictable consequences. But, fortunately, there are methods of treatment and assistance for such animals, and it is also possible to carry out prophylaxis in order not to face such a problem in the future. It is with this that we suggest that we all deal with this article.
Causes of the problem
Before you figure out what to do with such ailments, determine why the calf does not stand on its feet, which so affected his 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, it should be understood that if a newborn calf cannot stand on its feet and if it falls and does not stand 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 in general its health. Oxygen starvation is also called hypoxia.
- There may be clinical signs where the calf has weak muscles, the skin is completely dry and there is absolutely no fat layer.
- Development of white muscle disease. Scientists say 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, here you need an individual approach to each of the cases.
Help in the first minutes
The first question that arises is when the calf gets to its feet and how: first to the front, then to the rear, or somehow differently. In general, a newborn calf should stand up during the first 10-15 minutes of its life. But if a newborn baby does not stand up during the first hour of his life, then this is a sign that something is wrong with him and it's time to take any 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 be treated according to the following algorithm: as soon as possible to clear the airways of the fluid collected there, it prevents the calf from breathing 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 month-old calf is sick and cannot stand on its feet 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 during hypoxia calves 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 that ammonia be inhaled. 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 to do next.
- In case of disorders of the musculoskeletal systems, it is not recommended to take independent actions. It is better to examine the animal for pathologies of the limbs, lesions in the joints or muscles. For this, hooves, all joints, muscles or the corolla are well felt. The reaction of the individual, changes in temperatures in certain areas, or changes 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, first it is cleaned well and, if there is any suspicion, it is recommended to remove the stratum corneum, this will help to check for 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.
Prevention
In order to be able to prevent the disease when the calves do not stand up, preventive actions can be taken. The most important prevention steps are applied right before 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 required amount of vitamins) of the woman in labor. 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 birth process itself, so that all the essentials are at hand.
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Final part
If the calf cannot stand up, then the help of a veterinarian will certainly be required, but before his arrival the owner should 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 rise, you must act 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 watch your animals.