The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: waterbuffalofarmer on November 21, 2016, 01:49:23 pm
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Well I may have mentioned earlier that one of the stock bulls was looking sad, depressed and unwell, he has been wormed a few weeks ago, with Noromectin, after which he started looking really sad for himself. We thought he may have had fluke so we gave him a shot of ivermectin, still no improvement so we called out the vet yesterday and he diagnosed him with early stage pneumonia in one lung, we are keeping him in and he has had a shot of metacam (prescribed by the vet) and a long lasting Anti-biotic. My question is, would it be adviseable to put material around his lungs to keep them warm, he has bedding and all but the temp has dropped somewhat on farm and even in the buildings it is rather chilly. My other concern is that could it be a viral pneumonia? How would you be able to find that one out? The vet thinks it is bacterial. Suggestions? I was thinking like what they put on calves, a sort of warm rug type coat to keep over him/his lung area in case. Would this be adviseable and if so what material could I use? I was thinking maybe coats similar to horses, how would I go about making one for him? Sorry for all the questions, just really concerned :/
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Was this something your vet suggested? I put my heifer calves (and the occasional elderly sheep destined to end her life on the farm) into calf jackets when the weather's really cold. Could be rather difficult to secure a homemade jacket on a bull in such a way it didn't work loose and get wrapped around something it shouldn't (like his legs). Can you put up a stack of straw bales to cut draughts? With thick straw bedding, good feed and the vetmeds it may do the trick. The weather here is absolutely vile today - my ewe lambs on a neighbour's fields have access to her old stables, which I'm very glad about. Seeing the rain lashing against the window as I type this (and due to continue for another 16 hours) I rather wish I could house the whole flock right now.
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I shouldn't have thought a rug/coat will do much good, it could make him overheat. Just keep him bedded on clean straw in a barn with good ventilation with no drafts, the metacam will make him feel much better whilst the antibiotics take effect.
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Thanks for that guys. Yes we have kept him well bedded down and he is way better today, he even came up to me and rested his head on my shoulder for a hug :) I think the antibiotics are helping..... I have also been giving him honey, water and cider vinegar 3 times daily too, which has also helped, along with the AB's of course :)
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Hope he is better soon, it's such a worry when your main man is ill! :'(