Bloated calf

[Altair]

I'm farmsitting for a week and there's a weaned calf who bloats up like a toad almost daily. Sometimes she has normal days. It was occuring before the farmer left and he told me he was treating it with sunflower oil. She eats fine and doesn't appear to be under any distress. She gets hay and grain twice a day and has water available at all times. The 8 other calves around her have no such problems.

[pjaustin]

Bloating can be caused by overeating, overgraing, unaccustomed to diet, and/or unable to belch.

"Often get good results with corn, peanut, soybean, or safflower oil. Cream or mineral oil also effective. Four to 8 ounces of a defoaming agent is usually sufficient for a calf... Tying a round piece of wood in the cow's mouth, like a horse bit, will often help her belch up some of the gas."* pg 46 "Veterinary Guide for Animal Owners".

[Altair]

Thanks for the reply. I'm no longer farmsitting but for the past two days with the sunflower/garlic drench she's been much more normal looking. I did a little massage for whatever it was worth (probably more for my piece of mind than the heifer's) but I'll be back visiting this weekend and I'll ask about her. I'm sure I've heard of the stick idea before but didn't remember it. Thanks!

Danielle

[Oregon Swedes]

I suppose you should learn to use a trocar if you are going to babysit cattle that bloat.

A walnut size piece of tide laundry powder can be used to treat bloat, as long as it isn't torsion. It breaks down the gas bubbles.