A newborn calf is a helpless creature with low immune defenses, susceptible to diseases if not properly cared for. Therefore, the farmer must be attentive and monitor his well-being. Sometimes it happens that the calf's temperature rises; What needs to be done in such situations is to immediately determine the cause of the violation and begin to eliminate it. If the owner is inexperienced, it is recommended to invite a veterinarian to diagnose and prescribe therapy.
Possible reasons for deviations from the norm in cattle
In order to notice a deviation of temperature indicators from the norm in time, you need to know what indicators are considered normal (in OWITH):
- up to 1.5 months – 38.5-40.5;
- up to 2 months – 38.5-40.2;
- up to 12 months – 38.5-40.
According to other data, the listed indicators may change by 0.2-0.5 OC and do not indicate pathologies if the calf feels well.
Fever indicates that the animal’s body is fighting pathogenic bacteria or other microorganisms; the symptom also sometimes accompanies non-inflammatory processes. The reasons why a calf's temperature may be elevated or decreased are as follows:
- paratyphoid – when the disease occurs, the temperature rises to 41 OC, the calf loses its appetite, it begins to have diarrhea with blood clots, in some cases constipation occurs, the ears and limbs become cold. When the lungs are damaged, cough and shortness of breath occur;
- bronchopneumonia - in addition to acute fever up to 42 OC, the disease is accompanied by respiratory failure, copious discharge from the eyes and nasal passages, and cough;
- Colibacillosis is an intestinal disease in which digestive function is impaired. The calf refuses food, becomes lethargic, apathetic, quickly loses weight, and develops dehydration accompanied by light yellow diarrhea. The temperature first rises sharply, then it is diagnosed to decrease to 32-34 OWITH.
If the calf is poisoned, is weak, has no appetite, the temperature tends to gradually drop.
Both with a decrease in temperature and in the case of severe hyperthermia, the animal needs immediate assistance from a veterinarian in order to avoid serious consequences and even death (for example, with paratyphoid fever that occurs without treatment).
How to measure temperature at home
It is much easier to understand that a person has a high temperature - just touch your forehead with your hand to feel the heat.
The skin of cows and calves is constantly cool, so you can guess about the deterioration of the animal’s well-being and hyperthermia only by the accompanying signs - lethargy, apathy, loss of appetite, etc.
The easiest way is to use a thermometer - mercury or electronic. Mercury shows more accurately, but you need to hold it longer, up to 8-10 minutes, and handle it more carefully. The thermometer should be disinfected and shaken to the minimum markings. Lubricate the tip with Vaseline oil so that the calf does not feel pain when inserting the thermometer into the anus. You need to tie a string to the device.
The calf should be restrained so that it does not twitch or try to escape - put its head against the wall. Next, the animal’s tail is lifted, a thermometer is inserted into the rectum so that about 2.5-3 centimeters remain outside, and they wait for 8-10 minutes. For an electronic thermometer, 1-2 minutes is enough, it will give a sound signal that the data has been recorded.
What should you do if the temperature is high or low?
How to treat elevated temperature depends on the cause of hyperthermia in the calf. Antibacterial drugs are most often prescribed; they are used for diseases of the bronchopulmonary system and intestinal infections.It is advisable to select a drug aimed at the causative agent of the pathology from a number of broad-spectrum antibiotics:
- "Sulfazol";
- "Tetracycline";
- "Gentamicin";
- "Enroxil";
- "Levomycetin";
- "Flumequin";
- "Amoxicillin";
- "Ceftriaxone".
To bring down the temperature, a course of antibacterial therapy is often sufficient, but treatment also consists of restorative, detoxification treatment. For colibacillosis, immunoglobulins and antitoxic serums are used. Salmonellosis and other intestinal infections are treated with the use of bacteriophages.
Any inflammation that occurs with a violation of the temperature regime requires replenishment of the water-salt balance in the animal’s body. The calf should be given warm boiled water. If he has diarrhea, it is recommended to reduce the amount of milk sucked by half. In a serious condition, the animal is given intravenous solutions of Trisol, Ringer-Locke, glucose, and sodium chloride. This eliminates dehydration, increases the body's resistance to infection and normalizes temperature.
Prevention measures
To avoid temperature disturbances, you should:
- vaccinate calves in a timely manner;
- observe sanitary and hygienic standards in the stall;
- maintain hygiene during childbirth and milk feeding;
- regularly carry out disinfection measures in the barn.
To prevent calves from becoming infected with infectious diseases in utero, it is recommended to routinely vaccinate cows 4 weeks before mating. Normal calf temperature - not always an indicator of good health.It is necessary to pay attention to the animal’s appetite, its appearance, weight gain, and physical activity. If there is a sharp deterioration in health, accompanied by hyperthermia, you should immediately call a veterinarian, because calves are vulnerable to infections and may die in the absence of timely help.
