What to Do When a Calf Has a Fever? A Detailed Guide to Scientific Treatment
Calves are the general term for young cattle, and calves are very fragile. In the breeding process, the most important period is the calf stage. At this time, we must strengthen management, because poor management can easily lead to many problems. Among them, fever is a very common one, and if the fever is not dealt with in time, it will have a very big impact on the growth of the calf. So what should be done when a calf has a fever? Let's take a look below!
1. Increase drinking water
After a calf has a fever, its drinking water management must be strengthened, because due to the rise in body temperature, the calf consumes nutrients too quickly and has higher demands. Insufficient drinking water will cause the calf to have a dry mouth and tongue, affect the calf's appetite, and further worsen the fever symptoms. Therefore, we should increase the water supply, in order to ensure the calf's growth, relieve the calf's fever and. Increase the amount of body fluid in the calf and expel toxins from the calf's body as soon as possible. An appropriate amount of sugar, salt and other substances can be added to the drinking water, which is more beneficial to the calf's condition and growth.
2. Ensure the environment
Regardless of whether the calf has a fever or not, the cattle shed must be kept quiet and hygienic at all times. After a calf has a fever, grazing should be stopped, and the sick calf should be allowed to rest more, with the amount of exercise reduced, to prevent excessive physical exhaustion and prevent the condition from being relieved. Excessive exercise will aggravate the consumption of nutrients and heat, which is not conducive to treatment. And when the sick calf is resting, the cattle shed must be kept quiet, because being too noisy will affect the sick calf and cause it to become restless. Having a good resting environment can improve the sick calf's immune system and enhance its resistance.
3. Cold compress treatment
After a calf has a fever, its body temperature will rise rapidly, so when the sick calf's body temperature begins to rise, in addition to using the corresponding medication. You can also use ice water, cold water towels, etc. to apply to the sick calf's head, and properly wipe the whole body to lower the sick calf's body temperature. Pay attention to the temperature of the towel, and replace it in time when it is not cold enough. Ensure that the sick calf's brain cells and thermoregulatory center are not affected, because if they are affected, the sick calf's thermoregulatory center function will fail. This will make the calf's fever untreatable and cause it to lose its breeding value. However, this method is not suitable for sick calves that are sensitive to temperature changes.
4. Adjust the feed
After a calf has a fever, its appetite will decrease greatly, so in order to ensure that the calf gets enough nutrition, the feed should be adjusted appropriately. Feed more feed with strong palatability, easy digestion, and sufficient and comprehensive nutrition. Increase the proportion of green feed to ensure that nutritional needs can be met during the fever and improve the calf's disease resistance. When the disease is severe, an appropriate amount of gastrointestinal conditioning medicine should be added to the feed to improve the calf's appetite. We can also judge the condition by observing the calf's eating situation. Once the amount of food intake increases, it means that the condition is improving.
The above is a brief introduction to what to do when a calf has a fever. A calf's fever must be treated in time. This is not a small problem. If it is discovered or handled too late, it can lead to death in severe cases, and even if it is finally cured, the growth quality of the calf will also decline greatly. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for your reading and support.