Ear infection in 11 month calf

[sjewart]

Have a feedlot calf with a droopy lug and matted hair at base of ear. Occasionally shaking the head. Assume it's an ear infection.

Treatment options please?

 

[HappyShep76]

Have a feedlot calf with a droopy lug and matted hair at base of ear. Occasionally shaking the head. Assume it's an ear infection.

Treatment options please?

Hi

I always treat any we have like that with either Alamycin LA 300 or Bimoxyl La (Betamox by another name).

Hope this helps.

 

[milkloss]

I’d go pen strep daily for three days. Cut the tag out.

 

[sjewart]

I’d go pen strep daily for three days. Cut the tag out.

Don't think the tag is damaged?

 

[sjewart]

Hi

I always treat any we have like that with either Alamycin LA 300 or Bimoxyl La (Betamox by another name).

Hope this helps.

Thanks I have both [emoji106]

 

[milkloss]

I’d go betamox then

Check carefully round the tag just in case.

 

[sjewart]

I’d go betamox then

Check carefully round the tag just in case.

Thanks yeah I'm gona halter her tomorrow to get a right look.

 

[sjewart]

So I've had her in and given her 36ml of Betamox. Her ear on close inspection was mostly clear wet inside but with cloudy/cream traces. No idea if it smelt as I'm full of flu.

Took her temp - was 39.2. Anything else I should have done?

 

[primmiemoo]

Metacam?

Rinse inside ear with warm, salty water - and squidge it around inside the base of the ear? Bit messy, but it could shift the muck.

For you, lots of hot honey and lemon with a paracetamol at the timings indicated on the pack (unless allergic), and about a mile of three ply blue paper roll.

 

[sjewart]

Metacam?

Rinse inside ear with warm, salty water - and squidge it around inside the base of the ear? Bit messy, but it could shift the muck.

For you, lots of hot honey and lemon with a paracetamol at the timings indicated on the pack (unless allergic), and about a mile of three ply blue paper roll.

Lol, thank you for your care of both species! [emoji847]

Its too dark now but il get her in and rinse her ear tomorrow. Would a syringe filled repeatedly with warm salty water do the job? I have metacam, she will get that too.

Vet said over phone he hopes it's not mycoplasma. The ear infection makes him suspicious. I didn't think she had pneumonia symptoms but he said they can be slight.

 

[primmiemoo]

Lol, thank you for your care of both species! [emoji847]

Its too dark now but il get her in and rinse her ear tomorrow. Would a syringe filled repeatedly with warm salty water do the job? I have metacam, she will get that too.

Vet said over phone he hopes it's not mycoplasma. The ear infection makes him suspicious. I didn't think she had pneumonia symptoms but he said they can be slight.

Happy to help where poss

Syringe a brill idea. A 60ml or something like that.
Muggins would have tried using a jug and funnel

Mycoplasma is something I've yet to come across in RL. Hope it isn't.

 

[sjewart]

Happy to help where poss

Syringe a brill idea. A 60ml or something like that.
Muggins would have tried using a jug and funnel

Mycoplasma is something I've yet to come across in RL. Hope it isn't.

Vet did say afterwards probably not mycoplasma. Iv just never come across an ear infection before.

 

[HappyShep76]

Lol, thank you for your care of both species! [emoji847]

Its too dark now but il get her in and rinse her ear tomorrow. Would a syringe filled repeatedly with warm salty water do the job? I have metacam, she will get that too.

Vet said over phone he hopes it's not mycoplasma. The ear infection makes him suspicious. I didn't think she had pneumonia symptoms but he said they can be slight.

We had a bad outbreak of Mycoplasma last year in bought in calves. A lot had an ear down and the odd one had a watery discharge from the ear which formed a crusty build up on the hair. Most ended up with pneumonia symptoms but not all. Most of the calves also had a white/ pale puss type discharge from their nose. I really do hope it’s not mycoplasma.

 

[HappyShep76]

One of our mycoplasma calves.

 

[sjewart]

We had a bad outbreak of Mycoplasma last year in bought in calves. A lot had an ear down and the odd one had a watery discharge from the ear which formed a crusty build up on the hair. Most ended up with pneumonia symptoms but not all. Most of the calves also had a white/ pale puss type discharge from their nose. I really do hope it’s not mycoplasma.

Sorry to hear that. My heifer iv had 3 months so not newly bought in and she is a fair bit bigger than your calf so it's hard to say. Iv a feeling its not the same thing but what medicine did you find worked? If my ear heifers ear doesn't improve il have to try something else.

 

[HappyShep76]

The only thing that worked was Draxxin & Meloxidyl, it didn’t work on them all though. As a rule of thumb, all our infected (and suspected) calves ran temperatures between 105 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[sjewart]

Did you lose some or did some just become not very good do-ers? Im familiar with Draxxin. The other med il have to look up.

My heifers temp was 102.5 so not really much to concern.

I appreciate you sharing your experience. Keep you up to date on how she fairs.

 

[HappyShep76]

We have lost 21 with it and the ones that have recovered have fallen so far behind where they should be. They will all be fattened and not kept for breeding. If they ever get a finish on them......

 

[sjewart]

We have lost 21 with it and the ones that have recovered have fallen so far behind where they should be. They will all be fattened and not kept for breeding. If they ever get a finish on them......

I feel gutted for you, that's terrible losses. Were they all recent purchases or can it live on shed walls etc?

Fingers crossed it isn't that but if the ear doesn't improve il get the vet up to run tests.

 

[HappyShep76]

They were all recent purchases when they became infected. I did post a thread about it some time back. It was called Mycoplasma in bought in calves.

We were told that it can live on walls and on the floor etc for 2 weeks after contact. If it’s cold then maybe a little longer.

Fingers crossed that your calf just has a nasty ear infection.