Well, well, well.
One of the calves is not doing so well.
In fact we’re not sure he’s going to make it.
It came upon him quick also.
Daisy the heifer is fine, but Woody is sick.
He was fine yesterday morning, but by evening I noticed he was not getting up when I walked in the barn. That is strange for him. He’s usually at the door bawling for food, like Daisy.
I called Dave over and he said the same thing. Plus Woody was trembling. So we gave him a shot of penicillen and a shot of Newcells.
This morning is seemed like he didn’t even want to suck on his bottle. He only ate half his ration.
So Dave called the vet. He has no fever so that rules out pneumonia. So Dave took orders from the vet, and we put Woody in a stall by himself. He’s got the poopies in the worse way. So it could be anything.
The vet thinks maybe coccidiosis. So we’re giving him Amprol.
But from late afternoon to after supper he went downhill fast!
Dave called the vet again (these guys are the best!), and she suggested Kaopectate and to make a homemade electrolyte solution and feed it to him on top of all the other things we’re giving him.
Dave had to leave for a meeting so it left me to try and get a hardheaded sick (half dead) calf, that is still very strong, to drink disgusting medicine and a 2-liter bottle of electrolyte.
So I got everything ready, got dressed in my barn clothes and told Jamie, “I don’t know when I’ll be coming back in!”
I marched into the barn determined to save this 3-week-old baby!
I came out pretty much covered in cow slime, Kaopectate, electrolyte solution and probably poop.
But you know what? I loved every minute of it!
I am one strange cookie, yes, I know. I’ve been told this many times. I could do this everyday. I don’t mind the slime, gook and gore of animals.
I just love knowing that I helped a helpless animal. I got him to take all the medicine and he drank most of his electrolyte solution.
But I actually think he’s going to make it.
I told him that he’s not going to die on my watch!
I’m praying that God will let him live because he is destined to feed many people. It’s probably not a happy ending for him, but it will be for the less fortunate this fall.
Have a Blessed Day!
Lisa
