How to Treat Calves With a Runny Nose & Droopy Ears

Any time your calf shows any signs of sickness, you could have a serious problem. Calves get sick easily; it̵7;s your job to watch for signs of sickness and react as quickly as possible to get them treatment. The sooner you treat a sick calf, the better their chance of survival. Calves are susceptible to many diseases. Both runny nose and droopy ears are signs of bovine respiratory disease; a disease that has accounted for great losses in the cattle industry.

Things You'll Need

  • Rectal thermometer
  • String
  • Veterinarian
  • Antibiotics
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Instructions

    • 1

      Separate any calves that appear sick from the rest of your herd to prevent spreading any illness or disease.

    • 2

      Check your calf̵7;s breathing rate as soon as you notice the droopy ears, runny nose or any other sign of illness. You can check the rate by watching the calf breath and counting the number of breaths it takes in one minute. The average breathing rate for a calf is about 28 to 30 breaths per minute.

    • 3

      Take your calf̵7;s pulse or heartbeat. You can do this by placing your ear at the lower left side of the calf̵7;s chest. Listen and count how many beats you hear or feel against your ear in one minute. The normal pulse for a calf is 60 to 70 beats per minute.

    • 4

      Buy a rectal thermometer and take your calf̵7;s temperature. You need to tie a string to the thermometer first, so it doesn̵7;t move further up the calf̵7;s rectum. Insert the thermometer into the calf̵7;s rectum and wait one to two minutes. Check the thermometer. The normal temperature for a calf is around 101.5 Fahrenheit.

    • 5

      Call your veterinarian as soon as possible. Tell them about any signs of sickness you have seen, including runny nose and droopy ears. Give them the information on your calf̵7;s breathing rate, pulse rate and temperature.

    • 6

      Administer any antibiotics your veterinarian prescribes and monitor your calf closely.