Synonyms

 

Premature calf

 

Name of the disease in English

 

Premature calf

 

The disease in brief

 

In a well-run dairy farm, barring accidents, a calf born prematurely is immediately identified. This is not the case in suckling and fattening herds. When faced with a newborn presenting nervous disorders (pedalling, ataxia, etc.), behavioral disorders (failure to suckle, absence of sucking reflex), unable to get up or a puny calf, prematurity is one diagnostic hypothesis among others that must lead, in particular, to specific actions and research.

 

Clinic & diagnosis

 

The problem is suspected by observing both:

 

–General signs : A newborn (<5 days) who cannot get up, staggers, has no sucking reflex, responds poorly to other stimulation, cannot drink, tries to suckle in inappropriate places, appears drowsy, "floppy", cannot hold his head up, or has non-pendular nystagmus.

 

–More specific signs: The calf is of lower than normal size and weight, its hair is shorter than normal, its incisors show incomplete eruption, or blood is seen in the anterior chamber (hyphema); prematurity is also suspected if the problem is collective.

 

Pictures

 

See below

 

Diagnostic formulas

 

No description

 

Differential diagnosis

 

-Neonatal calf sepsis N324

-Acidosis -anoxia neonatal hypothermia NV25

-Congenital heart defect CR12

-Hydranencephaly N205

 

Confirm a suspicion?

 

If the intervention of abortive diseases is suspected, the implementation of a harmonized protocol for research into the causes of abortion (OSCAR) is required.

 

Prognosis and treatment

 The prognosis is reserved.

No specific treatment, but symptomatic treatment may also include:

-Enhanced comfort and hygiene,

- Heating (or at least placing the calf in thermally neutral conditions)

-Provide energy (glucose infusion) and fight against acidosis.

 

Prevention

 

Reporting and testing all abortions is mandatory, but also allows for effective intervention in the event of a collective problem.

 

References

 https://www.plateforme-esa.fr/sites/default/files/documents/Protocole cattle.pdf

No description