SICK CALF PROTOCOLS

Template that can be adapted to specific farm’s calves

Prepared by: Dr. Sheila McGuirk and Production Medicine Students
Diarrhea
Calves need extra fluids during bouts of diarrhea due to fluid loss through the intestines. When you
see a calf with fecal scores of 2 or greater, they will be dehydrated. Fecal consistency scores can be
used to make decisions about calves needed extra fluids. Fecal score 0 or 1 are usually considered
normal and depend on the type and amount of milk or milk replacer being fed. Fecal score 2 is
diarrhea that is loose but has enough consistency to form a pile on top of the bedding as shown
below. A fecal score 3 is given to diarrhea that is so watery that it sifts right through bedding as
shown below.

Score 2 Score 3

Calves with diarrhea (fecal score 2 or 3) that appear relatively normal in every other respect –
attitude, appetite, rectal temperature and posture – may only require regular milk or milk replacer
feedings along with fluids with electrolytes, water but no other specific treatment. If a calf with
diarrhea appears sick – dull, off feed, drinks slowly, stands with an arched back – or has a
temperature that is greater than 103° F or lower than 100° F, antibiotic coverage for 3-days may be
advisable. Calves that are very sick with their diarrhea may also benefit from banamine treatment.

Always try to keep the calves with diarrhea eating. Do not discontinue milk/milk replacer feeding
but do not force a calf to eat unless you are directed by your veterinarian. Never force feed a calf
with abdominal distension or one that can’t sit up for tubing. Try to get the calf to consume the
normal amount of milk/milk replacer. If possible, offer smaller feedings more frequently to get the
normal amount into them.

For calves with diarrhea score of 2, in addition to milk/milk replacer, give 2 quarts of warm
electrolyte solution (mixed with water, fed separately from the milk/milk replacer). It can be offered
between or after milk/milk replacer feedings. For calves with a fecal score of 3, there is enough
dehydration that the calf needs a total of 4 quarts of oral electrolyte solution (OES) during a 24-hour
period. A common approach is to provide 2 milk/milk replacer feedings and 2 OES feedings. One 2-
quart OES feeding is given between the milk/milk replacer feedings and one 2-quart OES feeding is

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given after the last milk/milk replacer feeding late evening or at night. Do not stop feeding oral
electrolyte solution (mixed in water, not milk) until fecal consistency is back to normal or just
slightly loose. For calves that refuse OES, it can be given by esophageal feeder, provided that the
calf can sit up without assistance and/or does not have a full abdomen.

Fresh water should be available to calves with diarrhea at all times, but especially when OES is
provided.

Antibiotics are not needed unless calves with diarrhea are sick (criteria described above), are
suspected of having a Salmonella infection or have additional health problems, for example, a bad
navel, swollen joint(s) or respiratory disease. Fluid replacement is the most critical factor that
determines the outcome of a calf with diarrhea. When required, the antibiotic protocol that you use
should be based upon calf examinations and the advice of your veterinarian. For diarrhea treatment,
we usually want 3 days of antibiotic coverage. Your veterinarian will help you select the most
appropriate protocol but the protocols below may be considered. Once started, do not change to
another antibiotic before the 3-day treatment is completed. Treatment is considered successful, even
if the stool is still loose but the calf is eating aggressively and has a bright attitude. It may take 5-7
days for the intestine to repair itself and therefore the diarrhea persists for several days.

1. Nuflor (Florfenicol)
Dose: 20 mg/kg = 3 cc per 100 pounds
Route: Subcutaneously (SQ)
Frequency: One dose every day for 3 days

2. Naxcel/Excenel (Ceftiofur)
Dose: 2.2 mg/kg = 1.75 cc per 100 pounds
Route: Subcutaneously (SQ)
Frequency: One to two times per day for 3 day

3. Tribrissen (trimethoprim sulfadiazine)

Dose: 20 mg/kg = ~ 960 mg per 100 pounds
Route: Orally (PO)
Frequency: Two times per day for 3 days

Banamine may be useful for calves that are sick with their diarrhea as described above.

Dose: 1 mg/kg (1 cc/100 lbs)

Route: Intravenously (IV)
Frequency: Give once only. If the calf’s condition does not improve (reduced fever,
improved appetite), the dose can be repeated 24 hours later with direction
from the veterinarian.

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Respiratory Disease
Respiratory disease should be treated when calves receive a score 5 points or more using the Calf
Respiratory Scoring System
(http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/dms/fapm/fapmtools/8calf/group_pen_respiratory_scoring_chart.pdf).
For calves with only a single sign of respiratory disease detected from outside the pen – nasal
discharge, eye discharge, dropped ear or cough – we would like you to take its temperature. Treat
any calf with a single sign of respiratory disease and a fever of 103°F or higher with antibiotics. For
any calves that have two or more signs of respiratory disease at the same time - cough, colored
(white, yellow, blood tinged) nasal or eye discharge, drooping or twitching ears, or fever (<100 or
>103) – treat with an antibiotic. Calves with respiratory disease should be given an antibiotic
treatment protocol that provides 5-6 days of coverage. One time and multiple dose treatment protocol
examples are shown below. Get your veterinarian to advise you on the most appropriate choice for
your calves. It is very important to treat calves with respiratory disease early, so that they can be
cured before they move into the transition barn.

These are antibiotic protocols that provide appropriate antibiotic coverage with a single treatment:

• Baytril (Enrofloxacin)
– Dose: 11 mg/kg=5 cc per 100 lb
– Route: SQ
• Draxxin (Tulathromycin)
– Dose: 2.5 mg/kg=1 cc per 100 lb
– Route: SQ
• Excede (Ceftiofur)
– Dose: 6.6 mg/kg=1.5 cc per 100 lb
– Route: SQ (ear as instructed)
• Nuflor (Florfenicol)
– Dose 40 mg/kg=6 cc per 100 lb
– Route: SQ
• Tildipirosin (Zuprevo)
– Dose: 4 mg/kg=1 cc per 100 lb
– Route: SQ
• Tulathromycin (Draxxin)
– Dose: 2.5 mg/kg=1.1 cc per 100 lb
– Route SQ

The following antibiotic protocols for respiratory disease require more than one injection as
described:

• Adspec (Spectinomycin)
– 10-15 mg/kg=5-6 cc/100 lb SQ
– Once daily for 5 days

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 • Baytril (Enrofloxacin)
– 5 mg/kg=2 cc/100 lb SQ
– Once daily for 3 days
• Excenel or Naxcel (Ceftiofur)
– 2.2 mg/kg=2 cc/100 lb SQ
– Once daily for 3-5 days
• Nuflor (Florfenicol)
– 20 mg/kg=3 cc/100 lb SQ
– Every other day for 2-3 doses

Banamine may be used as follows for calves that have a temperature that is greater than 103° F or
lower than 100° F, have respiratory distress or a combination of respiratory disease and diarrhea:
Dose: 1 mg/kg (1 cc/100 lbs)
Route: Intravenously
Frequency: Give once only unless directed by your veterinarian to repeat treatment
For calves that do not improve (reduced fever, improved appetite, less respiratory distress), banamine
can be repeated 24 hours later. Call your veterinarian if calf is not improved within 3 days.

At the end of the 5 to 6 day respiratory disease treatment protocol, the calf should be evaluated again.
If the calf has none or only one of the signs indicative of respiratory disease, the calf is considered
cured and no more treatment is needed. If the calf still has two or more of the signs listed above, call
your veterinarian to examine the calf before starting a second antibiotic.

Navel infection protocol:

Calves with signs of an infected navel usually have an enlarged, painful navel that is wet, smelly
and/or has pus or blood tinged discharge coming from it. These calves may or may not have a fever
but should be treated with an antibiotic to prevent the spread of the localized infection into the
bloodstream. Calves with signs of navel infection should be treated promptly as this is a sign that
they may have bacteria circulating in their blood (septicemia). An antibiotic combination may be
required for these calves as a mix of bacteria types is usually involved:

Procaine Penicillin G
Dose: ~22,000 IU/kg = 4 cc per 100 pounds
Route: IM
Frequency: Twice daily for 5 days

and

Naxcel/Excenel (Ceftiofur) Excede (Ceftiofur)

Dose: 2.2 mg/kg = 2 cc per 100 pounds or Dose: 6.6 mg/kg=1.5 cc per 100 lb
Route: SQ Route: SQ (ear as instructed)
Frequency: Twice daily for 5 days Frequency: Once

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Septic arthritis (infected joints) protocol:
Calves with infected joints will show lameness, swelling of one or more joints, and fever. They
may not be eating well, but this may be difficult to detect in a group pen. Calves with signs of
infected joints should be treated promptly as this is a sign that they have had bacteria circulating
in their blood (septicemia). Treat these calves with BOTH of the following antibiotics:

Procaine Penicillin G
Dose: ~22,000 IU/kg = 4 cc per 100 pounds
Route: IM
Frequency: Twice daily for 5-7 days

and

Naxcel/Excenel (Ceftiofur) Excede (Ceftiofur)

Dose: 2 mg/kg = 2 cc per 100 pounds or Dose: 6.6 mg/kg=1.5 cc per 100 lb
Route: IM Route: SQ (ear as instructed)
Frequency: Twice daily for 5-7 days Frequency: Once

These calves can also be treated with banamine as follows:

Dose: 1 mg/kg (1 cc/100 lbs)
Route: Intravenously
Frequency: Give once only. If the calf’s condition does not improve (reduced fever,
improved appetite), the dose can be repeated 24 hours later. Call veterinarian if calf is not
improved within 3 days.

Possible Clostridium (Enterotoxemia):

Calves with Clostridium enterotoxemia are usually thrifty calves that have previously been eating
well. Suddenly, they are off feed, appear bloated (left side, right side or a combination of both), are
extremely depressed and may appear to be uncomfortable (kicking at the abdomen or unwilling to
stand). This condition is caused by the release of toxins produced by Clostridium perfringens A, C or
D, bacteria that are normally present in the intestinal tract. These calves require emergency treatment
as described below:

Clostridium perfringens C& D antitoxin-

Dose: 10 cc
Route: Subcutaneously (SQ)
Frequency: Give one dose.

AND

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 Procaine Penicillin G
Dose: 5cc/100lb
Route: In the muscle (IM)
Frequency: Give twice daily for three days
You may also give penicillin by mouth at a dose of 20 cc twice daily for one or two days.

These calves may require IV fluid therapy or can be confused with calves that have blocked
intestines. Because of this, you should call your veterinarian if there isn’t improvement within 2 to 4
hours. We do not use banamine for calves with enterotoxemia.