I noticed Reba's buckling was not right when I opened the barn at 7am. He is about a month old, has always been a fat, healthy boy. This morning he was laying down with his head tipped back and his eyes kind of wide occasionally yelling like he was in pain or distress.
Four hours later, he is out in the pasture standing around, often with the head tipped up and eyes bugging, occasionally yelling out like he is in pain. It kind of reminds me of what one buckling did after I banded him except I haven't done anything to this buck.
Can they get UC at this age? Mom does get fed chaffhaye, so I am sure he has eaten some alongside her. How could I know if it is UC or not? I have a helper down there now watching, hoping to see him pee.
I have palpated his whole body and can't find anything that seems unusual. His little abdomen area might feel a little tighter than the only other buckling I have of the same age, I don't know what that might mean.
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I hope the chaffhaye is not a problem because I am very happy with the herd on it. We usually have much better pasture than this, but there is not great pasture to speak of until the rains come. I had some harder keeper does who weren't looking so hot post kidding but on the chaffhaye they are all looking really good now.
So glad to hear!! I was having trouble thinking of what it might be.
While they are still growing, alfalfa shouldn't harm young boys to my knowledge.
Well good news, I think. After watching him and touching him all over trying to figure out what the problem was, I noticed a bit of blood on the edge of a very large disbudding scab that is wanting to come off. The other side came off a few days ago, so this one is due to fall off. I think he may have whacked it and hurt himself this morning. He screamed bloody murder when I touched it. So I gave him some banamine to make him feel better until it finishes coming off and he is acting 75% normal now. I have to say this is the first year I've had banamine on hand and I am really liking it. I give it with dusbudding, banding, and any other time there seems to be a pain problem (like this). He definitely got some relief from it. I had another acting weird after disbudding which is what I originally went and got it for, it perked him right up too. Good stuff. I am now giving a routine dose at the same time I disbud and band to help them get through it with less discomfort.
Hoping all is well and once this scab gets off he will be his old self again!
I wish I could help, but I just wanted to say I am praying for you and the little guy now. It's so hard when we don't know how to help them. Hugs and best wishes!