Baby Bennett
“Bennett is lolling. I don’t like the way he is breathing. We need to check his temperature.”
Baby Highlands, like human newborns, have difficulty regulating body temperature. Highlands are born with a heavy coat to protect them from the elements, which can unfortunately be challenging for calves born during warm weather. Highlands have little mechanisms to dissipate heat. The long horns on adult cattle can help regulate internal temperatures as the horns are a living organ filled with flesh and blood. And their large noses, bare from hair, can help. But baby Highlands are more vulnerable to extreme heat.
Baby Bennett is three weeks old. Momma Shat Acres Brandy Brooklyn is doing a wonderful job raising him but there is little she can do to protect her newbie from several days straight of 90 degree temps except keep him hydrated.
Bennett is still in the small fence training paddock in front of the barn. He and Brooklyn can go in and out of the straw filled and shady pens at will. The fans blow cool air into the pens 24/7.
But he was still breathing rapidly with his tongue out.
Summer pneumonia in calves can be serious. Bennett was separated from momma Brooklyn in a small pen for an examination. Our 60+ year old set of clippers were enlisted for the only thing we ever use clippers for. Ray quickly removed much of that heavy baby coat, soft red clumps cascading to the straw below baby Bennett’s belly. I ran to get the thermometer.
106.1 put me into panic mode. Dialing our large animal vet, I was connected to the after-hours answering service.
“I’m calling about Shat Acres Brandy Bennett. You don’t have him in your system yet, but you have his dam, Shat Acres Brandy Brooklyn. You have seen her previously when she severed a tendon in her right front leg above the hoof. He has a high fever and is breathing rapidly.” I was assured the on-call vet would return my call within 15 minutes.
In less than 15 minutes Dr. Murray returned my call. “When I saw you had called I was concerned you had a calf struggling with this heat. This prolonged heat has been rough on calves.”
I told her Ray had removed much of Bennett’s hair. I told her Bennett had 106.1 fever. I told her how young Bennett was. And I told her we were very worried about him.
And I asked her what we should do.
Dr. Murray said to soak Bennett down thoroughly with the hose. I was advised to administer 1/2 cc of Banamine to bring down his fever, and to keep Brooklyn and baby in the barn overnight with the fan blowing on then. I asked about beginning antibiotics. Dr. Murray recommended that as there was no coughing or nasal discharge, taking Bennett’s temperature in the morning would help us decide what further treatment was needed.
Just like with humans, remaining hydrated is absolutely critical for survival. Bennett needed to feel perky and well enough to keep nursing to keep from becoming dehydrated. Bringing his fever down and cooling him by soaking him with the hose would help him keep feeling well enough to belly up to the milk bar.
And in the morning? Bennett, with belly full of milk, was bouncing around the pen. Temperature? 103.0! After hosing him down in the morning and later that afternoon, with thankfully more seasonal temperatures, Bennett was as good as new.
Well almost. One of cow whisperer Ray’s skills is not cosmetology. Although saved by our vet’s prompt recommendations and some hair removal, Bennett is looking a little rough around the edges. But just like a bad haircut, it will thankfully grow back.
Saved that one.