Calf bloat?

[pandiana]

I would agree that my single experience with ulcers was in an extremely fast growing calf. It was fairly easy to distinguish the symtoms of ulcers from colicky bloat once the ulcers had perforated The calf would have a somewhat swollen belly and stand up while grunting and grinding teeth in obvious discomfort. With colick bloat or a twisted gut, the calves are more acute, kicking at their belly and throwing themselves on the ground repeatedly.

[lbluck]

We had a nice big calf badly bloated, tubed it with antigas/mineral oil/warm water. When it died later the last stomach was FULL of hair (the color of the calf not the cow). We sometimes see a calf fairly (not in agony) bloated the day before they come down with a round of scours.

[lbluck]

Primary ruminal bloat in a calf is uncommon. These bloated calves are usually attributed to on of three causes.
1. Abomasal ulsers are the holes describes in the 4th stomach or abomasum. These most often occur in the biggest best doing calves. They will 'bloat up' (usually most noticable lower on the right side) as opposed to the left side where the rumen is located. Death is very rapid once the ulser has perforated, often less than a couple of hours. The causes are poorly understood and blamed on a number of factors. Almost exclusively seen in calves while on cows when still on feed in the spring time and almost never in calves whin on grass. (the grass being more laxative and abundant) Causes are associated with cows on dry feed, calves drinking out of manure puddles in the spring, calves eating straw, hair balls, Clostridium perfringins infections, Abomasal ulcers seems to be associated with Clostridial immunity and an annual or bi-annual vaccination of the cow herd with a 7 or 8-way vaccination appears to reduce the incidence. Later calving (April and later) seems to reduce the incidence. (on to grass sooner as a rule)
2. Hair balls is an accumulation of a foreign body in the abomasum. If the foreign body becomes large enough, when passed (or attempted to pass) it becomes lodged in the pylorus or exit of the abomasum to the intestines. This blockage causes acute pain and rapid buildup of fluid and gasses in the abomasum. The 'bloating' with hair balls is not unlike an abomasal ulser, low on the left side.
3. Clostridium perfringens is a common disease of sheep and lambs. It infects the lining of the abomasum resulting in reddish discoloration and fluid accumulation in the tissues of the abomasal lining. "
'Bloating is not always noticable.
4. Torsion of the Abomasum (or intestines) may show similar signs and death will occur rapidly.