02/20/2025
Per Dr. Clint,
Calf boxes are good for chilled calf, but terrible for one with frozen extremities. You need a quick thaw so frozen body fluids go from solid directly to liquid. Heated air causes frozen fluid to go through a slushy stage which ruptures cells and causes ice embolisms to block off arterioles and cause more damage.
For a quick thaw calves should be placed in almost unbearably hot water for approximately 20 minutes. After that, you can use calf warmer to dry and maintain their heat. They also will benefit from anti-inflammatory medications such as banamine or meloxicam.
Calves with a temperature under 100 but above 98 and still standing or sitting up need interventions like being put in a warm barn, heater, calf box, dryer.
Calves with a temperature under 98 need a hot water bath ASAP. When in the bath, if a calf is acting dizzy, or like it doesn’t know what way is up, needs sugar! Lots of calves get hypoglycemic and need some maple syrup or honey rubbed on their gums.
NEVER EVER feed a cold calf!! Hot milk WILL NOT warm them from the inside out. Make sure you take your calf’s temperature before feeding. Do not feed a calf who is below 101. A great way to give them some pep, is to rub some maple syrup or honey on the calf's gums.
Calves with a temperature OVER 102.5 need antibiotics.
