Rapid, appropriate treatment of calf pneumonia significantly improves welfare outcomes and reduces mortality. Treatment decision trees reduce delay and improve antibiotic stewardship.
Calves with untreated or undertreated pneumonia experience significant respiratory distress, fever and malaise. Delay in treatment allows progressive lung damage that permanently impairs respiratory capacity and lifetime performance. Objective scoring systems remove the ambiguity that causes treatment delay and allow consistent, evidence-based decisions. NSAIDs including flunixin and meloxicam reduce fever and inflammation, improving appetite and recovery speed. Written treatment protocols agreed with the farm vet ensure all staff apply consistent criteria without waiting for individual vet assessment for each case.