Calf Scours: Signs, Dehydration Check and What to Do

Updated: November 4, 2026

Scours is the most common problem in young calves, and dehydration is what makes it dangerous. A daily manure check lets you act early.

What to watch

Score the manure every day: 0 firm, 1 soft, 2 runny, 3 watery. Scores 2–3 or any blood mean the calf needs attention today.

• Mild dehydration: slightly sunken eyes, skin tent on the neck takes 2–5 seconds to flatten.
• Severe: eyes deeply sunken, can't stand, cold mouth or legs. This needs a vet right away.

What to do

Keep feeding milk. Give a calf electrolyte solution as an extra feeding between milk meals, not mixed into the milk unless the label says it's made for that. Keep the calf warm and dry, and wash your hands and gear between calves.

• Most scouring calves need 2–4 L (2–4 qt) of electrolytes a day on top of milk.
• Log each check (Cowpanion has a scours check for this) so you can see the trend.

Prevention

Good colostrum, clean bottles, dry bedding, a consistent feeding routine and not mixing calves of very different ages in one pen.

Keep it all in Cowpanion

Cowpanion's scours check scores manure and dehydration each day, so you can see whether a calf is getting better or worse.

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This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Always follow product labels and call your vet when an animal is sick.

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