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Milk Fever

Milk Fever. Acute hypocalcaemia (serum Ca drops from normal-10mg% to >7mg%) May see hypomagnesium (tetany) or hypermagnesia (flaccid paralysis) in conjunction with milk fever. Most often seen in cattle 5 to 9 years old. No causative organism, this is simply a nutritional imbalance.

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Milk Fever

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  1. Milk Fever • Acute hypocalcaemia (serum Ca drops from normal-10mg% to >7mg%) • May see hypomagnesium (tetany) or hypermagnesia (flaccid paralysis) in conjunction with milk fever. • Most often seen in cattle 5 to 9 years old. • No causative organism, this is simply a nutritional imbalance.

  2. Associated with the onset of lactation. • Usually occurs within the first 72 hours following parturition. • Occasionally occurs just prior to or during parturition causing dystocia.

  3. Symptoms of Milk Fever • Unsteady gait, buckling of pasterns • Eyes dull & staring,pupils dilated • Muzzle dry, extremities cool • Temperature and pulse normal to subnormal • Digestive tract inactive • Suppressed defecation & relaxed anus • Lying on sternum with neck turned backward with head resting on shoulder, unable to rise

  4. Lateral recumbence, coma and death • Animals can go from normal to dead in a few hours. • Treatment is very effective, animals recover quickly (minutes) following treatment. • Following treatment must watch for a relapse.

  5. Treatment of Milk Fever • Treat with calcium borogluconate IV (500 to 1000cc of a commercial solution usually allows the animal to recover). • May use a solution that also contains Mg • To prevent relapse part of or additional Ca solution can be given Sub-Q or I.P. • Drip Ca solution in slowly to prevent cardiac arrest.

  6. Prevention of Milk Fever • Remove mineral supplements, feed low quality hay (no alfalfa as it is high in Ca) beginning about two weeks prior to parturition. • This allows the animal’s endocrine system to become more active in mobilizing Ca from bone to blood and increases intestinal absorption of Ca. • Feed rations with a high P to Ca ratio during late pregnancy.

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