MILK FEVER

{PARTURIENT PERESIS}

CONDITION WHICH OCCURS AT A TIME OF

PARTURATION / JUST AFTER PARTURATION
IN ADULT FEMALE CATTLE CHARACTERISIED
BY....

Low blood ca level

General muscle weakness
Circulatory collapse
Depression of consciousness, anorexia, shock &
death .

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o
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Epidemiology:In high producing cattle

5-10years old ; 3rd to 7th lactation
Jersey are more susceptible( incidence is 15%)
Most cases occurred during first 48hrs of
parturition

Susceptibility

About 80% of cases occur within one day of calving

because milk and colostrum production drain
calcium (and other substances) from the blood, and
some cows are unable to replace the calcium
quickly enough.
High producers are more susceptible because the
fall in their blood calcium level is greater.
Selecting cows for high production may, therefore
increase the problem with milk fever.
Some individual cow families or breeds (for
example, Jerseys) are more susceptible than others.

Heifers are rarely affected.

Old cows increase in susceptibility up to the fifth
or six calving because they produce more milk and
are less able to replace blood calcium quickly.
grazing pastures in winter and spring results in
alkaline blood which creates conditions
unfavourable for the availability of calcium in the
body and predisposes the cow to milk fever
Fat cows are at a greater risk than thin cows. This
is partly because their feed and calcium intake has
been higher and partly because fat cows produce
more milk at calving time.

Predisposing factors
Feeding high calcium died during pregnancy period.
Preparation of diet rich in cation like Na+&k+.
Diet rich in anion like chloride and sulfur then the
incidence of MF is low.coz it will increase the absorption
of Ca+ from the gut and bone by creating metabolic
acidosis.
Forage /grass rich in oxalate .
oxalate+calcium=calcium oxalate.
Excessive calcitoninin the blood reduce the calcium levels
by reducing parathormone.
Increase levels of P in prepartum diet(>80gm /day)
Along with the hypocalcaemia ,hypophospatemia
&hypomagnesaemia =MF complex.

Role of Ca:

It has membrane stabilising effect on peripheral

nerves { mild tetany, hyperaesthesia..}

Required for release of Ach at membrane potential

{ flaccid type of paralysis }

Required for contraction of muscles

Clinical signs
occur in 3 stages.

Stage 1 ( stage of brief excitement)

o

anxiety, little tetany, mind hypersensitivity

muscle tremors of head & limb

does not want to move

rectal temp: normal/ sub normal

Ca level 6.5mg/dl

Stage 2 (stage of sternal

recubency)
Consciousness depressed, drowsy appearance
Turning of head towards flank{ lateral kink of
head }
Extremities are cold
Temp : sub normal
GI motility reduces : bloat
HR: increased
ca level: 5.5mg/dl

Stage 3{ stage of lateral

recumbency)

Limbs are very flaccid, passive movement

Circulatory collapse

Further decrease in body temp

Bloat may present

ca level:<4.5mg/dl

Clinical pathology:
Total serum ca level may reduce as low as 2mg/dl
Average ca level reduction is 5.2 +_1.2 mg/dl
( normal level is 8.8-10.4mg/dl)
Mg level increased to 4-4.5mg/dl
(
N= 1.2-3mg/dl )
Inorganic P level decreased 1.5-3mg/dl
(N=3-7mg/dl )

Sequelae

DOWNERS COW SYNDROME

Dystocia

RFM

MASTITIS

LEFT ABOMASAL DISPLACEMENT

DIFFERTIAL DIAGNOSIS:LACTATION TETANY {Serum/urinary mg

level:-low}
o Normal serum mg is 1.7-3mg/dl
o CSF mg concentration:- low(N:-1.25mg/dl)
o Body temperature increased
Obturator nerve paralysis. { Because of
prolonged difficulty in parturition , may cause
obturator N paralysis }

Physical injury { ruptured grastrocnemius M ,

dislocation of hip }
Downer cow syndrome { sequele}
o Condition following hypocalcaemia parturient
paresis characterised by prolonged recumbency
even after 2-3 successful treatment with calcium.

Treatment :Treatment should be given as soon as possible.

Calcium borogluconate(CBG):- 25% solution 400800ml ,slow IV.
(calcium gluconate has longer half life and boric acid
acts as a acidifier)
10% MgSo4 administered to counteract cardiacexcitability by ca {mifex}
Inflation of the udder using a pneumatic pump
( Inflation of the udder worked because the increased
pressure created in the udder pushed the calcium in
the udder back into the bloodstream of the cow)

Cows that are in lateral recumbancy should be

brought into a normal resting position to relieve
bloat.
Recovered cows should not be milked for 24
hours; then the amount of milk taken should be
gradually increased over the next 2-3 days.
Bloat :-antihistamnes,to stimulate ruminal
motility.
Harmonal therapy:-paratharone.
Supportive therapy:-B complex,min mixture .

Symptoms of ca therapy
Generalized

tremor of the skeletal muscles.

Cardiac arrhythmia(increased HR)
Defecation,
Urination
Imorovement in amplitude of pulse.
Belching.
Salivation .
Sweating of muzzle,rumination.
Animal stand up.

Prevention and control :-

Low calcium & P diet .

Anion and cation balance.
Cows should be kept on a low calcium diet during dry
period.
Balanced diet in preartum period.(ca:p)
Feeds high in energy but low in calcium may be used,
Early detection of milk fever.
Vitamin D3 given by injection 2-8 days before
calving may be useful.
Injection of calcium borogluconate just before or just
after calving.

Drenching cows with Unimix on the day before

and then twice daily for 1 to 2 days after
calving (Unimix is a registered product containing
a mixture of calcium and magnesium.)
Managemental practices.