Adult Animals Post-Partum Flashcards
MIneral disorder classes
milk fever/Hypocalcemia, Hypomagnesemia, Hypophospahtemia
DIfferentials for a downed cows
Mastitis, metritis, metabolic, MSK (neuro too), Miscellaneous. THis will cover about 90% of all them.
What fration is useable calcium in cows? (Metabolically active)
ionized Ca
ABout how many severe hypocalcemia you see in a year?
about 5% (10 cows of 200).
What do we see with the less severe hypocalcemia?
lowered feed intake –> poor rumen motility
higher susceptibility to other diseases (3X higher)
50% higher occurence in older cattle
Look for it in the channel breeds (jersey, Guernsey)
Why is milk fever a problem?
$334 - clinical cases (2% annual incidence)
Subclinical cases are the kicker - $220 per cow but 30% incidence which is a problem.
What are the players in calcium homeostasis?
PTH - increase bone mobilization, renal tubular resorption
Vitamin D - increased dietary absorption, responds to PTH
What is the goal of calcium homeostasis?
As calcium is crashing, we hope the PTH kicks in and activates Vitamin D enough to start working
Why does homeostasis not keep up?
MOst animals are in metabolic alkalosis (more cations than anions) which decreases PTH receptor sensitivity. This will then not cause the cAMP cascade and
What happens in stage 1 of clinical finding?
standing animal
brief excitement and tetany
hypersens and muscle tremors
Stage 2 of clinical findings are:
sternal recumbency
depression
cool extremities
uterine prolaspe
Stage 3 clinical findings are:
lateral recumbency
comatose
flaccid paresis.
Hypocalcemia is flaccid paresis
Lab finding with hypocalc
low ca stress leuk hypophos hypomagnes hypoglycemia
treatment of hypocalcemia is
IV calcium gluconate (we don’t often treat anymore)
give 1 g Ca /45kg. One bottle is good for a recumbent cow
What are the concerns with Calcium gluconate
cardiotoxic so go slowly.
if dysrhythmia, monitor the heart rate and possibly
