B7

Question 1

What is hypocalcaemia?

Answer 1

Milk fever

Question 2

When and how is hypocalcaemia occur?

Answer 2

occurs directly after parturition, during lactation.

It occurs because there is a large calcium demand for milk production. Calcium is usually taken up from the bone for this purpose

Question 3

what can happen if we feed to much Ca 2 weeks before parturation?

Answer 3

decreases the secretion of PTH which decreases the synthesis of the calcium binding protein. Meaning the Ca cannot be mobilised from the bone

Question 4

What are the early symptoms of milk fever?

Answer 4

1. Loss of apetite, as the musvles of GastroIntestinalTract become less active
2. The cows are dull, ears/muzzle is cold, waling uncordinated

Question 5

What are the late symptoms of milk fever?

Answer 5

1. Cow will lay down and be unable to stand with its head turned to the side.
2. Can lead to further issues such as ketosis, retained placenta, and mastitis

Question 6

General symptoms/consequences of hypocalcaemia:

Answer 6

1. Muscle function is decreased in GIT, uterus
2. Ca is low, Mg is unchanged.
3. Weakness (Ca is needed to release ACh in neuromuscular junction)
4. comatose within hours

Question 7

How to prevent hypocalcaemia?

Answer 7

1. Decreases CAB diet

Question 8

What is CAB diet?

Answer 8

CAB = (Na+K) - (Cl+S), shold be between -50 and -150. We can increase the number of anions, by administer MgSO4 and NH4Cl as 100g/cow/day to induce acidosis which will trigger the PTH secretion = The calcium binding protein synthesis

Question 9

What is done to treat hypocalcaemia?

Answer 9

Calcium given IV. Done to restore serum calcium level to as normal as possible to avoid further damage to muscles and nerves.