Bovine metabolic disease Flashcards
Name the possible types of post-calving metabolic disease to occur in cows
milk fever RFM metritis endometritis DA (left or otherwise) ketosis fat metabolism syndrome fertility issues lameness
as with anything with cows - what are the major RF for any metabolic dz
reduced DMI
NEB
immunosuppression
what actually is MILK FEVER
hypOcal
what are the clinical sign of milk fever
recumbent (characteristic S-bend) hyper-excitation tremor NO POO (lack of motility) dry noses \+- bloat (recumbent, no eructation) slow HR and pulses
wha re some other common ddx for milk fever
e coli mastitis (endotoxaemic BUT no d++ or high HR!)
botulism
salmonellosis
calving intervals - nerve damage or femoral head lig damage
how can you tx milk fever/
Ca borogluconate (40%) iv SLOWLY IV if shes recumbent AND foston for ANY hypoPO4 (wont harm if nto)
when is hypocal likely to be seen in sheep``
pre-lambing or high stress
how can you try and prevent milk fever?
encourage PTH release BEFORE Ca is needed:
- feed low Ca++ diet
- feed high Mg
- Ca bolus at carving
- encourage maximum DMI PRE-calving
- feed high K+ (grass silage!)
other than the metabolic effects of milk fever - what other considerations must be made?
myopathy wi 24hrs being recumbant
after how long of a cow being recumbent does the px really decrease??
72hrs - probs wont ever stand
how often should you shift a recumbent cow
q 3hrly
how many mg of Ca is in 1L of colostrum
2.3mg of Ca / L of colostrum
why does hypoMg have anything to do with milk fever>
Mg is required to help intestinal absorption of Ca++
what does PTH do
inc Ca release
inc Oclasts
helps abs
how does acid:base balance effects the likelihood of getting milk fever
Ca is bound to albumin - this is reduced by low pH
whats Ca actually needed for?
muscle fct ALL types
nerve impulses
immune responses
…..
when might hypophosphateaemia occur in its own right?
peri-parturient haemogloburia
after a downer cow has been given calcium, and it still wont rise - what else could you try
give foston I/v (Phosphate) as may be hypoPO4 too
is milk fever always clinically obv
no - subclinical too = RF for other diseases (mastitis, immune suppression, metritis…)
whatis grass staggers
hypoMg
how do you treat hypoMg
be quiet
control convulsions - xylazine
give Ca borogluc slowly AND then magnesium iv
what are the signs of hypomag
death
convulsions + recumbent
hypersensitive + twitchy = early signs
what causes hypoMg
theres no body reserves - all from diet
7L of milk takes the entire plasma vlume of mg
lush pastures
fertilised pasture as these have high K, which prev abs of Mg
how can you prevent hypomag
bolus licks supplement feed sprinkle over food change pasture give straw to slow GI transit time
