Metabolic Diseases Flashcards
Why don’t you want a cow too skinny when calving? Too fat?
Too skinny: Won’t have any body reserves to make milk
Too fat: will have
When does fatty liver syndrome occur?
- Peaks at about 2 weeks post-parturition
What is ketosis/ acetonemia?
- Abnormally high ketone body concentrations in the body/ body fluids
What is primary ketosis?
Negative energy balance especially in early lactation –> usually subclinical
What is secondary ketosis?
Ketosis related to anorexia due to some other disease
What are the clinical signs of ketosis
- Decreased appetite and milk production
- Hypocalcemia
- Nervous form –> occurs post-partum, cow is biting at itself, excessively grooming itself, not producing milk
- Ketone odors on breath, urine, milk
What are the clinical signs of ketosis
- Decreased appetite and milk production
- Hypocalcemia
- Nervous form –> occurs post-partum, cow is biting at itself, excessively grooming itself, not producing milk
- Ketone odors on breath, urine, milk
How do you diagnose ketosis?
Clinical signs and test for ketones in urine/ milk
What is the therapy for ketosis?
- Stimulate gluconeogenesis
- Increase utilization of blood glucose
- Fix the underlying cause
- Reduce plasma ketones and free fatty acids
- Supplement the ration –> once they eat again, the problem should improve, give propylene glycol, glycerol, proprinate ** Dont’ overdose!!!!!!**
How do you prevent ketosis?
- Maintain body condition from the dry period through calving
- Encourage max dry matter intake
- Feed balanced diet with high quality forage to early lactation cows
- Minimize negative energy balance after calving
What is pregnancy toxemia?
- Condition similar to ketosis –> don’t have enough energy to support gestation and milk production
- Seen in beef cows and small ruminants
- Due to chronic underfeeding during pregnancy, given poor quality forage with no supplemental grain/ energy
What is parturient paresis/ milk fever?
- Hypocalcemia associated with parturition
- Rapid milk production causes rapid depletion of serum ionized calcium
- **Not actually a fever!!! **
Which dairy breed is most susceptible to milk fever?
Jersey, followed by Guernsey
What is the normal calcium levels in a cow?
9-12 mg/dL
- Below 9 is subclinical
What do you use to treat milk fever in a cow?
- Use calcium borogluconate SQ
- Basic restraint –> tie head to back leg
- Give with an 18 G, 2” needle
- cardiotoxic
- Can give an electrolyte paste –> good but can be caustic
How do you know the calcium is working for milk fever?
- The cow will eructate due to smooth muscle relaxation
- Will appear bright and alert
- Don’t allow the cow to get up too quickly, especially if on a slippery surface
- Will usually need to give one bottle, in larger animals you may need two
What is the most common mineral deficiency in cattle?
Phosphorous!
- Copper is number 2 –> copper toxicity is common in the US
In what cows do you see phosphorous deficiency?
- Grazing cattle, young animals, and heavily lactating dairy cows
What are some clinical signs of phosphorus deficiency?
- Osteomalacia stiffness
- Spontaneous fractures
- Pica
- Hemoglobinuria
How do you treat phosphorous deficiency?
- Dietary supplementaion
- Sodium acid phosphate IV
- Fertilize pasture with phosphorous –> best
What other mineral deficiency is associated with phosphorus deficiency?
- Magnesium
What causes grass tetany?
- Hypomagnesemia
What are the clinical signs of grass tetany?
- Hyperexcitability, hyperesthesia
- ## Lateral recumbency with violent opisthotonus
How do you treat grass tetany?
- Mg hypophosphate
- Calcium
- Orally administered electrolyte paste
How do you prevent grass tetany?
- Mg supplementation, especially during winter
- Pasture topdressing with magnesium
- Phosphate
