Milk Fever - Ongoing problems

[Mark Bowles]

Hi all,
thought i would ask if anyone has had an animal that has had milk fever that has persisted after the first in the vein injection of calcium. We have a cow that calved her 3rd calf 3 days ago, came down with milk fever 24 hrs later,had the infusion, then came down with it again 24 hrs after that. She is currently struggling to sort herself out, so i am injecting a bottle under the skin twice in 6 hrs tonight and will do 1 bottle first thing tommorrow morning no matter what, as a precaution, ( we have to go to work during the day).
The vet says you cant really overdose on the calcium, within reason of course, i wondered if anyone has had this extended problem, or any other wonder cures, or how long i could be doing this for.
Also can the cow get permanent lumps where the infusion (is that the correct term) takes place on the neck, can you give it anywhere else?
Loads of questions, please feel free to chip in with ideas.
Thanks
Mark

[Duncan MacIntyre]

What composition calcium are you using? I think in the circumstances I would be using a bottle of Blue top CMP+D, ie Calcium 20%, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Dextrose, but it is not now licenced for cattle - ask what your own vet thinks. I find that in spring and autumn this works very much better than the plain calcium borogluconate, there may still be a red topped bottle available with 40% calcuim and some magnesium which is licensed for cattle but I like the stuff with the dextrose as well. I sometimes wonder if giving too much at once makes them more prone to go down when that stuff has gone out of the system, but I can't offer any firm evidence of that.

Duncan

[Mark Bowles]

Thanks Duncan,how did i know you would reply so fast!?
We used Calciject 40CM x 400ml red top, as you know thats Calcium and Magnesium, the vet did use CDM blue top which he described as a general booster but he did that straight after we had administered 40CM this morning. I see your point of over doing it,should i try and feed concentrate to stimulate appetite and add minerals that way as well?
Anyway its 11.30pm now so its off out into the field to do another bottle.
Thanks
Mark

[Duncan MacIntyre]

By all means give har plenty of cake and minerals now she has calved. It is theoretically not good to give too much extra calcium by mouth for a long period before calving as the cow becomes very dependent on the daily intake to keep calcium levels right, then has a day or two around calving when the intake is reduced, and because they have not had to withdraw any from the bone they cannot compensate for the extra needed at calving. This aspect becomes more important as cows get older and bones get more solid, with less surface area in contact with blood to reabsorb some when needed, hence the higher incidence in older cows.
Going back to the magnesium, the underlying magnesium levels are very very important in milk fever and anyone experiencing multiple milk fevers in dexters would be well advised to check magnesium status.

Duncan

[Mark Bowles]

Milk Fever update.
Its now day 6 and the cow continues to need calcium, this morning see had a calcium drench and the vet checked for a retained placenta after i had worries over this as another possible upset as we hadnt seen any evidence of cleansing.All was clear. She is now inside with the calf still with her and she hasnt stopped producing milk, so i suppose its just a matter of time.
Mark

[Mark Bowles]

Update for the records.
Day 7 she was a lot more, best described as with-it, she was movig around and not shivering as much so we held off with the extra calcium and she is now fine. She is still inside and the decision will be when to let her out, the weather has been so dodgy with wet grass,dewey mornings and changeable temps that we are looking for some dry stability befor risking it.
I just wonder what the after effects may be? Will she be more difficult to get back in calf? time will tell.
Mark

[Duncan MacIntyre]

Probability is with a suckler cow that she will perform reasonably well this year, and the problem may come when she calves next. Do not be tempted to give her a long rest as a long dry period is not a good thing.

I still think the maginesium levels are important and may be worth checking both in her and in other cows. It could well be a good idea to give her a couple of "Rumbul" magnesium bullets 10 days before next calving. You may also need to watch her the first time she comes bulling, another stress point.

Duncan

[Mark Bowles]

Thanks for your help Duncan, the weather forcast is better so i will turn her out this evening and keep a close eye on her.
Mark

[Mark Bowles]

News update,
all is fine now they are out at grass,no ill effects, apart from a £207 accumulative vets bill.Dont you just luv em.
Mark

[Sylvia]

Hi Mark

Glad your cow is OK, even if your wallet isn't! We had a ewe this year who had the calcium injections collapsed even more, vet said it was menigitis, I'm fairly certain it wasn't before the injections. Antibiotics for 10 days, several injections a day, trying to turn her and get her to stand, cutting grass and other titbits to tempt her. She was pretty much flat out for 3 weeks (unless we dragged her into a better position, 4 -5 weeks struggling to get up herself, 6 weeks back out in the paddock and looking normal -even started feeding her lamb again (which I had been bottle feeding). As you say, don't ya just love 'em!

[Mark Bowles]

Further update.
I lied, there are after effects, small hard sort of lumps under the skin where the magnesium was administered, i was aware of this possibility.Thats the end of her show carreer.
Mark

[moomin]

Cheer up Mark, the lumps will go in time. Been there, got the t-shirt etc.
Di

[Duncan MacIntyre]

I don't think Mark will look so good in a T-shirt with lumps.

Duncan

[Kathy Millar]

Mark would look good in anything:laugh: (I'm allowed to say these things because I'm elderly now)

Kathy who feels 80 when she gets up in the mornings:(