Milk fever is an acute metabolic disorder of dairy cows around calving caused by a sudden drop in blood calcium as lactation begins. It typically affects high-producing older cows within a day or two of calving. Low calcium causes muscle weakness, recumbency, and, if untreated, circulatory collapse and death.
Milk fever (parturient hypocalcemia) is a common periparturient metabolic disease of dairy cattle. Despite the name, there is no fever; the problem is acutely low blood calcium.
The sudden calcium demand of colostrum and milk production at calving outstrips the cow's ability to mobilize calcium. Risk rises with age, high yield, and high-calcium dry-cow diets.
Early excitement and muscle tremor give way to weakness, a cold and dry muzzle, an S-shaped neck, sternal then lateral recumbency, bloat, and eventually coma. Calving difficulty and retained placenta may accompany it.
Clinical signs near calving and response to calcium therapy; confirmed by low serum calcium.
Intravenous calcium given slowly with cardiac monitoring produces rapid recovery; oral calcium supports milder cases.
Low-calcium or anionic (DCAD) dry-cow diets, adequate magnesium, and oral calcium at calving for high-risk cows.
This content is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you are worried about your pet, contact your veterinarian.
