Milk Fever.

[Ranch Girl]

We have a jersey mix nurse cow, and she had a calf about 2 weeks ago, and Sunday night we came home and she was laying down and wouldn't get up. Today we had to vet out and he gave her some shots, but she still isn't up yet!!!! Is there anything else that we can do? Thanks. Ranch Girl

 

[herfrds]

Have you tried to lift her with a tractor and straps?

Now we have never had this problem, but listening to what some older guys have said is to try lifting her.

Is she laying on her chest or side?

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Are you sure it's milk fever? Could it be a DA? (displaced abomasum)

How is she acting?

 

[Ranch Girl]

Yes, we tryed lifting her up, but she won't even try to get up! She can still eat and drink. She is just laying down and she is really weak. We tred hot - shoting her but that didn't work. And it doesn't help that it's muddy out there and she's in the mud. We gave her some stuff this morning like the vets said but like I said she doesn't even try'n get up.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Yes, we tryed lifting her up, but she won't even try to get up! She can still eat and drink. She is just laying down and she is really weak. We tred hot - shoting her but that didn't work. And it doesn't help that it's muddy out there and she's in the mud. We gave her some stuff this morning like the vets said but like I said she doesn't even try'n get up.

It definitely doesn't sound like milk fever. Did either you or the vet check for a DA?

 

[Ranch Girl]

The vet said it was not just milk fever it was something else. So we dunno what?
Please pray for her she is our lil' baby cow. I sure hope she gets better ... keep your fingers crossed for her please.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

My hunch is that it is Ketosis as this often happens to cows that have calved a few weeks ago. Milk fever happens right after the cow has calved, not 2 weeks later, because she has to use the calcium reserves in her system to have enough for colostrum production, and when she is drained of her calcium reserves (particularly from the bloodstream, is she's been fed high calcium feed right up til she calved), she goes down.

Ketosis or Acetonia, on the other hand, is an illness related to glucose deficiency, and occurs when cattle, like your Jersey cow, has more demands for glycogen and glucose than what can be met by her metabolism and diet. She then must metabolize her fat to make up the difference.

What condition is she in? And is she acting normal or anything?

The other possibility is she could have some sort of nerve damage that affects her back legs, and is probably why she won't get up.

 

[Ranch Girl]

Thanks everyone for your help, but she died Friday morning ...
We tryed everything but she had just given up, she would never even try.
But we still have her calf "Buttercup" she looks just like her momma did.
She was the sweetest little cow, but she is in a better place now.
I will always remember Betsy.

 

[herfrds]

Sorry to hear that Ranch Girl. It always really stinks when you lose an animal and it always seems to happen to your favorite one.

 

[Ranch Girl]

Thanks, it just seemed like everything was going wrong when Betsy was sick. Because the vet couldn't come out cause he was sick and nobody wanted to come out to help and just everything like that!