Milk Fever

Dozer1

Any ideas what I can do to help an suckler cow recover from Milk fever
she calved Friday morning early, un-assisted and calf got up and drank, she is an 09 HE cow loads of milk.

Went out Sunday morning and she was thrown out in the field, vet came gave her 2 bottles of Calcium and a few antibiotic's
No improvement during the day tried lifting her etc, vet came back Sunday evening 3 bottles this time 2 Calcium and 1 Magnesium and she got up an hour later.
She picked at hay and nuts and got fresh grass

Went out Monday and she was flat out again thought she was dead but vet came 2 more bottles and antibiotics and up she got.
She got a bottle of calcium drench yesterday and this morning aswell,
http://www.mayohealthcare.ie/oral_calcium_phosphorous_drench.html

he reckoned its a bad case of milk fever.
Went out later and she was thrown out again, but now when I straighten her up she can get up herself.
she was fine last and checked her at 6 and 8 this morning lying down sitting fine.

Wife rang at 11 she was thrown out again, went home pushed her to a sitting position and up she popped and walked around.

Got a call there now she's thrown out again.

is there something else I can give her?
Rang the vet and he said she's got everything he can give her as he treated her for fatty liver disease aswell.
Hate seeing her suffering, she just seems to fall over when she's lying down for so long

Mooooo

I reckon if she's throwing herself out like that she may have injured her back the first time she went down. Not a whole pile you can do bar sit her up when she throws herself out. Did the vet give an anti inflammatory? Could feed her some dairy nuts for calmag. If she does the splits shackles would help

Dozer1

Cheers Mooo vet looked at her walking when she was up said she was ok injury wise.
Yea she got a whole raft of stuff including anti inflammatory.
I don't mind lifting her but as I'm working off farm I can't be there to right her every time.
[font=Open Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]If I thought she'd get better I'd stick with it but if she's going to be like that indefinitely then its not feasible[/font]
[font=Open Sans, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/font]

OverRide

Patience man
It will take a bit of time but she should recover,she's hurted herself

Ok she's out flat a few times in the day ,but that's from trying to get up after she sits down
Just right her when you're there and keep at it
Don't be concerned that you're not there immediately after she falls again as being out flat for an hour or three won't harm her especially when with your help she's able to get up and walk around

whelan2

When she is sitting up put a small bale of straw behind her shoulder to keep her propped up

greysides

I think they're better lying flat rather than sitting up. Sitting up is putting a lot of weight on the bottom hind leg, lying flat is spreading the weight over a larger area. Sitting up but changing from side to side is best of all.

whelan2

Can you give too much calcium?

Mooooo

greysides wrote: »

I think they're better lying flat rather than sitting up. Sitting up is putting a lot of weight on the bottom hind leg, lying flat is spreading the weight over a larger area. Sitting up but changing from side to side is best of all.

The issue of changing from side to side is the issue then, bad enough with a holstein trying to turn a suckler is worse again. Dad kept a cow going turning from side to side for 3 weeks milked her once a day. She finally got up and had 5 more lactations after. She was a relatively small cow and it was spring heading to summer as opposed to this time of year. But then again there was us and a man to help elsewhere as well

freedominacup

greysides wrote: »

I think they're better lying flat rather than sitting up. Sitting up is putting a lot of weight on the bottom hind leg, lying flat is spreading the weight over a larger area. Sitting up but changing from side to side is best of all.

Any chance she has brain damage?

Dozer1

I've no problem righting her up but I can't stand seeing an animal suffering when I get to her she has the ground scratched from her legs and head.

if she's ok on her side for 5 hours then I'll chance her a few more days.
Calf is just about getting enough, tempted to wean him and dry her off but not sure if he's helping her.

Never wrestle with pigs

If you have sum straw pack it around her it might help as it's going to be a cold night. Try her with sum warm water to drink to.

To be honest she's probably for the hook if you get her going.

blue5000

How old is the cow?

atlantic mist

any chance its phosphorus deficiency, signs are the same as milk fever

greysides

You'd be best to ring your vet as he's seen her. Otherwise just perservere. Sometimes it takes time.
Magnesium daily might help and I'd continue the antibiotics but your own vet is best placed to give you the best advice.

Dozer1

Cow is 09, big lump of a whitehead and luckily quiet as a mouse.

Vet gave here phosphorous I'm pretty sure on Monday.

went out last night she was sitting up but wouldn't get up, but this morning she was up and walking around so hopefully she'll keep coming now.

thanks for the advice

Dozer1

well after a few more days or righting her she's came right the last day or so.
seems to have loads of milk. Great so see her up and about.

Mooooo

Dozer1 wrote: »

well after a few more days or righting her she's came right the last day or so.
seems to have loads of milk. Great so see her up and about.

Fair play, great when they come out of it. Keep an eye out when she or others come in heat as sometimes it won't take much to knock her again

poor farmer

I had a good friesian cow calved on friday (5th Calver) .She calved herself and got no hardship.
I usually get a few cases of milk fever ,late calving ones,fat ones, milky type ones.
A few years ago ,I started using calcitrace boluses . Any cow that's suspect gets one after calving.
I gave this cow a bolus but sat am she's down.I gave her 2 bottles of calcium under the skin and she got up after a few hours. She's a bit wobbly but hopefully ok.
Im disappointed that she got milk fever after getting the bolus.