Special Veterinary Pathology

HYPOMAGNESIMIC TETANY

Two clinical syndrome are associated with hypomagnesmia

• Hypomagnesaemia in calves
• Grass tetany in adult cattle
• Hypomagnesaemia in calve occurs in animals raised on low magnesium diet usually milk
• Clinical signs are excitement, tetany, convulsions, death
• Grass tetany in adult cattle occurs when animals are fed exclusively on lush and succulent grasses or young growing wheat.
• They suffer from tetanic convulsive seizures
• Cows in advanced pregnancy first show symptoms
• High dietary intake of potassium by ruminants leads to reduced absorption of magnesium.