Special Veterinary Pathology

MILK FEVER

Post parturient paresis, Parturient hypocalcemia, eclampsia

• It is a disorder of dairy cows and sheep
• Occurs shortly after parturition resulting in hypocalcemia
• Clinical signs are tetany, incoordination, muscular spasms, unconsciousness and death.
• Animal lies with head characteristically turned towards flank
• Common in heavy milking cows especially that is not fed sufficient amount of calcium and phosphorus during pregnancy
• Blood calcium is not maintained because of low parathyroid activity in animals suffering from milk fever and result in hypocalcemia.