milk fever question

duckidaho · #1 07/14/12, 08:29 PM

HI, is it possible to have a mild case of milk fever? Our Jersey calved two days ago. Everything looks fine, but when we had to lead her from the back field she stumbled and went down a couple of times. She got right back up. So we went to the vet and got calcium jell, and calcium bolus. She was pretty vigorous when we tried to give her the bolus's. She seems no worse than she has been. We can't really afford an emergency weekend vet call unless she is really down. She seems fine except for a couple of stumbles. So anyway, can she just have a mild case of milk fever that will even out in a day or two? What else could cause clumsiness in a cow that just calved? Help

springvalley · #2 07/14/12, 09:17 PM

Yes it is possible, but more than likely a mild case of nerve pinch from calving. > Thanks Marc

ozark_jewels · #3 07/14/12, 09:25 PM

Yes, quite possible, especially if you catch early and treat. It would be a good idea to keep up the preventative treatment for a couple more days. Any type of weakness or weaving/stumbling in a fresh dairy cow is likely calcium related, but as Marc says, could be a pinched nerve also. Either way, keeping her on as even ground as possible and giving preventative calcium is a good idea for a couple days. Also, milking her out only partway, never stripping empty, will help also. After several days you can start milking out all the way.
How old is this Jersey?

Kato2010 · #4 07/15/12, 08:53 AM

If a cow pinches a nerve calving, she'll be weaker in the hind end. Not so much in the front. She'll walk in a stilted sort of a way, with her back legs farther apart than normal, and won't bend them in a normal way when she walks. She'll be wobbly when she's getting up, and then will stand very carefully for a couple of minutes while she get's her balance.

I second the suggestion about keeping her on even ground, and calcium supplements. You don't want her to hurt herself falling.

duckidaho · #5 07/15/12, 07:02 PM

talked to the very helpful vet on the phone who basically said keep up the calcium but don't get too worried unless she gets significantly worse. So far she looks just fine today. Thanks for your posts.