Milk Fever

MILK FEVER, also called parturient paresis and parturient hypocalcemia, is an aifection of cows occurring shortly after calving. It is characterized by paralysis of the motor and sensory nervous apparatus. Despite its name, milk fever usually is not accompanied by fever. There is always, however, a marked and rapid lowering of the blood calcium, so that the name "parturient hypocalcemia," which means too little calcium at calving time, is quite appropriate. Milk fever is one of the most common, widespread, and serious of the acute aflSiictions of dairy cows. It affects almost exclusively the high-producing better nourished animals. It very rarely occurs at the first calving; sometimes at the second calving; and most frequently after the birth of the third to seventh calf, or during the prime of life. The poorly nourished cow is seldom a victim, and difficult calving (dystocia) is hardly ever followed by milk fever. After the first attack, the trouble may recur at one or more subsequent calvings.