What are the causes of postpartum paralysis in cows and what are the prevention and treatment methods?

Cows often experience paralysis after giving birth. This condition is called milk fever, a metabolic disorder in cows during calving, usually acute hypocalcemia. Below, Qin Nong Wang introduces the causes and prevention and treatment methods of postpartum paralysis in cows. Let's take a look.

1. Causes of the disease

It is mainly due to improper feed management during the cow's pregnancy. The feed is too monotonous, leading to malnutrition, a lack of trace elements such as calcium and phosphorus and vitamins, plus a lack of exercise or sunlight, resulting in low blood calcium levels in the cow. Over time, the cow becomes deficient in qi and blood, develops muscle soreness and numb limbs, and becomes paralyzed. In addition, postpartum calcium regulation disorders can also cause low blood calcium levels. There is also thyroid dysfunction, which leads to decreased thyroid hormone secretion, causing anemia in multiple organs, which in turn leads to brain hypoxia and anemia, causing central nervous system disorders and inducing this disease.

2. Clinical symptoms

This disease generally occurs within one week after calving. If the disease is acute, it can occur within one to two hours after calving. In the early stage of the disease, the cow begins to have brief excitement, and its response to external stimuli is relatively sluggish, followed by listlessness, muscle spasms, difficulty moving, and weakness in the limbs, and finally it falls to the ground and is unable to get up. Some sick cows lie down with their head, neck, and limbs stretched out, and soon fall into a coma, lose consciousness, have a drop in body temperature, stop gastrointestinal peristalsis, and lose control of urination and defecation.

3. Treatment methods

There are many treatment methods, such as glucose-calcium therapy, in which the cow is given an intravenous injection of calcium gluconate and glucose solution to rapidly increase the cow's blood glucose and blood calcium concentrations. This is a specific method, and those with milder symptoms will quickly get up. Calcium, vitamins, and cod liver oil can also be added to the feed or drinking water for feeding. After one week, the effect can be seen. There is also the udder inflation method, which is to pump air into the cow's udder to increase udder air pressure and reduce the amount flowing into the blood, thereby increasing blood calcium levels. This method is the most effective and simplest method for treating postpartum paralysis in cows.

4. Preventive measures

Strengthen feeding management and provide high-quality forage and feed. Adding an appropriate amount of calcium substances to the feed before calving can play a very good preventive role. Increase the cow's amount of exercise, especially in the late stages of pregnancy, and often let it bask in the sun to promote the synthesis and absorption of calcium and vitamins. Control the amount of nursing within a few days after calving, and do not feed all the milk to the calf at once.

The above are the causes and prevention and treatment methods of postpartum paralysis in cows brought to you by Qin Nong Wang. The content about postpartum paralysis in cows is introduced here. If you want to learn more, please stay tuned to Qin Nong Wang.