Ask the Vet

By Dr. Ken McMillan, Contributing Columnist

READER QUESTION:

I had a young cow that had been poor for a while but never really appeared sick. She had a young calf. I found her down in the pasture one day. She could not get up. We tried lifting her, but she would not stand. Do you have any idea what could have been wrong with her?

DR. MCMILLAN'S ANSWER:

Young cows that are nursing have very high nutritional needs. They are still growing, trying to make enough milk and hopefully getting ready to breed back in two or three months after calving. You must be sure these special-needs animals are getting adequate energy, protein and minerals.

Be on the lookout for intestinal parasites that suck nutrients and can compound any nutritional issues. If infestation is severe enough, anemia can result.

Mineral nutrition is also key. If mineral nutrition is not adequate, milk fever (low calcium) and/or grass tetany (low magnesium) can lead to a down cow.

There are many diseases that can lead to weight loss. Anaplasmosis, for example, can result in severe anemia and weight loss, and is probably more common in the fall of the year. Leptospirosis or ingestion of toxins, such as those that can cause acorn poisoning, can lead to liver or kidney disease, weight loss, weakness and eventually death.

I will not lead you down the garden path. A down cow in poor body condition is tough to treat. You really should have a veterinarian examine any down cow as soon as possible. The longer a cow is down, the harder it is to get her up. Some problems respond well to early treatment.

The key thing here is not to wait. Having your veterinarian examine this cow, pastures, your nutritional program and overall herd-health care may help you avoid similar problems in the future.

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Editor's Note:

Please contact your veterinarian with questions pertaining to the health of your herd or other animals. Every operation is unique, and the information in this column does not pertain to all situations. This is not intended as medical advice but is purely for informational purposes.

Write Dr. Ken McMillan at Ask the Vet, 2204 Lakeshore Dr., Suite 415, Birmingham, AL 35209, or email vet@progressivefarmer.com.

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