Metabolic — Bovine

Periparturient hypocalcemia (milk fever) is treated with slow IV calcium while auscultating the heart, since rapid administration causes fatal arrhythmias. Jerseys and older multiparous cows are at highest risk. This is ketosis of early lactation; oral propylene glycol is a glucose precursor and the cornerstone of treatment, sometimes with IV dextrose initially. Underlying diseases such as displaced abomasum should be ruled out. Grass tetany occurs in lactating cows on lush, potassium-rich, magnesium-poor spring pasture and causes hyperexcitability and convulsions, in contrast to the flaccid recumbency of hypocalcemia. Treatment is careful IV calcium-magnesium solutions.