Review Note

       • Parturient paresis found sheep, goats and cows at parturition (birth) or following short period of lactation.

        • Puerperal hypocalcaemia in dogs (small breeds) and less commonly cats where the demand for calcium exceeds during lactation sucks lots of calcium out into milk and if this amount exceeds the amount of calcium the animal takes up in the diet then the plasma calcium levels starts to fall. (comes out of plasma first)

• Hypocalcaemic tetany in horses following extensive exercise

• Low dietary Ca or high phosphorus/calcium ratio (raw meat)

• Paresis or paralysis.

 

Milk fever - hypocalcaemia

 

Give the calcium sub cutaneous - why not into the vein tho?

Giving it under the skin is a good way to ensure that you get all the calcium into the cow - gives the cow less time to get up and run away. Giving into the jugular will give the cow instant relief. (obviously a good thing but if they run away too quickly can't give all the calcium requirements you need to give)