C.A.H.L.
- YOUR PARTNER IN ANIMAL HEALTH
KETOSIS
Ketosis
(Acetonaemia) is a metabolic disease of milking cows occurring within
the first few weeks after calving.
CAUSE
In the case of ketosis there is a shortage of sugar (glucose) in the
cow's liver, muscles and blood. All cows have very low reserves of rapidly
available energy, and this is stored in the form of glucose and glycogen
in the liver and muscles. When the energy demand becomes really high,
as in peak milk production, the total energy required may be more than
food can provide. This causes hypoglycaemia or deficiency of sugar in
the blood. The cows then draw on the reserves in the liver and muscles.
Because these reserves are low the cows draw on stored body fat to keep
up with milk production. When this stored body fat is being broken down
for energy in the liver, certain substances known as ketone bodies are
formed and these ketones accumulate in the blood to produce the typical
bad breath-smell. One group of ketone bodies is called acetones; hence
the name acetonaemia.
SYMPTOMS
Reduction in appetite and loss of condition are seen over a number of
days. Concentrates are rejected, but cows will continue to eat hay or
straw. Appearance is dull and after a few days a sharp smell of acetone
may be detected from the breath, milk and urine. Temperature is normal
and the faeces tend to be firm but milk production, while depressed,
will continue. If untreated, there will be a considerable loss of condition
and the milk yield will eventually fall. There is a nervous form of
the disease which is extremely rare. This is blindness, shivering, hyperexcitability,
and a mad type of uncontrollable licking. Ketones can be confirmed by
a simple colour test on urine or milk. It is recommended that the diagnosis
be left to a veterinary surgeon.
TREATMENT
The aim is to elevate glucose levels as quickly as possible. Intravenous
injections of Dextrose 40% combined with drenches of a laxative like
treacle mixed with glucose, or glycerol will give an immediate response.
Instead, drenching with glycerine, 1/2 pint twice daily for two days
followed by 1/4 pint twice daily on the 3rd day is quite effective.
Another approach is to use intramuscular injections of glucocorticoid
hormones (dexamethasone or predisolone)followed by glycerine as above.
The best approach is to let a veterinary surgeon treat the first suspected
case.
