Abstract
An 11-year-old nursing Japanese Black cow was admitted to the Large Animal Treatment Center of Kitasato University, for treatment of astasia. She had been treated for anorexia by a local veterinarian 7 days earlier, but had developed astasia 60 days after calving. Anorexia, depression, dehydration and hard stools were seen at the initial visit, and blood tests showed severe hypocalcemia (4.8mg/dl) and hypomagnesemia (0.6mg/dl). Continuous intravenous infusion of a fluid containing mainly calcium and magnesium solutions was performed, and a gastrointestinal drug was administered orally. As a result, the hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia improved gradually, the animal stood up on the 11th day after admission, the symptoms improved, and normal feed intake and water intake were restored by the 19th day. This case suggests that nursing cows of advanced age can develop hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia even after the immediate post-partum period.
