Relationship of methods of treatment to relapse rate and serum levels of calcium and phosphorous in parturient hypocalcaemia

Abstract

One hundred Holstein cows which were recumbent with parturient paresis were treated with either a calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, dextrose preparation (CADEX) or calcium borogluconate. Treatments were either injected intravenously (500 ml) or intravenously (500 ml) and subcutaneously (500 ml). Overall relapse rate was 22%; the lowest rate (4%) occurred in cows injected with CADEX i/v and s/c and the highest rate 40% was in cows injected i/v with calcium borogluconate. Increase in levels of serum calcium and inorganic phosphorus after 12 h was higher in cows injected s/c and i/v than i/v, but by 48 h levels were higher in cows injected i/v only. There was no evidence that addition of phosphorous to the treatment increased serum inorganic phosphorus or was beneficial in preventing relapse.