Metabolic diseases of Cattle and Buffalo 

Downer cow syndrome        

	Causes
	Downer cows are unable to rise after two injections of calcium preparation indicating persistant hypocalcaemia. There is low phosphorus level. There may be of low blood potassium level.  This is often seen in association with hypophosphataemia. A low level of blood magnesium has been incriminated as cause but it may develop along with low level of calcium. Muscular injury due to too much confinement in the byre, obesity, over feeding during dry period and too much compression of limbs. Following parturient paresis a cow may develop downer syndrome due to nerve injuries and over stretching of nerves or due to pressure on nerves while in recumbency. The damage of the heart muscle may be attributable to repeated dosing with calcium preparations in milk fever condition. Well fed highly obesed cows during later part of pregnancy very often suffer from a condition known as fat cow syndrome which predispose to downer condition.

	Clinical symptoms
	Cow is inability to rise and remains in recumbent position. On stimulation the cow either makes little attempt or no attempt to rise or simply unable to rise even with treatment for milk fever. Cow remains bright and alert.  Appetite, rumination, defecation and urination are usually normal. Temperature is usually normal but may turn towards sub-normal range in the terminal stage disease. The affected cow usually crawls around utilizing the forelimbs whereas hind limbs remain in flexed position.  This type of stance is ascribed as "creeper cow" A downer cow which continues to remain down for more than 7 days ends fatally.

Preventive measures
We should provide most comfortable bedding prior to calving and in advanced stage of pregnancy. Sand is the ideal bedding material. Early detection and treatment of milk fever. Recently calved animals should be monitored at least 48 hours after parturition for the occurrence of milk fever signs. Recumbent animals should be treated as soon as possible and not delayed for more than 1 hour. Cow should not be mated with a heavy bull.  The weight of the bull should be within the weight bearing capacity of the cow.  Otherwise there is risk of paralysis and fracture of hip bones. The cow should be bred with a bull as per its size as a big calf in a small cow will invite dystokia problem leading to calving paralysis. Cow should not be made over fatty through too much feeding during advance pregnancy. Cow should be made to stand within a short time following parturition. Parenteral Vitamin D3 should be given in milk fever prone cow during pregnant period. Low calcium and high phosphorus diet should be given to stimulate parathyroid gland and thus to avoid hypocalcaemia. If possible cow of a dairy farm should be brought under metabolic profile test to pinpoint the deficit and to make good use of it.	Early calcium treatment for milk fever
	Soft bedding for calved animals

	Control measures
Calcium and Magnesium Injection	Recumbent animals should be treated as soon as possible and not delayed for more than 1 hour. Provision of comfortable bedding materials for recumbent animals. Arrangement of soft bed should be made. Attempt should be made to roll the cow from side to side to minimize the extent of ischemic necrosis. Lift the cow and frequent turning should be made.  Cow should be turned at least at 3 hours interval. Attempt should be made to lift the cow on its fore legs by using body slings. Hip lifters may be used for lift the downer animals. With the help of body slings, the animals should be allowed to stand for 20-30 minutes and then lowered down. This should be repeated several times a day. Animal’s both fore and hind limbs should be massaged two times per day. Downer animals should be milked normally and the udder kept clean by washing with germicide soap before milking and post milking teat dips should be applied. Re-placement therapy with Calcium, Phosphorus, magnesium, Glucose containing preparations can be used parenterally by qualified veterinarian. Infective causes should be brought under antibiotic coverage. Physiotherapy by adopting muscle massage may be made to restore muscle activity of the limbs.
Massaaging the legs
Sling support