Consequential diseases
The impairment of the musculature and nerves due to milk fever can affect a wide variety of areas in the cow's body: If the skeletal muscles do not function properly, the cow will stand unsteadily or lie down. Due to the unsteady gait, she will go to the feed table less often and thus reduce her feed intake. This leads to energy deficiency, fat meltdown and eventually ketosis.
Likewise, the risk of injury increases if the skeletal muscles do not function properly. The muscle at the end of the teat can also be affected by dairy fever. If this muscle does not close properly, germs can enter the udder and cause mastitis. The whole digestive system depends on an intact calcium supply because it consists of layers of muscle. If these do not function optimally, digestive problems can occur.
The abomasal displacement also finds its cause here. The uterine muscles are central to the birth and postpartum process. If these do not function properly, it can lead to weakness in labour and postpartum behaviour. Possible consequences are uterine infections, birth injuries and fertility problems. These secondary diseases strain and weaken the immune system. Pathogens therefore find it very easy to cause damage. This connection is also suspected in the case of the claw disease dermatitis digitalis (Mortellaro).