Blood Changes of Spontaneously Ketotic Cows Before and Four Hours After Administration of Glucose, Xylitol, 1,2-Propanediol, or Magnesium Propionate

Concentrations in blood of glucose, acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids, insulin, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium of 19 spontaneously ketotic cows and 16 normal lactating cows were compared. Acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and free fatty acids were higher and glucose and magnesium were lower in ketotic cows than in normal cows. At 4 h after intravenous administration of 250 g glucose, 3-hydroxybutyrate was decreased and calcium increased. At 4 h after intraruminal administration of 400 ml of 1,2-propanediol, aeetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and magnesium were decreased and glucose increased. Intravenous administration of 100 g of xylitol or intraruminal administration of 188 g of magnesium propionate appeared effective to decrease ketones and to increase glucose in blood.