Studies on Ketosis in Dairy Cattle. VII. The Efficacy of B Vitamins and Methionine in the Treatment of Ketosis

Following the report by CarlstrSm et at.(1) that ketosis in cattle could be cured by thiamine administration, a number of articles have appeared in the literature supporting the claim and thiamine has been given wide usage in the treatment of ketosis in ruminants.Unfortunately little or no chemical data have been reported to confirm the diagnosis of ketosis or the reported recovery of the animals following thiamine therapy.In the present investigation a study was made of the therapeutic value of thiamine and other B vitamins in the treatment of ketosis in dairy cows.Observations were also made on the effectiveness of methionine in the treatment of this condition.The B vitamins and methionine were furnished through the courtesy of Merck and Company. EXPERIMENTALOnly cows with uncomplicated ketosis were used in these studies.Diagnosis was made on the basis of the recognized signs and symptoms of ketosia in cows supported by data on blood glucose and acetone bodies.During the course of treatment every effort was made to maintain environmental conditions as they were when the condition developed.In particular no changes were made .infeeds or in feeding practices.Seven-cows with ketosis received thiamine alon~ or in combination with other B vitamins.The B vitamins were supplemented with glucose administration in two cases.Two cows with kctosis received methionine.Cow D.E. 73 (table 1) received 100 rag.thiamine hydrochloride per os daily for seven days,-followed by a mixture of B vitamins daily for 10 days.This included 100 rag.thiamine hydrochloride, 60 rag.riboflavin, 60 rag.pyridoxine, 1200 rag.nicotinic acid, and 1200 mg.calcium pantothenate.During this period there was only slight improvement, the blood glucose Received for publication October 20, 1945.