Changes in blood ionized calcium and some other blood parameters before and after replacement of a left-sided...

Concentrations in ionized calcium and some other blood parameters including total calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphate, sodium, potassium, chloride, acid-base and hematological parameters of 15 German Holstein dairy cows were studied before and after surgical replacement of a left sided displaced abomasum. Mild hemoconcentration and hypochloremia were characteristic findings. These parameters tended to become normal within a few days after surgery. Hypocalcemia and low plasma potassium levels were not characteristic in this study, suggesting that hypocalcemia does not play an important role in the initiation of LDA. It can be supposed from this study that the severity of pathological blood findings depends more on the rate of malfunction of the abomasum than on the length of existence of LDA.