Ketosis in Dairy Cattle. A Review

Clinical ketosis in ruminants, particularly cattle, is unique in that it is a primary metabolic disorder or syndrome, which is not secondary to any other recognized disease, such as is true of the ketosis often associated with diabetes in humans.What appears to have been ketosis or acetonemia in dairy cows was described as early as 1849, according to Udall (137).Several case reports were made before 1874 (27) describing symptoms which are so typical of what is now often referred to as the nervous type of the disease as to leave little doubt that at least some were identical to the cases of bovine ketosis which are now so prevalent.The condition was referred to as mania puerperalis.Chloral hydrate was employed in treatment.