Attention! This is a potentially life-threatening condition for your Cow. Time is of the essence, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Rumen Acidosis
Grain Overload, Lactic Acidosis
Rumen acidosis is a gastrointestinal condition which occurs in cattle due to a lowered rumen pH. Cattle on forage-based diets have a normal rumen pH between 6-7. When it drops below 6, which is often the case when on grain-based, low-forage diets, it helps support the growth of lactic acid-producing bacteria leading to acidosis. The severity of the condition depends on the extent of the decrease in pH. A pH of less than 5.6 is associated with subacute, mild to moderate acidosis; where a pH of less than 5.2 is associated with an acute onset of severe acidosis. Acidosis is often associated with or leads to the development of laminitis, polioencephalomalacia, and liver abscesses.