My cow won't eat grass for a week. What's causing this problem?

Loss of appetite can be due to any number of things as it is a very vague symptom. A heavy parasite load, foreign bodies in the rumen, illness, infections, viral diseases, etc can all be potential causes of loss of appetite. If you suspect a contagious illness, separating out the cow and calling out a vet to have her examined is best so the cause can be found and any spread of illness minimized.

She may have ingested a foreign body, plastic or other things, which may block her intestines. She may also have an infection or a displaced abomasum or an infection, or a bloodborne disease such as Babesiosis. Without a hands-on exam there is no way to find out what her problem is. You will need to get a veterinary doctor out to examine her. In the meantime. Make sure she drinks water and offer her her favourite food.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

It does sound as if your cow may have something stuck in her mouth or throat. If you’re able to gently feel around in her mouth with your hand it may be a good idea. If this is unsuccessful you probably need to contact a veterinarian to come out and have a look at her. Other things that can cause abnormal Swallowing/choking in a cow besides a foreign body include toxin ingestion and possibly a neurologic disorder. These are more serious and hopefully it’s not what’s going on. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

283 days is the typical gestation length for a cow, so if she is close to her due date and off her feed it may be that she is going into labor. You may notice strange behavior, swelling of the vulva, an increased amount of milk in her udders, and the beginning of discharge. However, if she seems in great distress, doesn't go into labor and produce a calf, or seems to be in labor and can't pass the calf, it would be best to seek veterinary care in person immediately as the calf may be stuck and need to be pulled, or there may be an underlying illness causing issue.

There are many possible reasons - spinal abscess, hip/pelvis injury, nerve damage, muscle weakness and even toxins such as lead can lead to such signs. A full neurological exam and blood tests to rule out infection and poisoning can be helpful to assess the possibility of recovery

hello and thank you very much for your question. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a good answer as to why your cow seeks out iron. Maybe it’s because they are deficient, they like the taste of it, or something else completely different. My best advice is to have a local veterinarian or agricultural extension agent come to your farm and perform a soil and hay analysis. this analysis will tell you whether the food you were feeding in the ground or in the hell he has sufficient minerals and vitamins so that you do not have to supplement. Thanks a lot for your question. I hope I’ve given you some help today.