My cow is constipated for 24 hours and won't eat. What should I do?

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.

There isn't much you can do. Due to the chambered stomach, it may stay in the there for a long time and cause no issue, pass out into the stomach and out in feces, or it may get stuck. If Queen starts having a decreased appetite or acts ill in any way, you can try giving her mineral oil to lubricate the GI tract, but if she is off her feed for longer than 24 hours or there aren't any feces produced, she should be evaluated by a vet.

Rumen acidosis is the most likely but some other options are: Not enough feed available Overcrowding/competition Illness Heat stress I don't know what is going on but you need to have a vet out to check her.

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.

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!

I'm sorry to hear Ammu isn't doing well. I would continue to follow the treatment your vet recommended, and if she doesn't urinate or defecate, or seems in severe distress/ill, have the vet back out again to take another look and see if additional treatment is needed.