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Vetdle Archive

Archive Case #3: Bovine Ketosis

Cattle veterinary case - Easy - March 6, 2026

Clinical Clues

  1. A 5-year-old dairy cow is presented for reduced milk yield and poor appetite.
  2. She calved about 3 weeks ago and has gradually gone off her concentrate ration since then.
  3. The farmer reports she seems dull and is losing condition, although she is still drinking.
  4. On examination, the cow is quiet, mildly dehydrated, and has reduced rumen fill.
  5. A cow-side test detects elevated ketone bodies in the milk and urine.
  6. The problem has developed in early lactation during negative energy balance.

Diagnosis

Bovine Ketosis

Bovine ketosis is common in high-producing dairy cows in early lactation, when energy demands exceed intake. Clinical signs include reduced appetite, decreased milk production, weight loss, and ketonaemia or ketonuria.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this cattle case supports the provided diagnosis, Bovine Ketosis, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

  1. Clue 1: A 5-year-old dairy cow is presented for reduced milk yield and poor appetite.
  2. Clue 2: She calved about 3 weeks ago and has gradually gone off her concentrate ration since then.

Clues 3-4

  1. Clue 3: The farmer reports she seems dull and is losing condition, although she is still drinking.
  2. Clue 4: On examination, the cow is quiet, mildly dehydrated, and has reduced rumen fill.

Clues 5-6

  1. Clue 5: A cow-side test detects elevated ketone bodies in the milk and urine.
  2. Clue 6: The problem has developed in early lactation during negative energy balance.

Self-review prompts

  1. After clues 1-2, what evidence from this cattle case shaped your initial interpretation?
  2. When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Bovine Ketosis?
  3. How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Bovine Ketosis?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.