Vetdle Archive Case #33: Bovine Hypomagnesaemia

Clinical Clues

An adult beef cow is found excitable and uncoordinated in a lush pasture paddock.
The farmer reports the animal became hyperaesthetic and then developed muscle tremors.
On examination the cow is stiff, anxious, and intermittently convulsing.
Several recently moved cows in the group are at risk under the same grazing conditions.
Serum magnesium concentration is low.
Acute magnesium deficiency in grazing cattle can cause neuromuscular hyperexcitability, tremors, and sudden death.

Diagnosis

Bovine Hypomagnesaemia

This case is most consistent with Bovine Hypomagnesaemia because the cow has acute hyperexcitability, tremors, and low serum magnesium while grazing high-risk pasture. The most important clues are the neuromuscular signs, pasture association, and confirmed hypomagnesaemia, which strongly support grass tetany.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

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

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

Clue 1: An adult beef cow is found excitable and uncoordinated in a lush pasture paddock.
Clue 2: The farmer reports the animal became hyperaesthetic and then developed muscle tremors.

Clues 3-4

Clue 3: On examination the cow is stiff, anxious, and intermittently convulsing.
Clue 4: Several recently moved cows in the group are at risk under the same grazing conditions.

Clues 5-6

Clue 5: Serum magnesium concentration is low.
Clue 6: Acute magnesium deficiency in grazing cattle can cause neuromuscular hyperexcitability, tremors, and sudden death.

Self-review prompts

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

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.