milk fever


noun

Pathology. fever coinciding with the beginning of lactation, formerly believed to be due to lactation but really due to infection.
Veterinary Pathology. an acute disorder of calcium metabolism affecting dairy cows shortly after calving, causing somnolence and paralysis of the hind legs.

Origin of milk fever

First recorded in 1750–60

Example sentences from the Web for milk fever

British Dictionary definitions for milk fever

milk fever

noun

a fever that sometimes occurs shortly after childbirth, once thought to result from engorgement of the breasts with milk but now thought to be caused by infection
Also called: parturient fever, eclampsia vet science a disease of cows, goats, etc, occurring shortly after parturition, characterized by low blood calcium levels, paralysis, and loss of consciousness

Medical definitions for milk fever

milk fever

n.

A slight elevation of temperature following childbirth, possibly due to the establishment of the secretion of milk.