⚠️ Not veterinary advice. This guide is for education on minor issues only. If you are unsure, or your animal is in pain, call your veterinarian. In an emergency, call immediately.
Hardware disease warning signs in cows
Should I call the vet?
Typical signs: Reluctant to move, arched back, grunting, off feed, drop in milk.
Call your vet now if you see
- Fever, grunting
- Off feed
What you can do
- Call vet.
- Prevent with magnets and keeping wire/metal out of feed.
When to call the vet
Same day.
Normal adult vital signs (at rest)
Cow
| Vital | Normal | Concerning |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 100.4–102.8 °F | Over 103.5 °F or under 100 °F |
| Heart rate | 48–84 /min (calves 100–120) | Over 100 at rest (adult) |
| Respiration | 26–50 /min | Labored, open-mouth, grunting |
| Rumen | 1–2 contractions/min | None, or left side swollen |
| Cud chewing | Chews cud ~8 h/day | Stopped chewing cud |
| Hydration | Skin tent < 2 s; eyes not sunken | Sunken eyes, skin tents > 4 s |
Young animals differ. Learn each animal's healthy baseline and record it.
More from Should I Call the Vet?
All 51 topics · Cattle records · Parasites & toxic plants by state
Other cow topics
- Minor cuts & scrapes
- Rain rot / rain scald
- Eye irritation
- Parasites (worms / anemia)
- Diarrhea (scours)
- Urinary stones (male goats/steers)
- Lice / mange / skin irritation
- Polio (thiamine deficiency) warning signs
- Bloat
- Mild mastitis
- Pinkeye
- Foot rot
- Mild cough / respiratory (calves, kids)
- Milk fever / ketosis around calving/kidding
- Heat stress
Keep every record in one place
Herd Papers keeps vaccines, Coggins, vet and farrier visits, weight and body condition for each animal, and reminds you before things come due.
Free to start. No card needed.