Milk fever should be treated with 500 milliliters of 23 percent calcium gluconate intravenously, followed by two oral calcium boluses given 12 hours apart. It is critical to underline that if cows do not respond to the calcium IV therapy, an oral calcium bolus should not be given. If necessary, additional calcium doses can be administered at 12-hour intervals. To prevent further temperature rises, it is important to keep the animal as cool as possible. This can be done by placing them in a draft-free area or by using a fan. Any part of the body can become infected, so make sure to treat the whole animal, not just one section. Cattle tend to hold their heads up when they are feeling hot, so taking their temperature through their noses is easiest done during this behavior. Calcium has many other uses for dairy farmers besides treating milk fever. It can also be used to treat bone fractures, coughing animals to help them heal faster after surgery, and as a component of heart medications. The dosage recommended for treatment of milk fever is 2 grams of calcium per pound of body weight. For example, if a cow weighs 600 pounds, she would receive 120 milligrams of calcium per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight. Because cows produce less than half a liter of blood each time they give milk, it is very important to give them enough calcium to ensure strong bones and teeth.