Diseases of Growing Lambs - ill thrift

Question 1

[production @ grass] What is the growth rate for lambs (g/day)?

Answer 1

100-400 g/day

Question 2

[production @ grass] When are lambs weaned?

Answer 2

12-20 weeks old

Question 3

What is target daily DM intake for growing lambs?

Answer 3

2.5-3.5% BW

Question 4

What are 4 common trace element deficiencies in lambs?

Answer 4

cobalt, selenium, copper, iodine

Question 5

What are CS of cobalt deficiency?

Answer 5

inappetence, ill thrift, poor wool, ocular discharge, pallor of MM, [affects most or all lambs in flock]
-but these CS aren’t likely to be obvious.

Question 6

How do you diagnose a cobalt deficiency?

Answer 6

CS, hx, liver cobalt -(body storage - last few months), Serum B12 (dietary intake), response to supplementation

Question 7

Treatment of Cobalt deficiency?

Answer 7

short term supplements (injectable B12 or oral Co salts)
Long term = boluses or bullets
Soil or pasture dressing

Question 8

What it the function of selenium?

Answer 8

component of glutathione peroxidase - helps w/ immune response, protects cell membranes, destroys peroxides

Question 9

In what situations would selenium requirements be higher?

Answer 9

When: legumes fed, S intake higher, diet high in heavy metals, Vit E is low, and soil is acidic (lowers availability)

Question 10

When and with who do you see white muscle disease?

Answer 10

Growing lambs up to 15 months, Autumn

Question 11

How do you diagnose Se deficiency?

Answer 11

Hx, response to supplementation, Blood GSHPx (green tube, 4 samples), serum and liver selenium

GSHPx = glutathione peroxidase enzyme

Question 12

What is tx for selenium deficiency?

Answer 12

short term = oral or SC injection - Na selenate
long term = bolus supplements (adults), inj (juveniles)
soil or pasture dressing (dubious value)

repeat treatments can be toxic!

Question 13

What are clinical signs for acute selenium toxicity?

Answer 13

Toxic damage to CV system, dyspnoea, recumbency, diarrhea, death

Question 14

What are CS for chronic selenium toxicity?

Answer 14

Non-specific, dull, ill-thrift, anemia, brittle hooves (sloughing in extreme cases)

Question 15

What are four diseases/problems caused by copper deficiency?

Answer 15

Swayback, ill-thrift, steely wool, anemia

Question 16

How to dx Cu deficiency?

Answer 16

CS, hx, plasma concentration Cu > serum conc. Cu (10 samples), conc. Cu in liver (biopsy or slaughterhouse), response to supplementation

Liver is more useful for Cu (show long term)

Question 17

Where would you check conc. of Cu if looking for deficiency vs toxicity?

Answer 17

Deficiency = liver and blood
Toxicity = kidney

Question 18

How do you treat Cu deficiency?

Answer 18

Pasture top-dressing, lick blocks (variable usage), in-feed, BOLUS (best way to go), drenches, injectables

Question 19

CS of acute Cu toxicity (24 hours post)

Answer 19

severe gastroenteritis, colic signs, diarrhea, collapse, death

Question 20

CS of chronic Cu toxicity

Answer 20

(acute hemolytic anemia), jaundice, anorexia, +/- diarrhea

[stored in liver, and suddenly too much - suddenly released and leads to these CS]

Question 21

What causes pneumonic pasterurellosis in lambs?

Answer 21

Mannheimia hemolytica

Question 22

Name 4 common respiratory diseases of growing lambs. Which is the most common?

Answer 22

Pneumonic pasteurellosis (most common), atypical pneumonia (mycoplasma ovipneumonia), acute viral pneumonia, parasitic pneumonia (dictyocaulus filaria)

Question 23

What is transmission of pneumonic pasteurellosis?

Answer 23

Infection by aerosol, carried on tonsils

survives in water for days/weeks

Question 24

What are the CS of pneumonic pasteurellosis?

Answer 24

Depression (separation from flock), inappetence, hypernoea / dyspnoea, pyrexia, congested MM, serous nasal and ocular discharge 
Sudden death (w/in 12 hours)
probably many lambs affected

Question 25

Diagnosis of pneumonic pasteurellosis?

Answer 25

CS, PM, isolation from tracheobronchial washes, serum Ab possible (need to do paired Ab, but not usually done)

(isolation is difficult from tx animals), (tonsillar and nasal orgnaisms not always pathogens)

Question 26

CS of atypical pneumonia?

Answer 26

chronic / persistent / soft cough, mucopurulent nasal discharge, mild pyrexia
(generally not investigated)

Question 27

What is a cause of pathogenic parasitic pneumonia, and 2 causes of non-pathogenic parasitic pneumonia?

Answer 27

Pathogenic = dictyocaulus filaria
Non-pathogenic = muelleris capillaris, protostrongylus rufescense

Question 28

parasitic pneumonia:

CS, when?, and is death common?

Answer 28

CS = chronic cough, ill thrift, nasal discharge
Time = autumn (lambs/yearlings)
death is uncommon unless 2ndry infection

Question 29

What are the treatments for respiratory disease?

Answer 29

• Abx (oxytet & tilmicosin)
• Anthelmintics
• NSAIDs (reduces inflammation in lungs and increases appetite)
• Vaccination for pasteurellosis!!
• Housing (don’t mix age groups)
• Avoid stress
• Ventilation and reduce stocking density

Question 30

4 common causes of lameness in growing lambs

Answer 30

Polyarthritis (erysipelas), Foot rot, Rickets, Fractures

Question 31

Risk factors for urolithiasis?

Answer 31

Animals on concentrates or those w/ limited water.

Question 32

How to prevent urolithiasis?

Answer 32

adding ammonium chloride or salt to diet

Question 33

DDx for urolithiasis?

Answer 33

balanoposthitis

Question 34

surgical Tx for urolithiasis

Answer 34

1. veriform appendage amputation
2. perineal urethrostomy (not for breeding animals - male pees like female)
3. tube cystotomy (GA or sedation + local, empty bladder of stones, flush tube, leave in for 7-9 days, Abx + NSAIDs)