diseases of lambs Flashcards
lamb mortality
10-30%
80-90% within 1wk, 70% 3wks
mostly related to management
what do lambs die from?
abortion/weakborn
dystocia
hypothermia
starvation/hypoglycemia
septicemia
pneumonia
d+
predation
abortion
60-70% infectious cause
toxoplasma, chlamydia abortus, campylobacter fetus
dx- fresh placenta
toxoplasma
late winter/early spring
oral transmission
dx- placental lesions (white on cotyledons)
tx- decoquinate
chlamydia abortus
C/S- fever, abortion, stillbirth 2 wks before lambing
dx- serology, IFA
tx- tetracycline
vx- bacterin in US
campylobacter fetus
contaminated water/feed
C/S- abortion, weak lambs born dead.
thick placenta, grey cotyledons, fetal liver necrotic foci
abortion investigation protocol
- separate animal
- remove fetus and placenta wear gloves
- avoid contact if pregnant
- keep cool
- monitor rest of flock
- establish intervention level w producer
dystocia/mismothering
malposition/multiple labs
lambing in group housing
preventing ewe from licking lamb
stealing by another ewe
iatrogenic
hypothermia
1 cause of death in first 48h
lack of fleece, being born wet, twins/triplets, lack of shelter, thin mother, ill dam
hypothermia tx
warm colostrum, external heat, dextrose 20% 10ml/kg
milk replacer 50ml/kg q6-8h
avoid drafts
hypoglycemia
plugged teats, hard udder (OPP), poor bonding, congenital, lg litter
tx- warm, dextrose 10ml/kg 20%
colostrum/FTPI
delivery of sufficient quantity, good quantity
adequate absorption
problems with colostrum quality/quantity
quality: young, sick, poorly vxed, thin dam
availability: prepartum leakage, nursing of another lamb
ingestion: weak neonate, competition w other lambs
absorption: weakness, sickness, hypothermia, dehydration
colostrum requirements
50-75ml/kg 3X in first 24h, first by 2h- increases w cold
goats- 200ml/kg/d-280
IgG >12g/L
dx: TP>5.5, GGT, BRIX
colostrum management
source from dam, other ewe, cow
frozen in 2-3oz, feed w 8fr tube and 60cc syringe
what diseases are transmitted through colostrum
OPP, CAE, Johnes, bacteria
colostrum sterilization
pasteurization- high temp for 15s (can cause immune denaturation)
heat tx- 56C for 1h to block viruses
57C 10min- inactivate virus
colostrum supplements
replacer- 35g IgG, feed within 1h of birth
supplements to add IgG
septicemia
FTPI
acute collpase, temp abnormal, congested MM, d+, swollen joints
omphalophlebitis
fever, lethargy, anorexia
leads to septicemia, peritonitis, UTI, arthritis
tx- abx, supportive care
prevention w sanitation, navel dipping, colostrum
spider lamb syndrome
deformity of legs/spine by 4-6wks
mutation in FGFR3
angular limb deformities, scoliosis, facial deformities
long legs at birth, roman nose
cache valley virus
causes pregnancy failure/neonatal malformation
transmitted by mosquitoes, endemic in NA
floppy kid syndrome ddx, dx, tx
metabolic acidosis w/o dehydration, normal at birth
sudden flaccid paralysis 3-10d, apathy
ddx: white muscle disease, enterotoxemia, sepsis
dx- low pH, bicarb, high lactate and AG
reversible
pneumonia
1-3 wks
mannheimia, pasteurella
fever/tachypnea
tx- ceftiofur 1mg/kg, tetracycline 5mg/kg
