Diseases of the peri-parturient ewe Flashcards by Gethin Edwards

What are metabolic diseases around lambing time?

Pregnancy toxaemia / twin lamb disease
Hypocalcaemia
Hypomagnesaemia

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What problems are seen with ewes around lambing time?

Mastitis
Dystocia (over feeding)
Maternal behaviour

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What can increase lamb mortality during lambing time?

Low birth weight
Poor colostrum
Poor milk production
infection - watery mouth / joint ill

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What BCS should ewes be pre-tupping? why?

3 - 3.5
Increase BCS = increase number of eggs produced

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What are problems of ewes if underfed during pregnancy?

Small placenta = low lamb birth weights
*Decreased mammary development

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What are the aims of feeding late pregnancy?

To support fetal growth.
To support mammary tissue development and colostrum production.
To maintain ewe health- prevent pregnancy toxemia (ketosis).
To ensure the birth of strong, healthy, lambs of proper birth weight

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How should you sort feeding groups pre lambing?

Separate singles, twins + triplets
BCS
Keep young ewes separate

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How should you ration ewe pre lambing?

*Ad lib hay / silage
* Maximum 1kg per day + 0.5kg per feed

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What are risks if lambs don’t get enough colostrum?

Hypothermia
Starvation
increased risk of Infection

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Why might you have thin ewes around lambing?

Inadequate nutrition
Ewe teeth (broken mouth)
Age
Concurrent diseases - worms, fluke, lameness

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What problems can be seen with forage around lambing?

Poor quality
Wet, acidic, mouldy, low feed value
Inadequate quantity
Insufficient trough space

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What problems can be seen with concentrates during lambing?

Inadequate trough space
Poor quality (protein)
Too much (acidosis)

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What problems are seen with fat ewes around lambing?

*More prone to -
* Dystocia (lambing difficulty)
* Pregnancy toxaemia
* Prolapse
* Large fetuses (dystocia)
* Oversized lambs = higher mortality

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What is pregnancy toxaemia?

Energy deficient
Hypoglycaemia
Hyperketonaemia

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What risk factors can increase risk of pregnancy toxaemia?

– Late Pregnancy (last 6 weeks)
– Thin ewes (<BCS 2.0)
– Fat ewes (>BCS 4.0)
– Stress
– Broken mouth
– Concurrent disease ( fluke,
worms)
– Multiple foetuses
– Inadequate diet
– Change in diet

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What are clinical signs of pregnancy toxaemia?

– Separate from group
– Inappetant
– Central blindness (Positive PLR negative menace)
– Tremors face and ears
– Hyperaesthesia
– Other neuro disturbances ( head pressing, star gazing, persistent drinking)
– Progress to recumbency
– Death
– 0-10 days

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How is pregnancy toxaemia diagnosed?

Clinical signs
BOHB >1.1 mmol/l = abnormal / subclinical
BOHB >3mmol/l = clinical signs

(beta-hydroxybuturate)

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How can you treat pregnancy toxaemia?

Separate + provide highly palatable feed
Fresh food + water
IV glucose - 50-100ml 40%dextrose
Propylene glycol
Calcium supplementation
NSAID - meloxicam

**Flock tx = ad lib treacle / molasses **

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How can you prevent pregnancy toxaemia?

Adequate feeding
Avoid sudden changes in diet
monitor blood ketone body levels
Don’t keep old, broken mouth ewes
Manage diseases

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What causes hypocalcaemia?

Same pathogenesis as milk fever hypocalcaemia in cattle
– Increased demand of foetus and colostrum production for calcium
– ability to absorb calcium for gut and kidneys,
– mobilise calcium from bones
– Mediated by Parathyriod Hormone and 1,25 hydroxy vitamin D
Usually pre-lambing 6 weeks onwards (but not always can be early lactation)

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What are risk factors of hypocalcaemia?

Often stress induced
– handling, gathering for vaccinations etc
– change in diet pasture, snow, water deprivation,
Other risk factors
– Acidosis cereal diet
– Older ewes
– Rapid growing lush pasture

What are clinical signs of hypocalcaemia?

Weakness and excitement
Progress to recumbent
Dilated pupils, constipated, bloated, comatose + death

How is hypocalcaemia treated?

Slow IV calcium = rapid response
Sub cut calcium (warm = slow response

What are clinical signs of hypomagnesaemia / staggers?

rapid onset, neurological symptoms
Excitable, tremors, convulsions + death
Found dead

How can you diagnose + treat staggers?

* Dx = blood sample (<0.2mmol/l) * Tx = Mg So4 Sub cut ONLY * or IV calcium

What are differential diagnoses of sick / recumbent ewe during lambing time?

* Hypocalcaemia * Pregnancy toxaemia * Hypomagnesaemia * Listeria * Mastitis * Metritis * Bloat * Pasturellosis * Poisoining * Acidosis

What percentage of ewe deaths occur during lambing period?

* 75% of ewes

What can you use when dealing with dystocias?

*Gloves *Lubrication *NSAIDS *Epidurals *Antibiotics *Colostrum

How would you perform a simple embryotomy?

* Lots of lubrication * Remove fore limbs * Cut through skin round leg above carpus + up towards elbow, undermine attachment shoulder to chest wall, pull leg off + repeat

What should be looked at with dystocia related deaths?

* Age of ewes * Breed of ram * Condition of ewes * Hygiene when lambing * Hygiene of pens * Staff numbers * Staff training

What are indications / contraindications for caesareans?

Indications * Over sized lamb * Ringwomb * Vaginal prolapse * Foetal monster * Malpresentation Contraindications * Rotten lamb / smelly fluids - embryotomy best

What should be considered with caesareans?

* broad spectrum antibiotics - Pen & Strep * NSAID * Lateral recumbancy - left side up * Clip, scrub, local + drape

What are you anaesthesia options with caesareans?

* Local infiltration - procaine * Inverted L block * Paravertebral * + sacro-coccygeal epidural

Where + how would you perform your incision with a c-section?

* Last rib + wing of ileum - half way 10-15cm below transverse processes * 15cm incision * External, internal abdominal oblique + transverse abdominis + then enter peritoneum (NOT rumen) * Grasp uterine horn, incise + remove lamb.

How should you suture you uterus, peritoneum + muscles + skin?

* Uterus = continuous inverting pattern with cat gut * Peritoneum + muscles = continuous simple with cat gut * Skin = ford interlocking, simple interrupted or cruciate mattress with Nylon

What are clinical signs of metritis?

* Dull, depressed, recumbant * Toxaemia congested mucous membranes * Red/ brown or purulent vaginal discharge Tx = antibiotic (IV oxytetracycline) + NSAID

When are vaginal prolapses seen?

* last 4 weeks of pregnancy * Can be fatal if not treated

What are causes of vaginal prolapses?

– Prolific breeds> hill breeds – Litter size – Age – History 35-40% will re-prolapse – Nutritional factors * Obesity * bulky feeds poor quality forages * Hypocalcaemia * lack of trough space – ?Stocking rates – ? lack of exercise – Slopes

How can you treat vaginal prolapses?

* Mild cases = retention devices, harnesses, NSAIDs + LA antibiotic * Severe cases = surgical (need epidural)

How can you prevent vaginal prolapse?

* Cull if prolapsed before - more likely to prolapse again

What should be done with prolapses of intestine through vaginal wall?

* Fatal * Euthanise if seen alive * Occasionally may save lambs if seen alive

How are uterine prolapses treated?

* Seen post lambing * Epidural, clean, invert + suture

What are the 3 main presentations of mastitis?

* Peracute/ gangrenous/ toxic mastitis * Acute mastitis * Chronic mastitis

What is per acute / gangrenous mastitis?

* Immediately post lambing / 4-8weeks post lambing in peak lactation * Toxaemia, tachycardia, rumen stasis, lame + recumbent * Cold, blue udder - discoloured milk

What is acute mastitis?

* ewe fever, lame, udder red + painful * milk abnormal apperance, discoloured, clots + watery

What is chronic mastitis?

* Ewe not systemically ill * Purulent discharge from teats

What are the most common organisms in mastitis?

* Staph. aureus - teat skin * Mannheimia haemolytica - lambs mouth

What are the sources of infection of mastitis?

* Teat skin * Lambs mouth * Previous chronic infections in udder * Environment - streps + Ecoli

What are some risk factors for mastitis?

* Nutrition – Under nutrition in late pregnancy and lactation – Low BCS – Vit E / Selenium deficiency * Concurrent Disease – Fluke johns worms preg toxaemia dystocia * Prolificacy – Multiple lambs * Age – Older ewes – Younger ewes * Udder Confirmation – abnormal teat position * Udder abscesses/chronic infections * Teat Lesions – Orf, chapping, over sucking by lambs * Genetic Factors – Area active research (Fast growth rates lambs) * Hygiene * Milking Practices (dairy sheep)

How would you treat each type of mastitis?

* Gangrenous - euthanasia * Acute - systemic antibiotics, stripping of udder, NSAIDS, IV fluids * Chronic - culling

What can cause teat damage?

* Over sucking * Chilling weather * poor conformation * Orf