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Dx growing lambs Flashcards

1
Q

What does it mean if we have a low growth rate in our lambs?

What should you be thinking?

A

Growth rate is a key performance indicator. If issue we have problems with nutrition and/or infectious dx

  • Always think, nutrition, ID, parasites
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2
Q

Growing lamb stage

A

0-18 months roughly

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3
Q

common clinical presentations indicating poor growth rates in our lambs

A
  1. D+
  2. Sudden death - often associated with Clostridial Dx and pasteurella pneumonia
  3. coughing/ rest Dx
  4. Trace element deficiencies - growing = inc requirement for
  5. Lameness
  6. Neuro
  7. Skin Dx - parasites/ photossensitisation
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4
Q

Poor growth in individual/ a few lambs what are you thinking?

A

o Low birth weight
o Border Disease (Persistently Infected Lamb)
o Congenital Problem
o Neonatal/chronic infection
o –Inadequate milk diet
 triplet, or dam had too little milk,
 bottle fed, weaned too soon eat grass too soon

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5
Q

Poor growth in lambs as a group what are we thinking?

A
  • Always think, nutrition, ID, parasites
    o Inadequate nutrition
    o Parasitic disease especially anthelmintic resistance (next lecture)
    o Trace element deficiencies
    o Pneumonia
    o Lameness (lameness lecture) - Chronic joint ill, CODD/FR/Scald
    o Orf, Scab (skin diseases)
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6
Q

Farmer presents lambs with poor growth. What history do you need to gather?

A

o Main clinical signs observed by farmer
o time of year
o breed
o expected growth rate
o Current growth rate
o Singles, twins, triplets
o Diet
o Any Signs of disease - Diarrhoea, orf, lameness, pneumonias
o Worming history
o Coccidiosis history
o Trace element treatments

  • Clinical exam of representative lambs
  • Assess Grazing
    o Set stock grass sward 6-8 cm height
    o Quality (ie not full of weeds)
  • Work out growth rates if possible (assume 4kg BW and weigh average bunch now-give DLWG)
  • Samples
    o FEC, coccidia, fluke, BS trace elements, test for AH resistance
  • Abattoir feedback
  • Post Mortem if any die
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7
Q

How should growth rates in lambs change assuming 4kg birth weight.
8 weeks growth rate
weaning weight growth rate
sale weight GR

A
  • 8 week weight growth rates
    o (300-500g/day)
  • Weaning weight growth rates
    o (300-500g/day)
  • Sale weights growth rates
    o (200-250g/day)
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8
Q

D+ in lambs 0-4 weeks. What Ddx are you thinking

A
  1. E coli
  2. Salmonella spp
  3. Cryptosporidium
  4. Dysentry

o Coccidiois (protozoa)
o Cryptosporidia parvum (protozoa)??

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9
Q

D+ in lambs 4-8 weeks what are we thinking

A

coccidiosis
Nematodirus BAttus
Acidosis
Dietary
Salmonella spp

o Coccidiois (protozoa)

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10
Q

D+ in lambs 8 weeks onwards

A

Pasrasitic Gastroenteritis
Acidosis
Dietary
SAlmonella spp

o Coccidiois (protozoa)

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11
Q

Cryptosporidiosis
- type of organism
- When do we see it
- Disease pressure

A
  • Protozoa
  • Zoonotic (petting zoos and water supplies)
  • C parvum(not host specific)
  • Severe outbreaks end of lambing/calving/intensive systems
  • Not always disease (can be found in healthy), can be part of mixed infections
  • Young lambs to 10 days ish
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12
Q

CS cryptosporidiosis in our lambs

A

o Lambs 3-7 days old
o Diarrhhoea profuse (blood)
o Dehydration
o Can be fatal

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13
Q

Dx and Tx cryptosporidiosis

A

o Stain faecal smear C parvum
o PM histopathology (definitive)
o Check E coli
- Treatment
o Supportive:-house sick animals, leave with dam
o Oral fluids (50ml/kg) four to six times daily
o Drug treatment-no licensed treatment-off license there is a treatment for calves

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14
Q
A
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15
Q

Prevention/ control cryptosporidiosis lambs

A
  • Prevention/Control
    o Reduce challenge
     Use different fields/housing for lambing and calving
     In outbreak move to fresh pasture
     Put newbornanimals to clean pasture
     Improve hygiene throughout the farm indoor
    o Improve resilience
     Lamb nutrition
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16
Q

Coccidiosis
- How common?
Aitiology

A

V common

  • Aetiology
    o Protozoa
    o pathogenic strains = Eimeria. crandallis, E. ovinoidalis
    o non disease-causing strains too “normally in sheep” so if we see it in faeces, doesn’t necessarily mean disease causing strain
    o Source is from ewes or older lambs multiplying
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17
Q

Risk factors Coccidiosis

A

o High Stocking Rates
o Inadequate colostrum
o Mixing ages
o Stress causing immunocompromising
o Often coincides with nematodirus battus infection

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18
Q

CS Coccidiosiso

A

o Often 4-8 weeks old lambs
o Clinical diarrhoea (more large intestine = can be haemorrhagic) tenesmus, fever, weight loss, death
o Sub-clinical dose = poor growth

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19
Q

Diagnosis Coccidiosis

A

o Not 100% straight forward
o Faeceal samples from affected group (6-10)
o Coccidial count (may not all be pathogenic)
o Need to know which species as may not be pathogenic strain
o Normally what do is if associated with CS then it is pathogenic
o Can send to lab which will speciate them however this takes a bit of time, a lot won’t wait so treat anyway
o Eimeria. crandallis, E. ovinoidalis

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20
Q

Tx coccidiosis

A

o Supportive:-house sick animals, leave with dam
o Oral fluids (50ml/kg) four to six times daily
o House with mother
o Drug treatment
o Vecoxan (Diclurazil), Baycox (toltrazuril) to lambs
o Assess risk of other lambs on farm treat if indicated
o Not usually an individual, group affected so usually treat rest of group metaphylactically

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21
Q

Prevention/ control coxy

A

o Reduce risk factors
o Hygiene of pens and feed troughs
o stocking rates
o colostrum intakes (past when rectify so make sure implement for next year)
o Nutrition
o batch rearing
 Avoid grazing younger and older lambs on same pasture
 Avoid following young lambs onto fields that have grazed older animals
 Always turn youngest animals onto clean pasture
o Consider prophylactic/metaphylactic treatment at risk time with Vecoxan(Diclurazil) (repeated), Baycox(toltrazuril) if really struggles

22
Q

Rumen acidosis- why do we see it?

A
  • as want finished ASAP to get to market ASAP when prices are higher (may, June) feed additional cereal based carbohydrates CONCENTRATES
  • should be introduced slooooowly until adlib
  • lot of carbs causes acidosis
  • also occurs if grazing land that was once wheat and barley = lot of grain fall causes acidosis
23
Q

Aetiology rumen acidosis

A

o Consumption of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates (grain, bakery waste)
o Management of concentrates in growing lambs (sudden introduction of ad lib concentrates)
o Stubble grain crops wheat and barley
o Fall in rumen PH Lactic acid production
o Rumenitis (inflam)
o Metabolic acidosis
o Lead  liver abscessation, fungal rumenitis and death

24
Q

Diagnosis rumen acidosis

A
  • Diagnosis
    o History and clinical signs usually enough
    o Rumenocentesis pH<5.5
    o Rumen liquor no live organsisms
    o PM
25
Tx rumen acidosis
- Treatment o Iv fluids 7-10% dehydrated (isotonic saline plus bicarbonate –recipe in text book) o Oral fluids by stomach tube o Multivitamins o Penicillin daily for 10 days to prevent bacteraemia causing liver abscesses o Put on Hay o AIM = prevention as often fatal
26
Bloat in sheep
- Rumen bloat - Uncommon in sheep, more in cattle - Grain overload, oesophageal obstruction (rare), legumes (frothy bloat) - CS: o Left side distention - Differential diagnosis (hypocalcaemia, abdomoninalcatastrophes), peritonitis, ascites, uroperitoneum - Treatment: stomach tube, dimeticone acts as surfactant to manage frothy bloat (orally), consider rumen trochar
27
What is lamb nephrosis syndrome?
- Usually after lamb suffered GI infection - Secondary to crypto or cocci but not 100% sure - GI infection goes on to cause damage to the kidney nephrons - Animal essentially goes into kidney failure as result of severe D+ episode - Not common but if outbreak of cocci and some don’t recover than lamb may have gone into secondary kid failure
28
Clinical signs of lamb nephrosis syndrome
o 2 to 12 weeks of age. o Older lambs (>4 weeks of age) tend to lose condition and have diarrhoea. o Standing around water troughs or field drains due to increased thirst. o High urea, creatinine and K+
29
Diagnosis lamb nephrosis syndrome
o Raised urea and creatinine hyperkalaemia o decreased albumin globulin ratio and a metabolic acidosis. On post mortem pale and swollen kidneys are observed which demonstrate toxic tubular necrosis together with preservation of the basement membrane (nephrosis). - No treatment has been found to have any effect, lambs tend to waste away and die within about a week and consequently euthanasia is preferred.
30
What is the most common trace element deficiency in our lambs? Why is it important
Cobalt Deficiency (Ill thrift) - Cobalt is made into vit B12 in the rumen - Rumen synthesises B12 inco-orporating cobalt into it - Really important for protein synthesis functions in the animals, especially fast growing animals e.g. o Red blood cell development o Amino acid synthesis o Energy metabolism
31
CS ill thrift?
Cobalt deficiency - Clinical Signs o Weight loss – don’t grow as well o Anaemia o Slow growth o Debility o Weight loss o Watery eye discharge
32
Diagnosis and tx cobalt deficiency/ ill thrift
- Diagnosis o Rule everything else out first – worms, chronic anaemia o Co/VitBI2 levels in blood o Liver biopsy o Response to Co therapy - Treatment o Group o Co rumen boluses o Co oral drenches o VitB12 injections  LA, called Smart shot o Co in creep feed o Pasture treatment
33
Selenium deficiency - due to what - why is S important? - What dx does it cause - Dx Tx
o Soil / Pasture deficiency o Important Anti-oxidant o Oxidants are produced in high metabolic activity. If not removed can damage muscle cells and selenium is important for immune function o Immune function o White Muscle Disease (skeletal)  Ill thrift lambs  Weakness, collapse, lame, stiff  Important ddx for lameness and stiffness in growing lambs o Poor reproductive performance ewes o Diagnosis  blood sample o Treatment  Oral, injectable, bolus, selenium salts, supplements added to feed
34
Iodine deficiency
Seeing more as farmers moving away from conc feeds, using alternative forages which are often low in iodine and fed over winter this means pregnancy ewes = deficient = still births, deaths weakness in lambs late abortions lambs get thyroid goitre and more susceptible to other neonatal diseases Dx - PM large thyroid gland as it is compensating
35
What breed most likely to suffer from copper deficiency?
Scottish Blackface diff breeds differing abilities to absorb also diff soil types have diff levels
36
What does copper deficiency manisfest as in lambs
o Swayback in Lambs due to deficient ewe  Poor myelination spinal chord  Weak on back end, drag feet o Congenital o Ewe deficient in pregnancy o Treat Ewe during pregnancy o Important DDx = trauma or spinal abscess
37
What breeds have evolved to live in low copper areas and therefore if on normal pasture get copper poisoning?
 North Ronaldsay – pet and hobby  Suffolk  Blue Faced Leicester  Texels
38
CS copper poisoning
 Signs of liver failure  Jaundice  Ataxic, headpressing (high ammonia as lvier not working), jaundice, haemoglobinuria, recumbancyand death
39
diagnosis and Tx copper poisoning in sheep
o Dx  History clinical signs and P.M o Tx  Sodium calcium EDTA (collating agent)  Supportive therapy  Multivits to support liver  Group  Remove feed source/ change location  Molybedenum and sulphur added to water to prevent happening In future
40
What is cattle pneumonia more due to and sheep
viruses PIV, RSV, IBR, Sheep more bacterial - Mycoplasmaspp. Mannheimiahaemolytica (most common), Pasturellamultocida
41
chronic copper poisoning pathogenesis
o Chronic  Ingestion over a period of time  Stored in liver in lysosomes, capacity suddenly released into circulation  Maybe precipitated by stress  Intravascular haemolysis and jaundice
42
Causes of respiratory disease in lambs
- Pneumonia o Respiratory viruses, PI3, RSV, o Bacteria Mycoplasmaspp. Mannheimiahaemolytica (most common), Pasturellamultocida o Stress related often - Lung worm o Dictylocaulaus filaria  Often mild  Coughing lambs at pasture o Lambs at pasture
43
What is the most common cause of pneumonia in sheep?
Mannhaemia haemolytica/ Pneumonic Pasturellosis which is a commensal org or URT (nasopharynx) but pathogenic in lungs or dude = can cause mastitis
44
What is a common reason lambs come down with Mannhaemia haemolytica/ Pneumonic Pasturellosis pneumonia?
- Often secondary to other disease/stress which knocks immune system o Change in diet (lambs out on pasture – new field or crop, worms, ticks, housing, poor ventilation, stress of handling, transport bad weather..... o Something usually has set it off - Epidemiology o Housing or Pasture o Outbreaks in growing lambs o Sporadic cases older animals
44
CS Mannhaemia haemolytica/ Pneumonic Pasturellosis pneumonia
o Pyrexia, mucopurulent nasal discharge, cough, inc RR, effort death
45
PM findings and Tx Mannhaemia haemolytica/ Pneumonic Pasturellosis pneumonia
- Post Mortem o Typical Anteroventral? consolidation o Culture o Pale = healthy, dark = consolidated inflam o Bottom = fibrinopurulent pluracy alongside – v serious - Treatment o LA oxytetracycline first line, amoxicillin, macrolides, 5-7 days (long acting useful) o All sensitive to MH
46
Prevention Mannhaemia haemolytica/ Pneumonic Pasturellosis pneumonia
- Prevention vaccination helps o HeptavacP o Ovipast
47
Mycoplasma pneumonia
- Much less dramatic than mannheimia - Mycoplasma ovi pneumoniae - Chronic disease and cough - Cough, slight nasal discharge, inc RR - Poor quality Housing with poor ventilation, pasture over-stocked lambs - Dx: history clinical signs, BAL, post mortem, bronchoalveolar levarge but mostly just based on CS - Tx oxytet LA/ macrolides (consider group) - Px: ventillation, hygiene, stocking rates, risk factors that have set it off
48
Other pneumonias
Other pneumonias - Chronic suppurative pneumonia (Lung abscesses) - Usually individual or one or two in group after outbreak - Secondary to pneumonia - Range of bacteria not just one: o A pyogenes, M haemolytica, P multocida - Weight loss, intermittent pyrexia, soft cough, increased respiratory rate, intermittent nasal discharge - Ultrasound lungs - Treatment: prognosis poor, prolonged courses penicillin may be helpful (28 days) o Lung abscesses are walled off therefore Ab not great o Sometime long course of penicillin does work
49
Lung worm in lambs
- Dictyocaulus filaria  - Muellerius capillaris (not thought to be significant, but common PM finding) - Summer / autumn - Lambs at pasture, grazing (older than 12 weeks) - Coughing dyspnoea - Diagnosis larva in faeces- o Baerman test on faeces o L1 - Treatment o Anthelmintic (BZ, ML, LV) o Antibiotics (as before) o NSAIDs o Supportive - Anthelmintics to rest of group, even non clinical, move to low risk pasture

Year 4 Sheep (11 decks)

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