Metabolic Diseases In Livestock Flashcards
What are metabolic disorders:
Non-infectious diseases
Caused by disruptions in the diet
Can overeating cause harm to cattle?
Yes
Metabolic
Nutritional
Acidosis etiology
-excessive production of ruminate acids which leads to reduced rumen function.
-ruminate gases build up because they can not be expelled.
-caused by overfeeding and/or a high concentrate diet.
Acidosis symptoms
-distinction of ruminoreticulum; seen on left side of the animal.
-foul smelling diarrhea.
-death occurs from suffocation or blood poisoning.
-blood poisoning- when blood pH is <7.35
-sore hooves, liver abscesses, and decreased milk production.
-death occurs after 4 hours
Who is at risk for acidosis?
-ruminants on concentrated and highly processed diets.
-ruminants that are fed inconsistently.
Acidosis prevention
-minimize meal size and feed more frequently.
-feed long-stemmed roughages.
-genetically select against animals prone to bloat.
Frothy bloat etiology
-the entrapment of CH4 and CO2 in a stable foam in the rumen.
-gas accumulation exceeds gas expulsion results in suffocation.
Frothy bloat symptoms
-distinction of the rumen on the left side of the body.
-dyspnea, grunting, and tongue hanging out
-death occurs within 1-4 hours
Who is at risk for frothy bloat?
-ruminants grazing lush legumes: emphasis on clovers and alfalfa.
-ruminants grazing legumes after a storm.
Frothy bloat prevention
-poloxalene salt molasses blocks; place away from water sources for maximum effectiveness.
-restrict grazing of pastures containing more than 50% legumes.
-prevention is treatment.
Fescue toxicity
Caused by the consumption of ergot alkaloids (toxins) released from fungus
Fescue toxicity symptoms
-rough hair coat
-suppressed appetite
-poor growth
-reduced conception rates
-inability to handle heat stress
Fescue toxicity prevention
-clip seed heads or maintain intense grazing to keep plants from heading and inter-seed another plant to reduce consumption
Grass tetany etiology
-Deficiency of magnesium (hypomagnesemia)
-occurs in ruminants grazing cool season grasses (wheat)
Grass tetany symptoms
-death mostly likely to occur before symptoms show
-ruminants are excitable, have a blank stare, and may appear blind initially
-uncoordinated gait, trembling muscles, grinding teeth, violent convulsions, coma, and death
Grass tetany prevention
-Provide mg mineral
-inter seed legumes
Grass tetany treatment
-inject 200 cc mg sulfate sq
-animals down more than 12-24 hours will not recover
Gossypol toxicity
-predominant pigment found in the cotton plant.
-free form gossypol is toxic.
Gossypol toxicity symptoms
-infertility in bulls and females
-anorexia from chronic exposure
-cardiomyopathy in calves
Gossypol toxicity prevention
Test cotton feedstuffs for gossypol content, and remove all cotton feedstuffs if toxicity is suspected
Nitrate poisoning symptoms
-blue coloration of mucous membranes
-staggering gait
-shortness of breath
-death
Nitrate poisoning prevention
Test forages for nitrate levels before feeding
Nitrate poisoning treatment
Methylene blue converts methemoglobin back into hemoglobin
Prussic acid poisoning etiology
-occurs in stressed plants from enzymatic activity
Prussic acid symptoms
-excitable
-rapid pulse
-muscular tremors
-stager, collapse, and die
Who is at risk for Prussic acid poisoning?
-ruminants grazing Sudan or sorghum-Sudan grass hybrids after periods of stress (drought/freeze)
Prussic acid poisoning prevention
-test forages for Prussic acid content
-do not graze plants until 18-24 inches tall
NO TREATMENT
PEM etiology
-induced by high sulfur diets or a thiamin deficiency
-a central nervous disorder; infect animals become inflamed and necrotic in their brain tissue
-ruminant microorganisms produce B vitamins and thiaminase
PEM symptoms
-blindness
-ruminants go down on their side with head thrown back
-stiff legs
PEM prevention and treatment
-monitor by products fro S content
-if caught immediately, administer thiamin and glucose intravenously
-give dexamethasone to reduce brain swelling
Urinary calculi etiology
Caused by mineral deposits in the urethra from an imbalance of Ca:P in the diet
Urinary calculi symptoms
-ruminants off feed
-urine dribbles
-sheath swollen and calcified
-kick at their belly
-complete blockage causes the urethra to burst and urine fills the body cavity behind the sheath
Who is at risk for urinary calculi?
-most common during winter
-contaminated or unclean water which decreases water consumption
-ruminants grazing P deficient pastures
Urinary calculi prevention
-prevention is TREATMENT
-balance rations to maintain a 2:1 Ca:P ratio
-supplement P to ruminants grazing dormant forages
-clean water troughs
-feed ammonium chloride
White muscle disease etiology
-deficiency of selenium or vitamin E
-myodegenerative disorder
-necropsy revels muscle with a dry texture and white striations due to Ca deposits
2 types of white muscle disease
Congenital form- affects cardiac tissue
Delayed form- affects cardiac and/or skeletal muscle tissue
White muscle disease prevention
-be aware of the levels of mineral antagonists in the soil or diet
-animals can receive Se and vitamin E injections every 30-60 days
Colic etiology
Caused by a wide range of conditions affecting the digestive track (inability to vomit, changes in feed, bloodworms, etc)
Colic symptoms
-distended abdomen
-sweating
-constipation
-kick at abdomen or roll around
-prolonged colic can result in twisted intestines
Colic treatment
-walking
-administering banamine
-vet treatment with sedatives, surgery, etc
Colic prevention
-feed in small rations
-feed in high quality roughages
-clean water
-regularly deworm animals
Milk fever etiology
-caused by low blood calcium levels during lactation
-affects cattle, sheep, and goats
Milk fever symptoms
-muscle tremors
-lack of motor function
-low body temperature
-coma
milk fever treatment
Calcium gluconate- 23% injection SQ or IV
Milk fever prevention
-provide vitamin D 5-7 days before parturition
-keep animals on a low calcium diet
-produce high doses of calcium 1 day pre and post parturition
Rickets etiology
Caused by an imbalance of dietary calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in young livestock
Rickets symptoms
-bone pain
-stiff gait
-swelling
-difficulty standing
-bowed limbs
-pathological fractures
Rickets treatment
-treatment yields no response
-balance the diet
-exposure to sunlight
Rickets prevention
-properly balance diet
-exercise and room to move
-exposure to sunlight
