Periparturient losses in does and ewes Flashcards
what is the periparturient period in sheep and goats?
- 3 weeks before parturition until 3 weeks after = periparturient
Periparturient losses in ewes and does
* Common and important causes at the herd/flock level:
- Pregnancy toxaemia (pre-parturient)
- Vaginal prolapse (pre-parturient)
- Gangrenous mastitis (post-parturient)
sheep abortion causes in does and ewes
- Chlamydia abortus
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Coxiella burnetti (Q Fever)
- Campylobacter jejuni (usually sheep, rarely goats)
- Campylobacter fetus (sheep only)
- Iodine deficiency abortion
Pregnancy toxaemia
- what do we see?
- etiology
- seen in who, usually?
- individual animal risk factors
- “Twin lamb disease”
- Presenting complaint: late gestation ewes or does off feed, down
- Etiology: Insufficient energy in the diet to meet nutritional requirements of late gestation
- Usually only seen in ewes/does with multiples – but this online is not sufficient to cause disease!
<><><><> - Individual animal risk factors:
- Thin (BCS < 2.5)
- Fat (BCS > 4.0)
- Any other disease causing a drop intake, or making it difficult to get to the feed (e.g. dental disease, CAE arthritis)
Pregnancy toxaemia
* Flock level risk factors:
- Thin ewes/does due to inadequate energy in the diet, or inadequate energy
density of the diet, and…. - Competition (eg. not enough feeder space)
- Poor water quality or quantity (decrease dry matter intake)
- Held off feed (eg. for worming)
- Shearing
- Inclement weather
Pregnancy toxaemia - pathogenesis
- Inadequate energy in diet
- Transient hypocalcemia > encephalopathy (often irreversible)
- Mobilization of lipid stores > elevation in ketone bodies, accumulation of lipids in liver cells, impairment of hepatic function
- High levels of circulating corticosteroids
- Fetal death and masceration
- End stage renal and liver failure
Pregnancy toxaemia
– clinical findings
- progression?
- 6 to 3 weeks before expected parturition
<><> - Early signs: not up with the group, not aggressive to get to grain, grinding teeth
<><> - Later signs:
- Increasing depression, head pressing
- Mild to sever optisthotonus/stargazing
- +/-blindness
- Fine tremors, ataxia, circling
<><> - May see temporary improvement when fetuses die, but then becomes depressed, down, and comatose
Pregnancy toxaemia – lab diagnosis
- individual vs flock
Individual animal diagnostics:
* Positive on urine or blood ketones
* Elevated liver enzymes
* Elevated BHBA in serum
(> 0.8 mmol/L is subclinical threshold)
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Flock/herd level diagnostics:
* Sample of ‘at risk’ animals for BHBA
* Normal < 0.7 mmol/L
* Moderate underfeeding = 0.8 - 1.6 mmol/L
* Severe underfeeding = 1.6 - 3.0 mmol/L
* Clinical preg tox typically > 3.0 mmol/L
Pregnancy toxaemia – post mortem
- Fatty liver
- Dead fetuses
Pregnancy toxaemia – treatment
for mild vs more severe cases
If still eating, but not eating grain (mild case)
* Can give 50mL 50% dextrose IV once
* Correct predisposing cause
* Isolate, make grain available
* 60mL glycol orally BID for 3-10 days
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If not eating, or neurologic signs (moderate to severe)
* 50 to 100mL 50% dextrose IV once, or 5% drip
* IV fluids (supportive)
* Get fetuses out! (20mg dexamethasone + PG), c-section?
* Hypocalcemia? Give 60mL slow, 60mL SQ
* Antibiotics (penicillin)
* Euthanize if comatose or non-responsive
Pregnancy toxaemia – control
- Address risk factors to prevent more cases
- Nutrition should be appropriate for energy needs
> Analyze forages, supplement where needed with grain
> Feed according to body condition score
> Scan for fetal numbers - Manage feeding to allow for needed consumption
- Prevent diseases that can reduce intakes
- Ensure producer is able to recognize and treat disease early
Vaginal prolapse
- when we see it?
- etiology?
- epidemiology / prevalence
- Presenting complaint: 2 to 3 weeks pre-lambing, intermittent or constant prolapse of vagina
- Etiology: complex, related to risk factors
- Epidemiology: more common in sheep, normal incidence < 1%, but outbreaks can be up to 25%
Vaginal prolapse
* Risk factors (individual animal)
- Previous history of vaginal prolapse
- Over conditioned
- Multiple fetuses
- Genetics
- Short dock length (damage to anal musculature)
Vaginal prolapse
* Flock level risk factors:
- Poor quality forage
- Crowding at the feeder
- Metabolic disease
- Plant or mycotoxin estrogenic compounds?
> Red clover, diseased alfalfa, zeralenone from fusarium in corn
Vaginal prolapse
* Clinical findings
- Intermittent initially
- Severe may include rectal prolapse, partial uterine prolapse and/or bladder
