Polioencephalomalacia Flashcards
1
Q
What is P?
A
Neurologic disease of ruminants
2
Q
What is the cause?
A
Thiamine deficiency
3
Q
Predisposing factors
A
High concentrate diet
High grain diet
Ingestion of plant thiaminases or thiamine analogs
4
Q
What do you see in the acute form
A
Blindness
Seizures
Recumbency
5
Q
What do you see in subacute form
A
Decreased appetite Twitching Separation from herd Staggering, hypermetric gait Holding head in elevated position
6
Q
Later signs
A
Cortical blindness - absent menace, intact PLR and palpebral
Head pressing
Others
7
Q
Diagnosis? Pre-mortem vs post
A
Pre - no good test
Post - brain may fluoresce under UV light. Other signs (brain cavitation, swelling, necrosis, etc)
8
Q
Other differentials
A
Rabies Vit A deficiency Listeria Nervous coccidiosis Salt toxicity Pregnancy toxemia (sheep) Meningoencephalitis
9
Q
Treatment?
A
Early treatment is critical
Treat with thiamine, regardless of cause
Supportive care
Steroids if suspect edema
