Pregnancy Toxemia and Hypocalcemia

Question 1

What are the main periparturient metabolic diseases of small ruminants?

Answer 1

Pregnancy toxemia, hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia

Question 2

What is the main cause of these periparturient diseases?

Answer 2

Failure to meet nutritional needs during late pregnancy and early lactation (may coexist and cause anorexia)

Question 3

What causes pregnancy toxemia?

Answer 3

Abnormal metabolism of carbs and fats in last trimester of pregnancy - rapid fetal growth, increased demand

Question 4

Who is affected by pregnancy toxemia and when?

Answer 4

Sheep and goats (individuals unless due to starvation then whole herd)
-BCS >4
Too fat, adipose takes up space for food and leads to hepatic lipidosis, hypoglycemia and ketosis

1-3 weeks of parturition

Question 5

What is the pathogenesis of preg tox?

Answer 5

Energy produced by ruminal flora, need grain for propionate which help with glucogenesis that occurs in liver, negative energy balance and fat mobilized NEFA to trig - insulin resistant

Question 6

What are clinical signs of preg tox?

Answer 6

Anorexia, depression, recumbency, listless, neuro (head press, circle, muscle tremor, blindness, star gaze, ataxia), tachypnea, dyspnea, chew and grind teeth, salivation and excessive licking

Question 7

How do you diagnose preg tox?

Answer 7

HX, Sign, Signs
Hyperketonemia >2.4 (Subclinicla 1.4-2.4)
Hypoglycemia, anorecia, hypocalcemia, hypoazotemia, hypochloremia

Question 8

How do you treat ketosis?

Answer 8

Mild: propylene glycol orally (60-120ml), lectade liquid, dehydration, wine

Severe: IV dextrose and hypertonic bicarb IV acidotic, oral propylene glycol, insulin treatment

Supportive: VB12, Thiamine, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, transfaunation, deworm, energy roughage

Induce parturition? (ewe 140d, Doe: 143d) - prostaglandin and steroid , c section and euthansia

Question 9

How can you prevent preg tox?

Answer 9

ID low BCS and group so can feed well
Monitor nutrition

Question 10

What is hyocalcemia?

Answer 10

Not enough ca
Before or after parturition
Reduced Ca serum concentrations

Question 11

How is ca regulated?

Answer 11

Low intake ca or P and cation increase produciton paratbhyroid hormones, mobalize ca from intestines and bones

Question 12

What are clinical signs of hypocalcemia?

Answer 12

Isolate from flock, stiff gait, tremors, hyperesthesia, ataxia, hyposensitive, weak, recumbent, deplete muscle contraction (decrease rumen), coma and death

Question 13

How do you treat hypocalcemia?

Answer 13

IV ca over 5 min
CMPK, warm, slow
Oral ca

Question 14

What should you remember if the patient has preg tox and hypo cacemia?

Answer 14

No IV ca because liver not working well
Oral
May also lead to dystocia and retained membrane, uterine prolapse

Question 15

How do you prevent hypocalcemia?

Answer 15

Pay attention to content in grazing animal
concentrate helps
inorganic better then organic

Question 16

What is hypomagnesemia?

Answer 16

Limited ability to mobalize Mg body reserve and rely on daily intake
Lush pasture
rare if intensively raised

Question 17

What casues it hypomagnesia?

Answer 17

stress, poor grass, poor dentition
Increase potassium and reduced sodium with increase milk yield

Question 18

When does hypomagnesium occur and what are signs?

Answer 18

2-4 week post partum
excitable, paddling, convulsion, clonic tonic muscle spasm, increase RR, sudden death

Question 19

How do you diagnose hypomagnesiemia?

Answer 19

Sig, hist,
<1.0 diagnostic
Post mortem sample CSF, Urine and anterior eye (need to do asap after dies)

Question 20

How do you treat hypomagnesimia?

Answer 20

Immediatly
4-5% magnesium chloride and calcium borogluconate
-Can relapse
Mineral supplement