Production Animal Anaemia

Question 1

Outline the clinical signs of anaemia in farm animals…

Answer 1

Pallor
Lack of exercise tolerance
Weakness
Haemic murmur
Dependent oedema
Red urine
Jaundice
Black faeces
Swollen udder

Question 2

Describe the colour of normal farm animal mucous membranes in comparison to domestic animals…

Answer 2

Much paler

Question 3

Describe the findings on clinical pathology of an anaemic animal…

Answer 3

Low PCV
Low haemoglobin
Immature erythrocytes
Evidence of regeneration
Jaundice

Question 4

What does a refractometer measure?

Answer 4

Sugars

Question 5

What is gamma glutamyl transferase?

Answer 5

Liver enzyme

Question 6

What is a normal cow PCV?

Answer 6

24-46%

Question 7

What is a normal sheep PCV?

Answer 7

27-45%

Question 8

What is a normal pig PCV?

Answer 8

22-38%

Question 9

Describe the effect of dehydration on PCV

Answer 9

Raises it

Question 10

Outline the major causes of anaemia and state whether or not they are regenerative

Answer 10

Blood loss (regenerative)
Erythrocyte destruction (regenerative)
Inadequate erythrocyte production (non-regenerative)

Question 11

What is haemorrhagic anaemia?

Answer 11

Regenerative anaemia due to blood loss

Question 12

What is haemolytic anaemia?

Answer 12

Regenerative anaemia due to erythrocyte destruction

Question 13

Which organ is not functioning properly in a case of non-regenerative anaemia?

Answer 13

Bone marrow

Question 14

Outline the causes of haemorrhagic anaemia in farm animals…

Answer 14

Caudal vena caval syndrome
Enzootic haemturia
Ruptured uterine artery
Ruptured aorta
Haemochosis
Fasciolosis
Lice, mice and ticks
Pyelonephritis
Abomasal ulcer
Intraluminal intestinal haemorrhage
Gastric ulceration (pigs)
Proliferative haemorhagic enteropathy (pigs)

Question 15

Outline the causes of haemolytic anaemia in farm animals…

Answer 15

Leptospirosis
Postparturient haemoglobinuria
Baciliary haemoglobinuria
Protozoa (Babesia)
Chronic copper poisoning
Cold water ingestion
Brassica poisoning (e.g. rape, kale, cabbage)
Drug-induced
Blood transfusion
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

Question 16

Outline the causes of erythrocyte production depression in farm animals…

Answer 16

Cobalt/copper deficiency
Iron deficiency
Acute bracken poisoning
Faciolosis
Lymphosarcoma
Chronic renal failure (amyloidosis, pyelonephritis)
Anaemia of inflammatory disease

Question 17

What is dependent oedema?

Answer 17

Failure of fluids to stay in the bloodstream due to lack of protein

Question 18

Why do farm animals have pale mm normally?

Answer 18

Low PCV

Keratinised mouths

Question 19

Describe chronic copper poisoning in farm animals…

Answer 19

Copper is stored and accumulated in the liver
Some centrilolobular necrosis occurs as liver copper concentration rises (750ppm)
Release of liver copper stores causes haemolytic anaemia

Question 20

When should you perform a blood tranfusion in farm animals?

Answer 20

Haemotcrit <10%

Question 21

What are haematinics?

Answer 21

Agents that support the bone marrow and stimulate the production of red blood cells or increase the amount of haemoglobin in the blood

Question 22

With what are the risks of blood transfusion associated in farm animals?

Answer 22

Increased blood pressure

Question 23

Give examples of haematinics

Answer 23

Iron
Copper
Vitamin B12
Protein
Fresh food

Question 24

Outline the clinical signs of enzootic haematuria

Answer 24

Haematuria, with blood clots
Frequent urination
Thickened bladder
Other signs of chronic, progressive anaemia
Internal bleeding

Question 25

What is the most common cause of haematuria in cattle?

Answer 25

Enzootic haematuria

Question 26

What are the causes of abomasal ulcers in ruminants?

Answer 26

Sand Displaced abomasum Stress

Question 27

Outline the clinical signs assocaited with abomasal ulcers in farm animals...

Answer 27

Occult blood in faeces Black, stinking dunk Free air in the abdomen Abdominal pain

Question 28

Describe anaemia of inflammatory disease in cattle...

Answer 28

Alterations in iron metabolism Depressed bone marrow response Shorter life span of erythrocyte

Question 29

Are cattle or sheep more susceptible to chronic copper poisoning?

Answer 29

Sheep

Question 30

What can be given to treat chronic copper toxicity?

Answer 30

Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate Ammonium molybdate and sodium sulfate Sodium calcium edetate Somnulose

Question 31

How is veal kept pale?

Answer 31

Deprived of iron

Question 32

Which breeds of sheep are most susceptible to chronic copper poisoning?

Answer 32

Texel | Suffolk

Question 33

Which breed of sheep are least susceptible to chronic copper poisoning?

Answer 33

Scottish blackface | Merino

Question 34

Where does the copper come from in chronic copper poisoning?

Answer 34

``` Diet - Concentrates - Pastures - Liver stores Accidental overdosage ```

Question 35

What copper level is required for normal health of sheep?

Answer 35

>4ppm

Question 36

Above what level does copper become dangerous in sheep?

Answer 36

>12ppm

Question 37

Outline the clinical signs associated with chronic copper poisoning...

Answer 37

``` Jaundice Pallor Haemoglobinuria Depression Death (24-48 hours after haemolytic event) ```

Question 38

Outline the clinical pathology associated with chronic copper poisoning...

Answer 38

Blood copper elevated Liver copper elevated Increased plasma AST

Question 39

Describe the patient with chronic copper poisoning at post-mortem...

Answer 39

Swollen yellow liver - Copper assay - Histopathology Swollen dark grey kidneys Jaundice

Question 40

Give the differential diagnoses for each clinical sign associated with chronic copper poisoning...

Answer 40

Haemoglobinuria - Bacterial - Postparturient - Rape and kale poisoning - Leptospirosis Jaundice - Fascioliasis - Lupinosis Anaemia - Haemochosis

Question 41

Outline prevention chronic copper poisoning

Answer 41

Keep dietary copper <10ppm Copper absorption inhibitors Avoid prolonged feeding of concentrates Never feed concentrates intended for cattle or pigs to sheep