Small Ruminant Medicine

Question 1

What are the different types of copper deficiencies?

Answer 1

Primary – diet contains inadequate copper
Geographic location  Coast areas of England and Australia
Secondary – copper unavailable
High molybdenum – Western US
High sulfate in combination w/high molybdenum
Swayback in sheep, salt sickness in cattle and sheep

Question 2

What are predisposing causes of copper deficiency in small ruminants?

Answer 2

Coastal sandy areas
Copper content lower in spring and summer
Young animals are more susceptible

Question 3

What are the clinical signs of copper deficiency in small ruminants?

Answer 3

Limp, straight, “steely” wool – wool loses crimp – fiber
doesn’t have the springy crimp
Anemia Diarrhea - prolonged, weight loss.
Pigmentation defects in the hair coat, conjunctivitis, and
incoordination in young (Enzootic ataxia), in goats
Weak lambs, incoordination (neuro signs), “swayback”
May increase susceptibility to intestinal parasitism

Question 4

What diagnostics can you run to test for copper deficiency?

Answer 4

Blood samples may be misleading
Liver biopsy
Hair analysis

Question 5

What are some differential diagnoses for copper deficiency?

Answer 5

Parasitism, esp. Hamonchous (because both cause anemia)
Malnutrition
Neurological dz

Question 6

How do you treat copper deficiency?

Answer 6

Oral copper supplementation

Question 7

What are the different types of copper toxicosis?

Answer 7

More common than deficiency
Primary – excess copper intake in food or water from copper
pipes
Secondary – high retention of copper
Plant intake with or without liver damage

Question 8

Why are sheep prone to copper toxicosis?

Answer 8

-They are more prone to store copper

Question 9

What are the clinical signs of copper toxicosis?

Answer 9

Diarrhea
Hemoglobinuria
Jaundice
Anemia
Grinding of teeth

Question 10

What are some differentials for copper toxicosis?

Answer 10

Other hemolytic diseases – babesia, anaplasmosis

Other causes of hepatogenous jaundice – uncommon in USA

Question 11

How do you treat copper toxicosis?

Answer 11

Symptomatic

No good treatment available. Better to prevent!

Question 12

What is cobalt deficiency related to?

Answer 12

Related to deficiency of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) - Cobalt is
a part of vit B12
Young animals more likely to be affected clinically
Related to heavy GI parasite loads – haemonchus

Question 13

What are the clinical signs of cobalt deficiency?

Answer 13

Poor growth & productivity Will not gain weight
Lacrimation (tearing), wool matted to face May not even
notice this
Anemia
We also see these signs with parasites, so we usually
treat for cobalt when we treat for parasites

Question 14

How do you treat cobalt deficiency?

Answer 14

Oral dosing of cobalt sulfate Added to mineral supplement
hard to over supply
Vitamin B12 injection

Question 15

What causes cobalt toxicosis?

Answer 15

Associated w/accidental overdosing

Signs not specific

Question 16

What are the different types of iodine deficiency?

Answer 16

Primary – deficient intake in feed & water

Secondary – high calcium diet or goitrogenic plants

Question 17

What are the clinical signs of iodine deficiency?

Answer 17

Thyroid enlargement: “Goiter”
Alopecia
Could see still births

Question 18

What are the differentials for iodine deficiency?

Answer 18

Inherited goiter

Miscellaneous goitrogenic substances

Question 19

How do you treat iodine deficiency?

Answer 19

Add iodized salt instead of regular salt

Question 20

What are the clinical signs of iodine toxicosis?

Answer 20

Anorexia
Dandruff, hair loss
Lacrimation

Question 21

What are some common sources of lead toxicosis?

Answer 21

ead paint, batteries, oil (ruminants like the taste of lead)

Question 22

What are the clinical signs of lead toxicosis?

Answer 22

Cattle more common to see clinical signs of severe depression
Sheep
Stiff gait, lameness
Paralysis, recumbency
Headache, possible blindness
Unthriftiness
Goats
Anorexia
Fetid diarrhea
Tenesmus

Question 23

What are the clinical signs of salt deficiency?

Answer 23

Anorexia
Rough hair coat
Pica, salt craving, urine drinking
Lick dirt to try to get salt
Urine drinking is not a specific clinical sign
Excessive licking of your hands

Question 24

What clin path abnormalities would you see with salt deficiency?

Answer 24

Low USG

Low serum Na+ & Cl- concentrations

Question 25

What are treatment options for salt deficiency?

Answer 25

Provide access to salt SLOWLY
Provide salt on an incremental basis –
otherwise they will overeat and cause toxicosis

Question 26

When does salt toxicosis occur?

Answer 26

When animals on salt deficient diets gain access to salt
May occur from drinking salt water
Usually causes neurologic signs – due to brain swelling
Treatment – symptomatic
Small amounts water frequently – don’t overdose water