Small Ruminant Periparturient Diseases Flashcards
what are the 3 most common periparturient diseases in small ruminants?
- pregnancy toxemia
- hypocalcemia
- hypomagnesemia
what causes peripaturient metabolic diseases in small ruminants?
failure to meet nutritional requirements during late pregnancy and/or early lactation
what causes pregnancy toxemia in small ruminants?
abnormal metabolism of carbs and fats in last trimester
(rapid fetal growth, increased metabolic demand and competition with fetus for glucose, stress, decreased rumen capacity, genetics)
Name the following TYPE of pregnancy toxemia:
results from a decline in plane of nutrition during late pregnancy or management changes that create a brief period of fasting
primary pregnancy toxemia
Name the following TYPE of pregnancy toxemia:
excessively thin ewes resulting from mismanagement or unavailable feed resources following periods of drought, heavy snow, or flooding.
starvation pregnancy toxemia
Name the following TYPE of pregnancy toxemia:
sporadic and results from concurrent disease in the affected female
secondary pregnancy toxemia
Name the following TYPE of pregnancy toxemia:
results from overconditioning during early pregnancy, sometimes followed by late gestational decline in nutrition. Excess abdominal fat also contributes to reduced rumen capacity.
fat ewe/doe pregnancy toxemia
Name a few causes of SECONDARY pregnancy toxemia.
this pregnancy toxemia type will result from conditions that cause DECREASED FEED INTAKE and INCREASED ENERGY NEEDS
- acidosis
- thin/malnourished animals
- water deprivation
- infectious pododermatitis
- vaginal prolapse
- poor dentition
what are clinical signs associated with pregnancy toxemia in small ruminants?
- Early: anorexia, depression
- Advanced: recumbent, listlessness, neuro signs (head pressing, muscle tremors, blindness, star-gazing, ataxia), tachypnea, dyspnea, chewing/teeth grinding, excessive salivation and licking.
How can we diagnose pregnancy toxemia in SR?
- Hx, Sg, and clin signs
- ketonuria
- ketonemia ( 1.4-2.4 = suggestive, but >2.4 is diagnostic)
- elevated liver enzymes and hypocholesterolemia
in advanced stages: hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, azotemia, and hypoproteinemia (all d/t fetal death, anorexia, renal and hepatic failure)
how would you treat a mild case of ketosis in a SR?
Oral propylene glycol or glycerol
alternatives: Ca-proprionate, Na-proprionate, liquid molasses, Na-lactate, ammonium lactate; but these are not metabolized as quickly and can disrupt NF of the rumen.
How do you treat acidosis, dehydration, and anorexia in cases of ketosis in SR?
- oral dextrose and calf electrolyte solutions
- appetite stimulant: vit B complex, calcium borogluconate, or oral calcium gel
- offer high energy feed and limit roughage intake.
How would you treat a mod-to-severe case of ketosis in SR?
- oral/IV fluids + IV dextrose (can do boluses, but its best to hospitalize and do CRI)
- insulin (will facilitate tissue glucose uptake and inhibit fatty acid mobilization, but requires hospitalization for serial BG monitoring)
what supportive care treatments are utilized for preg toxemia/ketosis in SR?
- anti-inflammatories (flunixin)
- PPN/TTN
- Transfauntation
- Antioxidants (vit C or BOSE)
- Thiamine
- Deworming (not with levamisole or albendazole)
what gestational ages would it be SAFE to induce parturition in a SR with pregnancy toxemia?
ewe – d140
doe – d143
Parurition induction in SR with pregnancy toxemia may be necessary in order to save the dam. What drugs are used to do this?
prostaglandins (dinoprost or lutalyse)
steroids (dexamethasone)
note that emergency c-section or euthanasia may be warrented.
how do you prevent pregnancy toxemia from occuring in SR?
- check ketones in last month of pregnancy to ID at-risk females
- group preg animals by BCS or preg stage for proper nutritional management (top-dress with high-energy supplementary feed, high qual hay and concentrates, proprionic salts)
when does hypocalcemia most commonly occur in SR?
shortly BEFORE or AFTER parturition
greatest Ca demand in non-dairy animals is 3-4 weeks BEFORE parturition.
what are clinical signs associated with hypocalcemia in SR?
- isolate from herd/flock
- Early on: stiff gait, tremors, hyperesthetic, ataxia
- Later on: hyposensitive, weak, recumbent, depleted muscle contractions (constipation, bloat, absence of PLR, increased HR and RR, coma)
What is involved in the treatment of uncomplicated cases of hypocalcemia in SR?
- IV calcium gluconate (heated to 35-40C before admin and admin slowly while monitoring HR)
- follow up with SQ or oral Ca gluconate
response will be immediate.
What is involved in the treatment of complicated cases of hypocalcemia in SR?
Avoid IV administration of Ca solutions in animals with concurrent pregnancy toxemia because this is fatal in animals with impaired liver function.
How can you prevent hypocalcemia from occuring in SR?
- pay attention to Ca content of feed
- avoid unnecessary stressors
- avoid oxalates in feed because they precipitate formation of non-absorbent compounds with Ca
- inorganic Ca is more digestible than Ca in feedstuffs.
- herd/flock management
Hypomagnesemia is primarily an issue in SR that graze …
- lush, rapidly growing pastures
- lush cereal grains (wheat and rye) in early lactation or late gestation
What are the main risk factors associated with hypomagensemia in SR?
- increase K (alfalfa hay / haylage)
- reduced Na content + increased milk yield
reduced Mg absorption from GI tract