Sudden Death in FA Flashcards

1
Q

What is the first action needed if animals are found dead without cause?

A

move animals off pasture

- look around environment, perimeter, ditches

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2
Q

What should be looked for when investigating sudden death?

A
  • poisonous plants
  • any changes, ditching, cutting of trees
  • piles of hedge/plant cuttings
  • burnt out cars and car batteries - Pb
  • feed stores
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3
Q

Give 6 causes of sudden death

A
  1. infectious (septacaemia/anaemia/toxaemia eg. clostridia)
  2. toxicity (plant or chemical)
  3. metabolic disease
  4. nutritional
  5. other eg. climate or trauma
  6. ditching -> exposure of tubers
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4
Q

What are the main casues of infectious septicaemia or toxaemia? What may predispose to this?

A
  • usually bacterial
  • environmental or commensal
  • predisposed by management factors
    > good nutrition eg. clostridial diseases
    > high stocking density eg. slamonellosis
    > flooding eg. leptospirosis
  • check vax protocols
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5
Q

Outline a common clostidial vacination protocol

A

Ewe: senstiser + booster 4-6weeks later
Young lamb: maternal AB -> 12 weeks until weaning
Weaned lambs: decided whether or not to vaccinate depending on length of time to slaughter
- need 2 doses 4-6 weeks apart for full protection

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6
Q

What are potential infectious causes of anaemia? How can diagnosis be made?

A
  • parasites (acute fascioliasis, haemonchosis)
    > history - parasite control
  • pale MMs
  • PME more useful than FEC or bloods
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7
Q

Give examples of toxic plants

A

Yew
Oleander
Water Hemlock Dropwort (Dead mands fingers) - only tubers are toxic

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8
Q

Which minerals can be toxic if overdosed?

A

> selenium - very rapid death [check blood levels]

> copper [Cu levels/PME]

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9
Q

What is a common metabolic disturbance resulting in sudden death of cows?

A

Hypomagnesaemia

  • cold wet pasture, no meg supplement, potassium applied to pasture antagonises Mg uptake
  • majority of metabolic disturbances would be noticed if inspected regularly (bloat, peracute mastitis, twin lamb disease)
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10
Q

What nutritional imblaances may cause sudden death?

A
  • Thiamine B12 deficinecy
  • Change in GIT function (acidosis, bloat, gut torsion)
  • Deficiency of essential nutrients (intrisic due to change in microflora eg. CCN [mainly cattle, sometimes sheep] or extrinsic eg. water deprivation -> salt poisoning and brain oedema)
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11
Q

What climatic effects may cause sudden death?

A

Lightning (rare)

Hypothermia (common, esp young sheared sheep)

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12
Q

What must all cows found dead be tested for?

A

Anthrax

- do not cut open or move until anthrax smear performed on ear

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13
Q

What clinical disease does anthrax cause?

A
  • overwhelming septicamia

- enlarged spleen

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14
Q

Are goat vax protocol the same as sheep?

A

NO!

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15
Q

How should treatment for staggers be given?

A

Sub cut NOT IV!

- Mg

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16
Q

How may CCN be diagnosed on PME?

A

Brain may fluroesce under UV light