Sudden death in Ruminants

Question 1

what to check in history

Answer 1

any clinical signs before
no of animals affected
changes in management

Question 2

post-mortem checks

Answer 2

always recommended

collect samples for analysis

Question 3

Causes of sudden death

Answer 3

infectious – Septicaemia/toxaemia, Anaemia 
Toxicity – plant or chemical 
Metabolic disease 
Nutritional 
Other e.g. climate, trauma

Question 4

infectious – Septicaemia/toxaemia, Anaemia - diagnosis

Answer 4

History esp. vaccination status, management
Clinical signs noted
Changes in mucus membrane colour
PME

Question 5

infectious anaemia

Answer 5

E.g. acute fascioliasis, haemonchosis

Should be obvious premonitory clinical signs

Question 6

infectious anaemia - diagnosis

Answer 6

History esp. parasite control, clinical signs
Pale mucous membranes
PME more useful than FEC or blood testing

Question 7

plant toxicity

Answer 7

e.g. yew, oleander
Access to old house site
Prunings put into field
Storm bringing down boughs

Question 8

plant toxicity - diagnosis

Answer 8

History esp. access to toxic plants, all deaths in same field etc
search field
PME – presence of leaves in rumen. Variety of PME signs

Question 9

mineral toxicity

Answer 9

e.g. selenium, copper
Iatrogenic: Accidental over-supplementation
Animals fed wrong type of feed
Deaths usually very rapid (esp. Se)

Question 10

mineral toxicity - diagnosis

Answer 10

History of supplementation or feed change
Se: blood Se levels
Cu: Cu levels, PME

Question 11

chemical toxicity

Answer 11

e.g. lead, cyanide etc 
Access to random stuff 
Calves in old buildings (lead paint) 
Accidental access to pest poisons 
Medicated feed given to wrong animals

Question 12

Metabolic disturbances

Answer 12

hypocalcaemia, ketosis, hypomagnesaemia

Question 13

hypothermia

Answer 13

reasonably common esp. young lambs & sheep after shearing

Question 14

Preventing further cases asap

Answer 14

Infectious: change husbandry, antibiotics, vaccination, anthelmintic as appropriate
Toxicity: remove from source, therapy as appropriate
Metabolic: treat as appropriate, changes to husbandry for remainder of animals
Nutritional: change diet, therapy as appropriate

Question 15

infectious – Septicaemia/toxaemia, Anaemia

Answer 15

Common, usually bacterial
Often in environment, or commensals
Predisposed by management factors – Good nutrition, High stocking density, Flooding