Unit 14: Metabolic & Deficiency Diseases. Milk Fever Also called: Hypocalcemia Parturient paresis Downer cow syndrome Non-febrile Affects: Dairy,

Unit 14: Metabolic & Deficiency Diseases

Unit 14: Metabolic & Deficiency Diseases Milk Fever

Also called: Hypocalcemia Parturient paresis Downer cow syndrome

Non-febrile Affects:

Dairy, beef, sheep, goats


Caused by: Acute deficiency of Ca

Results in: Paralysis Circulatory collapse Coma Death

6% incidence rate in dairy cattle Occurs within 24 hrs of calving


Incidence increases with milk production and age Some susceptibility differences between dairy

breeds Sub clinical hypocalcemia rates can affect 50% of

dairy cows Leads to:

Decreased DMI Ketosis RP’s DA’s Decreased reproductive efficiency Decreased milk production in that lactation


Rare in beef cattle Goats – similar incidence rate to dairy Cause

Initiation of lactation causes severe outflow of Ca Ca interacts with other minerals in the blood

Incidence may be influenced by levels of: Mg, K, P, estrogen levels, Acid-base balance

Can either help cow adjust and mobilize Ca, or can inhibit parathyroid glands and renal synthesis of Vit D which restricts blood Ca levels


Feeding high Ca diets prior to parturition Cow doesn’t adapt to mobilizing own Ca reserves

Clinical Signs Stage I

Hypertensive, weakness, anorexic, hypersensitive Stage II

Flaccid paralysis, lying on sternum, depression, small muscle tremors, low body temp, cold extremities, muffled heart beat, bloat, dilated pupils

Stage III Lying on side, comatose


Treatment Stage I

Oral or IV Ca salts Oral gels can absorb into the blood in ~15 min Oral treatment allows for higher Ca dosage May help prevent relapse

Stages II & III Must treat w/ IV Ca

Administer slowly over period of 10 min May require subsequent treatments

Should respond w/in 30 min of treatment and be standing


Prevention Good nutritional management practices in the

preparturient period Acidification of the diet

Ketosis Occurs in gestating or lactating cattle Most frequently happens in first 6 wks after

calving Very often affects first-calf heifers, or older cows


Excessive amounts of ketone bodies found in urine, blood, milk

Also called: Acetonemia, hypoglycemia

Similar to pregnancy disease in ewes Cause

Nutritional origin characterized by low blood sugar Occurs when intake or the nutrition provided doesn’t

meet requirements of the animal Animal mobilizes its own fat reserves


Can be handled for brief periods, but excessive time spent mobilizing own fat reserves results in ketosis

Can use a Keto Stick to test urine for ketone bodies

Clinical Signs Rapid weight loss Loss of appetite Acetone smell on the breath Nervousness


Prevention Avoid excessively fat cows at calving Increase concentrate levels gradually after calving Avoid abrupt forage changes Feed high quality hay Maintain proper CP, min/vit levels Focus on cow comfort

Temp Clean, fresh bedding Good ventilation


Feed 4 oz. propylene glycol Introduce higher grain content in ration before

parturition Treatment

.5 – 1lb propylene glycol or sodium propionate daily for 5-10d Provide as a drench if the animal isn’t eating

IV glucose solution can also help Sheep & goats – give 3-4 oz daily prior to parturition Do not exceed 8 oz glycol in a treatment – increases

the severity and cow mimics symptoms of milk fever

Unit 14: Metabolic & Deficiency Diseases Grass Tetany

Occurs in cattle & sheep grazing on lush pastures Hypomagnesia (low blood Mg), sometimes

accompanied by hypocalcemia High levels of N and K combine to inhibit Mg

absorption Cause

Common in pastures early in the spring (within first 2-3 weeks of grazing)


Can occur later in season under specific weather conditions

Also happens when cows overgraze one field, then move to a new lush field

Small grain pastures increase incidence Many stressors can trigger grass tetany

Clinical Signs Acute cases

Caused by rapid drop in blood Mg levels Sudden deaths Drastic behavioral changes


Run blindly, staggering, convulsions

Less acute cases Incoordination Loss of appetite Muscle spasms Extreme salivation 6-10 hrs from first symptoms to death, if left untreated

Little chance of recovery if not treated before the comatose state


Prevention Supplement Mg daily through high-risk period

Crash feeding Mg after disease onset doesn’t help Start feeding 30d prior to help build up blood Mg levels Cows – 20 to 30g Mg/d Calves & ewes 4-8g High levels of K, P, Ca decrease Mg efficiency, so increase

feeding rate to account for decreased absorption

Treatment Call vet immediately

Success is limited after 8-12 hrs


200cc of Epsom Salts (Mg Sulfate) SQ injection 50cc/site Increases blood Mg levels in 15 min

IV Mg/Ca solution must be administered slowly to prevent heart failure

Oral administration to sick animals not effective because of increased time of absorption into the blood

Water treatment Only for animals not down Will decrease water consumption


Remove from problem causing pasture Supplement 30g Mg for 7-14d

Grass tetany cases will likely repeat

White Muscle Disease Can occur in calves, lambs, foals, pigs More common in areas where Se content in low

in the soil Cause

Se deficiency - <.02 ppm Se intake/d


Clinical Signs Acute form

Sudden death Sub clinical form

May only be seen by apparent unthriftyness Lambs most often affected during first month Stiffness, resistance to standing No fever or loss of appetite Calves affected from birth to 4 months Foals – stiffness, resistance to nursing, lack of

movement


Pigs – 1-4 months of age Stiffness, muscle dysfunction

Post-mortem examination Pale, white streaks in skeletal muscle tissue Found in same muscles on both sides of the body Can also occur on the heart muscle

Prevention Feed dams rations with adequate amounts of

Se & Vit E Supplement at rate of .3 ppm


Injections can help boost Se levels prior to parturition

Treatment IM injection of sodium selenite/vit E Must be given by a vet 30d withdrawal

Hypoglycemia in Newborn Pigs Called baby pig disease, or 3 day pig disease Low blood sugar levels


Cause Pig’s inability to manufacture and use glucose in their

body the first few days, or abnormality in the colostrum

Agalactia Dysgalactia Weak pigs pushed back from nursing Inability or refusal to nurse due to mouth injury Exposure to cold, damp environment increases

glucose draw


Clinical Signs Lack of coordination Shivering Weakness Hair stands on end Inactivity Convulsions Subnormal temp, slowed heartbeat Death in pigs untreated w/in 24-36 hrs


Prevention Eliminate sows that are prone to MMA Proper nutrition for the sow prior to farrowing Warm, dry, draft-free environment Don’t damage mouth when clipping needle teeth Sows w/ low milk production

Move pigs to another sow Milk replacer IM injections of glucose every 4-6 hrs


Treatment Supplemental feeding Improve environment Glucose injections

Parakeratosis in Swine Elephant hide appearance in feeder pigs Cause

Zn deficiency coupled w/ excess Ca supplementation


Clinical Signs Usually occurs in confinement during fall and winter Pigs between 7 and 20 wks of age most susceptible Skin becomes dry and crusty Crust thickens and spread up underline, sides, around

jowl, and ears Crust will form rather symmetrically Differs from mange due to little itching, rubbing,

scratching


Prevention Proper feeding rates of Ca, Zn, and fat

Treatment Reduce Ca content in ration Increase Zn level

Unit 14: Metabolic & Deficiency Diseases. Milk Fever Also called: Hypocalcemia Parturient paresis Downer cow syndrome Non-febrile Affects: Dairy,

Documents

lactation slide

blood ca levels

comatose slide

acute deficiency of

hrs of calving slide

severe outflow of ca

breath nervousness slide

blood incidence