dz of lambs/kids

Question 1

why should we care about lamb/kid mortality? (other than the dead babies… lmao)

Answer 1

• lamb mortality = 10-30% of annual lamb crop b/t pregnancy and weaning
• 70% of death is related to mgmt, not infectious dz

Question 2

what are the common causes of stillbirth/abortion/weak newborns?

Answer 2

• toxoplasmosis
• enzootic abortion (Chlamydophila abortus)
• vibriosis (campylobacter fetus)

Question 3

how do you dx the cause of stillbirth/abortion/weak newborns?

Answer 3

fresh placenta + fetal tissue –> send to lab

for me to figure out :))))))))

Question 4

you do a necropsy on a sheep that aborted. this is the placenta. it is late winter/early spring. what is the likely diaGNOSIS?

Answer 4

toxoplasma

sporozoites invade gut wall and reach placenta via hematogenous route

Question 5

how do you tx toxoplasma in sheep/goats?

Answer 5

Decoquinate (anti parasitic)

Question 6

you have a sheep that has a fever and aborted 2 weeks before lambing. what is the most likely diagnosis? how do you figure out for sure?

Answer 6

enzootic abortion –> Chlamydophila abortus

serology

Question 7

how do you tx enzootic abortion/chlamydophila abortus?

Answer 7

tetracycline

there is a vaccine available from US (bacterin)

Question 8

you are necropsying a lamb that was aborted in the 3rd trimester. the placenta is thickened, the cotyledons are grey (see pic) and the fetal liver has many necrotic foci. what is the most likely diagnosis?

Answer 8

vibriosis —> Campylobacter fetus

contaminated water and feed (transmission)

Question 9

how do you tx vibriosis/Campylobacter fetus?

Answer 9

tetracycline

vaccine (bacterin)

Question 10

what is important to know about toxoplasma, chlamydophila abortus, AND campylobacter fetus?

Answer 10

THEY ARE ZOONOTIC!!!!!!!!

Question 11

what are the 2 main problems at parturition?

Answer 11

dystocia (mostly malposition or multiple lambs coming at same time)

mismothering (lack of strong bonding) –> important for ewe to lick lamb, don’t interfere too much

Question 12

what is the #1 cause of death in lambs and kids in the first 48 hours?

Answer 12

hypothermia

Question 13

how do you treat hypothermia in newborns?

Answer 13

• warm colostrum
• external source of heat
• dextrose 20% IP/IV, 10ml/kg
• milk/replacer 50ml/kg 6-8h
• avoid drafts

Question 14

what are some causes of starvation/hypoglycemia in lambs and kids?

Answer 14

• plugged teats in ewe
• mastitis/hard udder (OPP)
• poor bonding
• congenital defects
• large litter/poor production

Question 15

how do you tx starvation/hypoglycemia in lambs and kids?

Answer 15

early regocnogition!!

warming
glucose/dextrose (10ml/kg 20%)

Question 16

adequate transfer of passive immunity is a 2 actors event. what does this mean?

Answer 16

1. delivery of sufficient quantity of good quality colostrum in the intestinal tract
2. adequate absorption of ABs from colostrum to blood

Question 17

what are the problems with adequate transfer of passive immunity in sheeps & goats?

Answer 17

• colostrum bad quality
• low colostrum availability
• low ingestion
• low absorption

Question 18

what are the colostrum requirements for lambs/kids?

Answer 18

• IgG ≥ 12g/L
• 50-75 ml/kg, 3x first day (1st by 2h)
• cold temp = increase amount

Question 19

how do you dx FTPI?

Answer 19

total protein

we want >5.5g/dL

Question 20

what diseases are transmissible through colostrum?

Answer 20

• OPP
• CAE
• paratuberculosis (esp with cow colostrum!!))
• E. coli, salmonella

Question 21

what are the signs of septicemia?

Answer 21

acute collapse, temperature subnormal or fever, congested mm, diarrhea, swollen joints eventually

Question 22

what are the signs of omphalophlebitis?

omphalophlebitis can result in…?

Answer 22

fever, lethargy, anorexia

septicemia, peritonitis, UTI, arthritis

Question 23

how do you tx omphalophlebitis?

how do you prevent ?

Answer 23

Abx, supportive

prevention: sanitation, dipping of navel, colostrum

Question 24

what is spider lamb syndrome?

Answer 24

hereditary chondrodysplasia

deformity of legs and vertebral column by 4-6 weeks of age

affects black faced sheep a lot

mutation in the gene for fibroblast factor receptor 3 (FGFR3)

recessive

Question 25

what are the signs of spider lamb syndrome/hereditary chondrodysplasia?

Answer 25

angular limb deformities, arthrogryposis, scoliosis/kyphosis, facial deformity, other defects

may be some clues at birth (roman nose, long legs)

Question 26

what is Cache valley virus?

Answer 26

important cause of ovine/caprine preg failures and neonatal malformations

orthobunyavirus transmitted by mosquitoes

zoonotic!

Question 27

what is floppy kid syndrome?

Answer 27

metabolic acidosis without signs of dehydration

normal at birth, then sudden onset of flaccid paralysis @ 3-10 days of age w/o signs of d+ or other disease

decreased muscle tone, anorexia, apathy

transient and reversible condition, can occur in any breed, many kids may be affected at one time

no proven etiology

Question 28

what are the ddx for floppy kid syndrome?

Answer 28

Vit E/Se deficiency, enterotoxemia/sepsis

Question 29

what lab test results do you expect with floppy kid syndrome?

Answer 29

low pH, low bicarb, increase d-lactate, increase AG

Question 30

how do you tx floppy kid syndrome?

Answer 30

oral Na bicarb, IV fluid if severe

Question 31

lamb/kid pneumonia is caused by what? what are the signs? how do you treat?

Answer 31

virus/Mannheimia haemolytica/ sometimes P. multocida

fever, tachypnea. consolidation of lungs on necropsy

tx: ceftiofur or tetracycline

Question 32

what are the causes of nutritional scours? how do you tx?

Answer 32

• heavy milker
• singleton or death of a twin
• change from milk to milk replacer
• error in prep of milk replacer

tx = attention to detail

Question 33

what are the causes of infectious scours?

Answer 33

E. coli, Rotavirus, Salmonella, cryptosporidium, coccidia**

Question 34

what are the C/S of infectious scours?

Answer 34

wet fleece and tail

and if more severe: lethargy, staggering, sunken eyes, inability to stand, watch for hypothermia

Question 35

how do you dx infectious scourS? how do you tx?

Answer 35

lab eval

tx: oral electrolytes, IV electrolytes if severe

Question 36

how do you prevent infectious d+?

Answer 36

isolation of affected, ensure adequate colostrum, spreading/moving to another area, clean udder

there are no scours vaccines labelled for SR

Question 37

what is pulpy kidney disease? what are the C/S?

Answer 37

AKA enterotoxemia, affecting adults and young

caused by Clostridium perfringens type D. it is normally present in intestines, but changes in diet = proliferation (epsilon toxin)

shock or sudden death if parachute
D+ (mucus, blood)
abd pain
opisthotonus, paddling
glucosuria

Question 38

what are the signs of pulpy kidney dz on necropsy?

Answer 38

• pericardial fluid accumulation
• petechial hemorrhages on serosal surfaces (see picture)
• soft, pulpy kidney

Question 39

how do you tx pulpy kidney disease? and how do you prevent?

Answer 39

• NSAIDs
• antitoxin
• tetracycline

vaccinate to prevent, avoid digestive disturbances

Question 40

what are the forms/clinical signs of Schmallenberg virus? transmitted by? where is it?

Answer 40

adults: fever, drop in milk prod, sometimes D+

young: abortions, mummies, newborn calves/lambs with malformation

transmitted by mosquitoes
so far, only in EU

in order to import semen/embryos to Canada, they must test (-) for Schmallenberg virus