Usefulness of clinical observations and blood chemistry values for predicting clinical outcomes in dairy goats with pregnancy toxaemia.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy toxaemia (PT) is a disease that affects pregnant goats during their last month of gestation and is characterized by a high case fatality rate. This study involved 32 does maintained on a commercial dairy goat farm that were diagnosed with PT. A physical examination was performed on and haematology parameters obtained from each doe, at the time of diagnosis. The data from the 24 PT goats that died was compared with the corresponding data from the 8 PT goats that survived. RESULTS: Polypnea, swollen limbs, anorexia with absence of ruminal motility, recumbency, nervous signs and drooping ears were the most frequently observed clinical manifestations. Nineteen out of 21 recumbent goats died. Sixteen out of 17 goats with anorexia and absence of ruminal motility died. Mean beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) values in the goats that died were not significantly different from those in goats that survived. The blood values for pH and pCO2 (p < 0.005) as well as for HCO3-, BE and K+ (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the goats that died than in those that survived. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical signs most indicative of a poor prognosis are anorexia with absence of ruminal motility and recumbency. Among the blood parameters to be considered, hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis are the most relevant. Goats with PT have a high mortality and their condition can deteriorate very fast. Based on the authors's experience, a good strategy to minimize the economic losses caused by PT is to focus on the offspring survival rate since an early decision (induction of kidding or caesarian surgery) can increase the number of alive kids.

Glucose intolerance in dairy goats with pregnancy toxemia: Lack of correlation between blood pH and beta hydroxybutyric acid values.

This study assessed the response to a glucose tolerance test in dairy goats with pregnancy toxemia (PT), in healthy, pregnant, non-lactating dairy goats in the last month of gestation (HP), and in healthy, lactating, non-pregnant, dairy goats in mid-lactation (HL). A 500 mL volume of a 5% glucose solution was administered by the IV route. Blood glucose concentrations returned to pre-infusion levels by 90 min in all 8 HL goats, and by 180 min in all 8 HP goats. In contrast, concentrations of blood glucose were still significantly above pre-infusion levels at 180 min post-infusion in all 8 PT goats. Thus, marked glucose intolerance was demonstrated in the PT goats, and mild intolerance was noted in the HP goats. In 25 goats diagnosed with PT and having blood beta hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) values ≥ 2.9 mmol/L, the correlation coefficient for BHBA with blood pH was non-significant.

Intolérance au glucose chez les chèvres laitières atteintes de toxémie gestationnelle : absence de corrélation entre les valeurs du pH sanguin et de l'acide bêta-hydroxybutyrique. Cette étude a évalué la réponse à un test de tolérance au glucose chez des chèvres laitières atteintes de toxémie gestationnelle (TG), chez des chèvres laitières gravides en santé qui n'étaient pas en lactation durant le dernier mois de la gestation (HP) et chez des chèvres laitières non gravides en santé en pleine lactation (HL). Un volume de 500 mL d'une solution de glucose à 5 % a été administrée par voie IV. Les concentrations de glucose sanguin sont retournées à la normale dans un délai de 90 minutes chez les huit chèvres HL et dans un délai de 180 minutes chez les huit chèvres HP. Par contraste, les concentrations de glucose sanguin étaient toujours significativement supérieures aux niveaux de pré-infusion 180 minutes après l'infusion chez les huit chèvres TG. Par conséquent, une intolérance au glucose marquée a été démontrée chez les chèvres TG et une intolérance légère a été observée chez les chèvres HP. Chez les 25 chèvres diagnostiquées avec la TG qui présentaient des valeurs sanguines d'acide bêta-hydroxybotyrique (BHBA) de ≥ 2,9 mmol/L, le coefficient de corrélation pour les BHBA avec le pH sanguin n'était pas significatif.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Glycaemia as a sign of the viability of the foetuses in the last days of gestation in dairy goats with pregnancy toxaemia.

Pregnancy toxaemia is one of the most common diseases affecting small ruminants in the last month of gestation. Nearly 80% of the foetal growth occurs in the last 6 weeks of gestation. Fat goats and goats carrying twins and triplets are at greater risk. Pregnancy toxaemia is characterized by metabolic acidosis, hypoglycaemia and ketonaemia and a very high mortality rate. In our study five does with pregnancy toxaemia showed a marked hyperglycaemia (12.4 ± 5.4 mmol/L). Although our findings are based on a small population sample (10 goats), we nonetheless postulate that hyperglycaemia could be explained by the death of the foetuses. Caesarian surgery was performed on four of the five does with hyperglycaemia (HG does). In the fifth, kidding was induced. In this group, two does had two dead foetuses, two had three dead foetuses and one does had four foetuses, only one of which was alive. Caesarian surgery was performed on all five does with hypoglycaemia (LG does). Four does of the LG group had three foetuses and one had two foetuses, all alive. The HG doe had lower rectal temperatures, lower sodium and higher urea nitrogen (BUN) in the blood when compared with the LG does. As the condition of affected does may deteriorate quickly, the results of the present study suggest that in the last days of pregnancy goats with pregnancy toxaemia and concurrent hypoglycaemia should be considered for caesarian surgery.

Effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on long-term pain in calves castrated by use of an external clamping technique following epidural anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy of flunixin meglumine versus carprofen in controlling pain under field conditions following castration by use of an external clamping technique in calves that received epidural anesthesia. ANIMALS: 40 male 5- to 6-month-old calves. PROCEDURES: Calves were allocated to 4 groups: castrated only (control calves; n=8); castrated 5 minutes after epidural injection of 2% lidocaine (epidural-alone treated calves; 8), castrated after epidural anesthesia and s.c. administration of flunixin meglumine (epidural-flunixin treated calves; 12), and castrated after epidural anesthesia and s.c. administration of carprofen (epidural-carprofen-treated calves; 11 [1 calf not included]). Plasma cortisol concentration was measured before and 6, 24, and 48 hours after castration. Time of arrival at the feed trough at 24 and 48 hours was observed. Calves were observed at 24 and 48 hours for 4 pain-related behaviors. RESULTS: At 6 hours, control calves had significantly higher plasma cortisol concentrations, compared with baseline values and those of epidural-flunixin- and epidural-carprofen-treated calves. At 24 hours, epidural-carprofen-treated calves had significantly lower plasma cortisol concentrations, compared with control calves. At 48 hours, epidural-carprofen-treated calves had plasma cortisol concentrations that were similar to baseline values and significantly lower than epidural-flunixin- and epidural-alone-treated calves. At 24 and 48 hours, epidural-carprofen-treated calves were first to arrive at the feed trough and had fewer pain-related behaviors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: s.c. administration of carprofen in combination with epidural injection of lidocaine may improve the welfare of calves castrated by use of an external clamping technique for up to 48 hours.

Effect of a quadrivalent vaccine against respiratory virus on the incidence of respiratory disease in weaned beef calves.

We investigated the effect of vaccination of male beef calves (mean age+/-S.D.: 158+/-31 days) against bovine herpes virus (BHV-1 or IBR virus), bovine respiratory syncitial virus (BRSV), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus and para-influenza (PI(3)) virus on the incidence of respiratory disease during the first forty days after weaning and entering a feed-lot in Portugal. In May 2003, Mertolenga, Preta and mixed-breed calves from 10 different beef herds, were systematically assigned (by order of entrance in a chute) to two treatment groups, before moving to a common feed-lot. One hundred and twenty five male calves were vaccinated with a quadrivalent vaccine (Rispoval 4) and revaccinated after 21-27 days while 148 herdmates were injected with saline (0.9% NaCl) on the same occasions. The incidence and severity of clinical cases of "bovine respiratory disease" (BRD) were evaluated every day during the first 40 days after entering the feed-lot. Morbidity (3% vs. 14%) and mortality (0% vs. 4%) due to BRD were significantly lower in the vaccinated group. Ten days after revaccination, the calves were treated with an antimicrobial - ending the study - after an outbreak of BRD caused a high incidence of disease in the non-vaccinated group. In conclusion, our results showed that Rispoval 4, a quadrivalent vaccine against respiratory viruses, under field conditions, reduces morbidity and mortality due to BRD in beef calves after weaning.