Pregnancy toxemia:
Syn: Ovine ketosis, Lambing sickness, Twin lamb disease, Post-parturient dyspepsia
- It is most common metabolic disorder of sheep and goat during final stage of lactation.
- It occurs as a result of inappropriate metabolism of carbohydrate and fats.
- It is characterized by hypoglycemic encephalopathy, with a variety of behavioral and neurological clinical signs.
- It occurs more often in animals carrying multiple fetuses.
Epidemiology:
- All breed of sheep and goat are susceptible
- High in starvation condition, carrying multiple foetus
- Disease of intensive farming system
- Low carbohydrate in diet especially during pregnancy.
- Case fatality approaches 100%, occurs in late pregnancy and in lactating does.
Etiology:
- Undernutrition/malnutrition/starvation
- Excess feeding of silage
- Increased glucose requirement during advanced pregnancy
- Inadequate exercise
- Cobalt deficiency
- Inclement weather