Perinatal issues in sheep

Question 1

How much do of BW do animals usually eat

Answer 1

2.1%

Question 2

Causes and treatment of ringwomb

Answer 2

Failure of cervix to dilate
- May be due to premature parturition, malpresentation, disruption, low Ca2+, cervical scarring, exogenous oestrogens

Treating: manual dilation
- May use prostaglandins or oestradiol benzoat

Question 3

Treatment given in cases of uterine prolapse

Answer 3

Abs, NSAIDs, Ca2+ (because low Ca2+ can cause uterine inertia which contrbutes), oxytocin to aid involution

NB: not any more likely to recur

Question 4

Purse string vs Buhner suture

Answer 4

Purse string is for anus
Buhner is for vagina

Question 5

In twin lamb disease what two factors cause clinical signs

Answer 5

Hypoglycaemia
Hyperketonaemia

Question 6

Traeting twin lamb disease

Answer 6

Palatable good, propylene glycol mixture, IV glucose if severe neurological signs…

Question 7

Preventing twin lamb disease

Answer 7

Ensure sheep in good body condition at lambing i.e 3-3.5
> Should feed according to number of fetuses

Question 8

Differences between ketosis in sheep and goats

Answer 8

In goats we see in lactation as well as late pregnancy
+ signs include subcut oedema

Question 9

What is a low blood calcium level

Answer 9

<1.4mmol/L

Question 10

Treating hypocalcaemia in sheep

Answer 10

Give 10-20ml of 40% calcium borogluconate; IV
+ calcium/magnesium/dextrose subcut solutino

Question 11

Causes of hypocalcaemia

Answer 11

(high Ca2+ demand e.g in late pregnancy)
- See signs after stress, decreased food intake, change in diet, need enough Mg2+ for uptake which has no stores

Question 12

When do we see issues of hypomagnesaemia in sheep

Answer 12

Early lactation
> No body stores and high demand
+ Uptake Na+ dependent so lower when lower Na:K ratio

Question 13

Signs of hypomagnesaemia in sheep

Answer 13

Ataxia, incoordinatino, increased TPR< collapse, convulsion and death

Question 14

Treating hypomagnesaemia in sheep

Answer 14

SUBCUTANEOUS injection of magnesium sulphate

Question 15

Distinguishing hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia and pregnancy toxaemia

Answer 15

Timing and speed of onset
Hypocalcaemia = fastest onset + pre-lambing
Pregnancy toxaemia = slow onset; >48hours; pre lambing
Hypomagnesaemia = medium onset BUT usually in lactation

Question 16

Difference in presentation of acute vs chronic mastitis

Answer 16

Acute: sudden onset, lame appearance ewe, pyexic/inappatent, udder red/painful/swollen
Chronic: may just notice from poor lamb growth; lumps in udder but ewe systemically well

Question 17

Difference in approach to acute vs chronic mastitis in ewes

Answer 17

Acute: systemic and antimammary Abs, NSAIDs, stripping BUT KEEP
Chronic: may lance abscesses but cull at weaning

Question 18

Causative agents in mastitis

Answer 18

In 80% isolate M haemolytica (from lamb URT), S aureus (skin commensal)

Also get some cases with E coli, T pyogenes other staphs
Chronic cases often S aureus or T pyogenes

Question 19

What angles do we want teats to come out at

Answer 19

4 and 8 o clock

Question 20

How can orf (from lambs mouths) predispose to mastitis

Answer 20

Lymphoid follicles near udder disappear so lose this defence

Question 21

When is VIMCO S aureus vaccine cost effective for mastitis

Answer 21

When 10% prevalence

Question 22

What disease causing agalactiae is notifiable

Answer 22

Contagious agalactiae BUT absent from UK

(due to mycoplasma agalactiae)

Question 23

What virus can cause symmetrical udder hardness in ewes

Answer 23

Maedi-Visna

Question 24

What level do we want concentration of BHB in the blood to be less than

Answer 24

<1.1mmol/L

Question 25

What do low albumin levels indicate

Answer 25

Long term -- Chronic disease; e.g fasciolosis

Question 26

What do low magnesium levels tell us

Answer 26

Sheep not eating enough; because no stores of Mg so this reflects CURRENT intae

Question 27

What is the max than concentrates should make up of the DMI to avoid ruminal acidosis

Answer 27

60%

Question 28

How long do brown fat reserves + glycogen in newborn lambs last

Answer 28

5-6 hours

Question 29

What causes watery mouth disease

Answer 29

Non enteropathogenic E coli - Seen in 12-48 hour old lambs; high morlaity

Question 30

What can cause septicaemia in young lambs

Answer 30

Enteroinvasive E coli crossing gut lining

Question 31

What should we be using to dip lamb navels

Answer 31

10% iodine

Question 32

What is the main bacteria involved in joint ill

Answer 32

Strep dysgalactiae (mother vaginal commensals)

Question 33

How do we treat joint ill in lambs

Answer 33

Corticosteroid injection Procaine penicillin

Question 34

What is drunken lamb or floppy kid syndrome

Answer 34

Metabolic acidosis of unknown origin Seen mainly in sucklers; may relate to milk --> remove kids from mum in outbreak

Question 35

What causes lamb dysentry and which lambs do we see it in

Answer 35

Clostridium perfringens In large, strong, lambs

Question 36

What causes systemic pasteurellosis in lambs

Answer 36

Mannheimia haemolytica

Question 37

What is entropion

Answer 37

Congenital defect = inturned eyelids - Can manually roll out, or use clips, or use penicillin injection

Question 38

Suggested risk factors for contracted tendons

Answer 38

Large lambs/litter size, iodine deficiency OR toxicity, poisonous plants

Question 39

What does copper deficiency in utero lead to in young lambs

Answer 39

Spinal cord demyelination; progressie posterior paralysis = SWAYBACK

Question 40

What does selenium deficiency in lamb cause

Answer 40

Oxidative damage to muscle tissue (see pale muscle areas with calcium deposits); weakness, stiffness, heart rate and murmur Normally selenium rather than vit E which is the issue

Question 41

What does iodine deficiency in utero cause

Answer 41

STillbirth or weak lambs with enlarged thyroid

Question 42

Risk with oversupplementing pregnant ewes with iodine

Answer 42

Can get lamb hypermaturity and decreased colostrum absorption

Question 43

What do different umbilical cord appearances mean

Answer 43

Shrivelled and dried = died post partum Square end = died inter-partum Tapered end = died pre-partum

Question 44

What total protein level in a lamb do we consider to be total FPT

Answer 44

<45g/L We want >55 g/L

Question 45

What does a change of brown fat from pink white to brown and gelatinous indicate

Answer 45

Starvatino/exposure

Question 46

What does lots of fractured liver capsules on lamb post mortems suggest

Answer 46

There is enzootic abortion of ewes going on; this causes large, friable livers

Question 47

Signs of dystocia in PM lamb

Answer 47

Subcut oedema, broken ribs, meconium staining, meningeal/scleral bleeds, fractured liver capsule