Specific problems Specific problems related to prolific ewesrelated to prolific ewes

Dr Abu Siam MazenDr Abu Siam MazenDVM DVM

February 2008February 2008

The afeq ewes are a highly specialized animals The afeq ewes are a highly specialized animals that need a productive and healthy managementthat need a productive and healthy management

- -Normal pregnancy risksNormal pregnancy risks..

- -More tendency to pregnancy toxemiaMore tendency to pregnancy toxemia..

- -More tendency to pregnancy hypocacemiaMore tendency to pregnancy hypocacemia..

- -More tendency to dystociaMore tendency to dystocia . .

Pregnancy toxemiaPregnancy toxemia

Metabolic disorder due to inadequate nutrition Metabolic disorder due to inadequate nutrition

in late pregnancyin late pregnancy..serologicallyserologically: : low glucose and high levels low glucose and high levels of ketone bodies in the blood of ketone bodies in the blood..

PathologicallyPathologically: : fatty liverfatty liver..

BiochemicallyBiochemically: : ketosisketosis..

ClinicallyClinically: : signs of hepatic encephalopathysigns of hepatic encephalopathy . .

Pregnancy toxemiaPregnancy toxemia

EtiolologyEtiolology : :

- -Under nutrition in late pregnancyUnder nutrition in late pregnancy..

- -Prolific ewes are more susceptibleProlific ewes are more susceptible..

- -Overweight ewesOverweight ewes..

- -Stress conditionStress condition..

- -geneticsgenetics..

Pregnancy toxemiaPregnancy toxemia

PathogenesisPathogenesis::

High demands of glucose Lipids High demands of glucose Lipids mobilization for energy production mobilization for energy production ketone bodiesketone bodies..

gluconeogenesis ketogenesisgluconeogenesis ketogenesis

Fatty liver: yellow and friable

Pregnancy toxemiaPregnancy toxemia

Clinical signsClinical signs::Early signs are difficult to detectEarly signs are difficult to detect..

- -inappetenceinappetence.. - -Unusual posturesUnusual postures..

- -Teeth grindingTeeth grinding.. - -Neurological disordersNeurological disorders..

- -Sternal decubitusSternal decubitus.. - -ComaComa.. - -DeathDeath . .

Pregnancy ToxemiaPregnancy Toxemia

Pregnancy toxemiaPregnancy toxemia

DiagnosisDiagnosis::

- -Differential diagnosis with acute Differential diagnosis with acute hypocalcemia hypocalcemia . .

- -Clinical signsClinical signs . .

- -Positive ketostixPositive ketostix..

- -Blood biochemistry (hypoglycaemia, Blood biochemistry (hypoglycaemia, ketone bodies) ketone bodies)

Pregnancy toxemiaPregnancy toxemia

ProphylaxisProphylaxis::

- -Identify predisposed animals. (records, Identify predisposed animals. (records, genetics, US, BSC in late 6 weeks of genetics, US, BSC in late 6 weeks of pregnancy) pregnancy)

- -Avoid obesity in early pregnancyAvoid obesity in early pregnancy.. - -Attention with over feed lactic Attention with over feed lactic

acidosis, laminitis . - acidosis, laminitis . - Build a quality diet not a quantity one Build a quality diet not a quantity one . .

Pregnancy toxemiaPregnancy toxemia

TreatmentTreatment::

- -Just early treatment is successfulJust early treatment is successful.. - -exerciseexercise..

- -Propylene glycol: 100 ml twice a dayPropylene glycol: 100 ml twice a day.. - -Ca, Ca, scsc..

- -ElectrolytesElectrolytes.. - -Dextrose, glucoseDextrose, glucose..

- -CorticosteroidesCorticosteroides.. - -Induction of parturitionInduction of parturition..

HypocalcemiaHypocalcemia

EtiologyEtiology::

Fall of serum calcium and phosphorous levels in Fall of serum calcium and phosphorous levels in late pregnancylate pregnancy..

Clinical signsClinical signs::

- -Muscle tremorsMuscle tremors.. - -Sternal decubitusSternal decubitus..

- -Shallow respirationShallow respiration.. - -comacoma..

- -Death in 6- 48 h occur from heart failureDeath in 6- 48 h occur from heart failure..

HypocalcemiaHypocalcemia

DiagnosisDiagnosis::

- -Clinical signsClinical signs..

- -Differential diagnosis pregnancy toxemiaDifferential diagnosis pregnancy toxemia..

TreatmentTreatment::

Calcium borogluconate 20%, 80-100 mlCalcium borogluconate 20%, 80-100 ml

HypocalcemiaHypocalcemia

PreventionPrevention::

- -Avoid high K feeds in gestationAvoid high K feeds in gestation..

- -Avoid hays fertilized with KAvoid hays fertilized with K..

- -Keep levels of 0.8% calcium, 0.3% Keep levels of 0.8% calcium, 0.3% phosphorus phosphorus

- -Vit DVit D..

DystociaDystociaDifficult lambing with a prolonged delivery Difficult lambing with a prolonged delivery that requires assistance.that requires assistance.

CAUSESCAUSES

- Dystocia related to the parturient ewe.- Dystocia related to the parturient ewe.

- Dystocia related to the fetus.- Dystocia related to the fetus.

- Dystocia related to the farmer. - Dystocia related to the farmer.

Dystocia related to the eweDystocia related to the ewe

- -Mymetrial defects. (non common)Mymetrial defects. (non common)..

- -Metabolic abnormalities, (hypocalcemia)Metabolic abnormalities, (hypocalcemia)..

- -Inadequate pelvic diameterInadequate pelvic diameter..

- -Insufficient dilation of birth canal due to Insufficient dilation of birth canal due to hormonal disorders hormonal disorders..

- -Uterine torsionUterine torsion . .

Dystocia related to the fetusDystocia related to the fetus

- -Fetal oversizeFetal oversize..

- -Fetal deathFetal death..

- -Abnormal fetus presentation and postureAbnormal fetus presentation and posture..

- -Fetal malformationFetal malformation..

- -twinstwins . .

Different presentationDifferent presentation

TreatmentTreatment

- -Clean, dry area for lambingClean, dry area for lambing.. - -Hands, instruments should be scrubbed in Hands, instruments should be scrubbed in

disinfectants disinfectants.. - -Area around the vulva should be cleanedArea around the vulva should be cleaned..

- -vaginal, birth canal and cervix examvaginal, birth canal and cervix exam.. - -Use a lubrificant if the canal is not wet to avoid lacerationUse a lubrificant if the canal is not wet to avoid laceration..

- -Drugs (oxitocin, cortisone)Drugs (oxitocin, cortisone).. - -Manipulate the fetus to the correct positionManipulate the fetus to the correct position..

- -Cesarean sectionCesarean section..

Drogs post dystociaDrogs post dystocia

--intrauterine pessariesintrauterine pessaries..

- -Oxytocin intrauterineOxytocin intrauterine..

- -AntibioticsAntibiotics..

- -analgesicsanalgesics..

Vaginitis, vulvitisVaginitis, vulvitis

Trauma post-partumTrauma post-partum..

Clinical signsClinical signs::

- -Edema, depression, fever, loss of appetite, Edema, depression, fever, loss of appetite, fetid exudate fetid exudate . .

- -May developed to vaginal prolapseMay developed to vaginal prolapse..

- -May cause retained placentaMay cause retained placenta . .

- -May developed to metritisMay developed to metritis..

Vaginal prolapseVaginal prolapse

With or without cervix prolapseWith or without cervix prolapse

Predisposed factorsPredisposed factors::

- -Relaxation of the birth canal tissueRelaxation of the birth canal tissue.. - -Prolific ewesProlific ewes..

- -Intra abdominal pressureIntra abdominal pressure.. - -VaginitisVaginitis - -GeneticsGenetics

- -Closed animalsClosed animals

Uterine prolapseUterine prolapse

Occur a few hours after parturitionOccur a few hours after parturition

TreatmentTreatment::

- -Removing the placentaRemoving the placenta.. - -Cleaning and disinfectingCleaning and disinfecting..

- -Replacing with beginning at the cervical Replacing with beginning at the cervical portion portion . .

- -Insert the hand in the hornsInsert the hand in the horns.. - -oxitocin, Ca, antibiotics, analgesics, exerciseoxitocin, Ca, antibiotics, analgesics, exercise..

Uterine prolapseUterine prolapse

Uterine injuryUterine injury

Retained placentaRetained placenta

Fetal membranes expulsion occurs max 12 hours Fetal membranes expulsion occurs max 12 hours after parturition retained placentaafter parturition retained placenta

Cotyledones not detach from the caruncular cryptsCotyledones not detach from the caruncular crypts

Uterine involution and decline in uterine blood Uterine involution and decline in uterine blood contribute to the retentioncontribute to the retention..

CausesCauses: abortion, membranes hydrope, : abortion, membranes hydrope, prolonged gestation, twines, placentitis, prolonged gestation, twines, placentitis,

genetics, nutrition, hormonesgenetics, nutrition, hormones..

Retained placentaRetained placenta

TreatmentTreatment::

- -Manual removalManual removal

- -Intra uterine antibioticsIntra uterine antibiotics

- -Systemic antibioticsSystemic antibiotics

- -oxytocinoxytocin

conclusionconclusion

Afeq ewes are a prolific animals that Afeq ewes are a prolific animals that need a productive management need a productive management

Adequate and quality nutritionAdequate and quality nutrition

Vaginal examination post parturition Vaginal examination post parturition should be routine should be routine

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTIONTHANK YOU FOR ATTENTION