I need you now Doc!!! Lew Strickland DVM MS DACT Extension Veterinarian University of Tennessee
First Aid The goal of this presentation is to help you recognize a serious emergency and know what to do while awaiting your veterinarian s arrival.
Plan of Action Keep your veterinarian s phone # handy Especially after hours Back-up Vet Names of neighbors
Plan of Action Have a first aid kit readily available Don t hide it!
Contents Stethoscope Cotton roll* Contact bandage* Gauze wrap* Gauze pads, assorted sizes* Cling wrap* Adhesive wrap and adhesive tape Sharp scissors Hemostats (an instrument used to compress a bleeding vessel) Steel cup or container Rectal thermometer with string and clip attached Surgical scrub and antiseptic solution Latex gloves Flashlight and spare batteries Permanent marker pen PVC tubing cut in half the long way (like a gutter) for emergency splinting. Alabama Chrome Duct tape
Banamine Rx
Extra-label!!!
Normal physical parameters of adult goats Temperature 102-104 degrees F Ruminations 1-2 per minute Pulse 70-90 beats per minute Respiration 15-30 breaths per minute
Parturition 1 st stage Nervousness & Isolation Tailhead ligaments relaxed Vulva soft, swollen Mammary development (last trimester) Udder full ( bagged up ) Teats may have small wax beads Constant bleating Uterus contracts and forces the fetus into the birth canal Contact vet if > 6 hours
Parturition 2 nd stage Beginning: fetus enters the birth canal Chorioallantois ruptures Ideal presentation Dam very restless, switching sides, getting up and laying back down End: birth of the fetus Should not take > 1hr between kids without getting assistance
Parturition 3 rd stage Expulsion of the placenta Placenta should be passed within 8-12 hrs Retained placenta: immediate veterinary attention
Fetal Presentation Presentation - This refers to whether the lamb/kid is coming head first, backwards or sideways. Position - This refers to whether the lamb/kid is right-side up or upside-down. Posture - This refers to where the legs of the lamb/kid are in relation to its body
Problems during Parturition Dystocia Difficult or delayed birth at any stage of labor Causes Cervix did not dilate Prolonged labor Fetus too big Pelvis too narrow Multiple fetuses presenting at same time Abnormal presentation Fat Doe Calcium deficiency
Abnormal Presentations Elbow Lock Head back One leg back Both legs back Twins front and back Twins four legs Breach- tail first
OB instruments
Gloves!!!!!
Chlamydiosis Most common cause of abortion in goats in NA, also common in sheep Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydophila abortus: gram-negative intracellular bacteria Pneumonia, keratoconjunctivitis, epididymitis, polyarthritis Reservoirs pigeons, sparrows Transmission oral/nasal from infected abortuses Infected does may not show signs until after cotyledons infected, about 90 days Zoonotic pregnant women
Toxoplasmosis One of the most common causes of abortion in sheep and goats also mummification, stillbirth, weak kids Toxoplasma gondii protozoal disease: bradyzoites in muscle in nonpregnant; in pregnant does, infects placenta Pathogenesis cats are intermediate hosts- fecal contamination of feed Kittens only usually shed oocytes Zoonotic potential
Campylobacteriosis (vibriosis) Most significant cause of abortion in sheep in NA only rarely in goats Campylobacter jejuni (sporadic) and C. fetus (outbreaks, storms) are causative species Gram-negative rods, live in intestines Ewes infected by ingestion Late term abortions, stillbirths, and weak lambs common Zoonotic GI disease in humans
Brucellosis Brucella melitensis causes abortion, weak kids, mastitis in goats historically not in US, but recent outbreaks Brucella ovis rarely causes abortion, more commonly causes epididymitis in rams widespread in sheep in western US Oral transmission ingestestion of feed contaminated by aborted fetus/vaginal discharge Zoonotic Malta fever
Leptospirosis Small ruminants not often affected by Leptospirosis Goats are more susceptible than sheep Leptospira interrogans serovars icterohemorrhagiae, grippotyphosa, pomona, hardjo, bratislava all have been reported Caused by exposure to environments contaminated by cattle, pigs, wildlife, rodent urine Causes abortion, renal disease, anemia, hemoglobinuria Zoonotic
Listeriosis Meningoencephalitis, abortion, septicemia Listeria monocytogenes and L. ivanovii (only abortion in sheep) Caused by ingestion of organism found in soil, silage, hay, forage in boggy areas, ph >5.5 Diagnosis culture from abortus or vaginal discharge Treatment Tetracyclines Zoonotic
Q-Fever Coxiella burnetti intracellular rickettsial organism Reported in NA and many other countries Cattle, sheep, goats, wildlife, and humans may carry infection Spread by inhalation of dried organism, or contact of abortus, discharge Treatment - tetracyclines Zoonotic causes acute, influenza-like disease, may progress to hepatitis or endocarditis
Pregnancy Toxemia Ketosis, lambing paralysis, sleeping sickness Low blood glucose Low energy intake late pregnancy Breakdown of fat into toxic ketone bodies
Susceptible Female with multiple feti Fat or thin Old Timid
Pregnancy toxemia Clinical signs Depression/ lethargic Recumbent/down Neurologic
What now?? Induction of parturition Rx Oral glucose/iv glucose Calcium borogluconate 23% Propylene glycol 15-30 ml/12hrs
Hypocalcemia (Milk Fever) Late gestation early lactation Low blood Ca Overlaps w/ pregnancy toxemia TX: oral Ca or IV Ca
Vaginal Prolapse Typically last month of gestation More common in Ewes than Does
Causes Multiple feti Increased rumen fill poor quality forage Short tail dock Obesity Odd geographical magnetic pull of gravity Genetic predisposition
Treatment Pain relief (Banamine) Clean with soapy water Replace Spoon, harness, purse string suture Cull
Uterine Prolapse Uterus is inside out Typically post parturition Can occur couple days later Life threatening
Causes Dystocia Retained placenta Nutritional deficiencies
treatment Protect uterus Clean soapy water Elevate hindquarters Replace uterus Calcium Systemic antibiotics
Urolithiasis (Bladder Stones) Typically castrated bucks & pet goats Phosphate calculi Feeding high concentrate low roughage Low calcium to phosphate ratio High magnesium diet Alkaline urine
Clinical signs Straining to urinate May scream painful Tail flagging Hematuria Colic / grinding teeth
Prevention Proper balanced diet Ca:Ph ratio 1:1 1:2 Access to clean fresh water ad libitum Sodium Chloride 3-5% DMI Avoid alfalfa & molasses rich feeds Anionic diet
In the meantime Banamine Clip urethral process
Questions/Discussion Please lstrick5@utk.edu