Pregnancy Toxaemia

pregnancy toxaemia in sheep

• occurs in ewes in late pregnancy carrying twin lambs 'twin lamb disease'
• drain of carbohydrate stores is due to rapidly growing foetuses
• serious condition and highly fatal
• clinical signs (neurological)
  • apparent blindness
  • dullness
  • convulsions
  • coma
• sequelae
  • foetuses die
  • apparent recovery in ewe until toxaemia from the decomposing foetuses results in the ewe's death