Sheep Medicine Q&A 07

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Halfway through lambing time a sheep client complains of high morbidity and mortality in 24–36-hr-old lambs showing excess salivation with a wet lower jaw, cold mouth and poor suck reflex, and retained meconium. There is progressive abdominal distension with fluid and gas. The rectal temperature is subnormal. There is dehydration, poor peripheral perfusion with cold extremities, and a rapid weak pulse during the agonal stages.

Question	Answer		Article
What conditions would you consider?	The most likely conditions to consider include: endotoxaemia (watery mouth disease) septicaemia Escherichia coli enteritis (entero toxigenic strains) starvation/mismothering/exposure (SME complex) cryptosporidiosis. Clinical chemistry reveals low plasma glucose concentration and leucopenia, but elevated lactate and BUN concentrations consistent with endotoxaemia.		Link to Article
What treatments would you recommend?	Despite abomasal distension, oral rehydration solution administration (50mL/kg four times daily) by stomach tube is essential. Many lambs showing disease are bacteraemic therefore a broad-spectrum antibiotic (amoxicillin, oxytetracycline) should be injected intramuscularly. Flunixin meglumine should be given intravenously to counter the endotoxaemia.		Link to Article
What control measures would you instigate?	Control measures include improving hygiene standards in the lambing shed and ensuring passive antibody transfer. Paraformaldehyde powder should be applied daily to the straw bedding. Individual pens should have a concrete base and must be cleaned out completely, disinfected, and allowed to dry between ewes. The most effective means of preventing watery mouth disease is giving an oral antibiotic preparation (an aminoglycoside such as spectinomycin) within 15 minutes of birth. In the early stages of watery mouth disease, soapy water enemas and mild laxatives/purgatives are often effective. Metaclopramide is too expensive.		Link to Article