Poisoning, Lameness

By Peter J. South and D. Scott Adams.

Most toxic diseases can be divided into those which result from consumption or exposure to toxic chemicals or poisonous plants. They can be prevented by limiting access to these chemicals and plants.

Copper Toxicity. Causes:

(a) excessive copper ingestion,

(b) absence of sufficient molybdenum in diet, (c) injury to liver tissue from plant alkaloids enabling the liver to store excess copper, (d) stress may trigger a hemolytic crisis (rapid anemia).

Signs are onset of anemia, extreme thirst, weakness. Skin and mucous membranes turn dark brown in color. Animals go down, and most will die in 1 to 4 days.

For prevention and treatment, remove flock from suspected feed or forage. Treat daily with 50 to 100 mg ammonium molybdenate and 0.5 to 1.0 gm sodium sulfate per animal which can be sprayed on feed.

Lead toxicity is caused by eating or licking lead paint, battery plates, used oil, and certain automotive lubricants.

Signs Acute: Colic, salivation, muscle tremors, twitching, grinding teeth, convulsions, coma and death. Chronic: Loss of appetite, dullness, diarrhea or constipation persists for several days.

Treatment Epsom salts, mineral oil, and bismuth orally, and calcium EDTA subcutaneously (55 mg/kg b.w.) twice daily (for no more than 5 days).

Organophosphate Poisoning. Cause improper dosing, spraying or dipping, with worm medications, insecticides and parasiticides.

Signs are salivation, fast breathing, abdominal pain, muscle tremors, convulsions and death.

Treatment and Prevention Protopam and atropine. Adhere strictly to manufacturer's directions on label.

Fertilizer Ingestion

Nitrate Poisoning. Cause accidental ingestion of nitrate fertilizers, or plants rich in nitrates such as cereal crops, oat hay, lamb's-quarters, immature barley and wheat, and turnip, sugar beet and mangel tops.

Signs sudden onset, difficult breathing, excitement, convulsions, and death.

Treatment IV solution of methylene blue.

Prevention have forage assayed for nitrate content.

Cyanide Poisoning.

Cause: Ingestion of forages containing high amounts of hydrocyanic acid such as chokecherry leaves, arrow grass, sorghum, Bermuda grass, Sudan grass. Plants contain more cyanide following retardation of growth due to drought or application of herbicides.

Signs are respiratory distress, cyanotic or blue mucous membranes, muscle tremors, convulsions and death.

Treatment sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate may be given intravenously.

Miscellaneous Causes.

There are many more causes of toxicity for sheep and goats, which in some geographical areas may be more important than those mentioned. A few examples are moldy sweet clover, halogeten, lupine, western false hellebore, water hemlock, castor bean, oleander, and rubber weed.

Lameness

Lameness among sheep and goats is one of the most common problems faced by producers, and can lead to other complications if not treated and controlled.

Problems of Hooves.

These involve horny areas of the foot and its associated structures.

Causes bruising from rough ground or stones, punctures from sharp objects, laminitis (inflammation beneath the hoof wall) usually caused by stress or dietary changes, wet conditions, separations of the white line (white line disease), poor hoof trimming practices, foot rot-causing bacteria (Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteriodes nodosus), and various viruses including foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Signs are unusual gait, limping on one or more legs, grazing on the knees, walking "on eggs", prolonged lying down.

Infectious causes like bacteria and certain viruses are introduced into the flock by addition of new animals, and then spread by both indirect and direct contact.

Treatment examine the feet and diagnose the problem or seek veterinary advice. Depending on the cause, trimming, footbaths in disinfectants, antibiotics, and even vaccination may be indicated.

For prevention, avoid exposure of animals to sharp objects and wet conditions, and regularly trim hooves. If infectious causes have been diagnosed in your area, avoid additions of new animals when possible.