Treatment for Pregancy Toxemia

“TREATMENT FOR PREGNANCY TOXEMIA IN SHEEP/GOATS”

Twin lamb and kid disease is the #1 most costly metabolic disorder of sheep and goats. Prevention measures were discussed in my last article. This time around let’s look at some treatment strategies to help reduce the mortality rate in your operation if you are hit with a bout of this disease.

*First—if you are paying attention to your females on a daily basis, look for the ewes/does that are beginning to walk stiff and have trouble getting up and down. Your first move is to catch them and give them subcutaneous injections of cal/dex or CNPK solution—12 cc SQ in multiple sites from 80 to 120 cc total. Administer 200 ml of propylene glycol or corn syrup orally along with a good livestock electrolyte (2-3 pints). This is a prevention treatment and can be administered as needed as the female gets closer to lambing/kidding. Many times, mild cases can be managed this way until birth.

*Second—for females that are down and cannot get up, you can use this same protocol initially and you must maintain the oral treatment 4 times daily plus hand feeding hay and feed, in addition to generous amounts of water several times a day. Club lamb and kid producers can save some of the females and babies with these steps. If you can make it to birthing, many times the mother will immediately get better and resume standing once the nutritional drain is removed. Always hit the mothers post birthing with the CNPK shots plus plenty of the high energy electrolyte.

PRO TIP—I like to give 2 cc of Bo Se or 1 cc of multi-mend IM to the ewes along with a stout shot of antibiotic post birthing. It takes intensive efforts to save some of the animals but for stock show producers who have invested considerable resources to expensive genetics and management, these measures can save some of your animals. Good luck with your stock!