Ketosis: Pregnancy Toxemia in Goats and Dairy Animals
Ketosis, otherwise known as pregnancy toxemia, is a metabolic disease characterized by weight loss, pica (the craving to eat something unfit to eat), inappetence (lack or failure of appetite), decreased milk production, and neurologic abnormalities that usually occur during and after pregnancy (Aiello 736). Ketosis was quickly found to be a debilitating disease that affects and can kill a pregnant animal and her fetuses. This disease still remains a mystery because when an animal acquires, it she usually dies very quickly. After the death of the animal, contamination is intense because the decomposition process has already started to set in, which causes on-sight research to be difficult. The decomposition process makes bacteria settle into the intestine and liver. Ketosis has been researched as extensively as possible because it is such a fast-working disease. Through this research, the method to prevent the disease has been mostly found through laboratory experience. A report written by Steven E. Calvin, M. D. and Cindy Wolf, D. V. M. at Minneapolis, Minnesota stated that pregnancy toxemia in sheep spontaneously occurred in sheep more than 150 years ago, but sheep toxemia was not researched until 40 years ago in obese sheep.
“Biochemically, ketosis is characterized by a high blood ketone level and a low blood glucose level” (Luchjenbroers). The brain signals the liver to produce ketones, which are acetone bodies. The body takes stored winter fat into the liver to convert the fat to sugar. The sugar is used to make milk for the unborn fetuses. In order for the fat to be converted to sugar, the liver has to produce ketones to break down the fat. If the body cannot supply enough fat or supplies too much fat, there becomes an overabundance of ketone bodies. An overabundance of ketone bodies cannot escape fast enough through excretions and causes the animal to feel dull and listless. The ketones also cause a chemical imbalance, which makes the glucose level fall. While the animal is listless, it becomes tired and does not wish to eat. An animal that does not eat starts to use its fat reserves not only to produce milk, but are also used to feed the doe and her fetuses. Supplying the fetuses’ proper nutrition in the third trimester is very crucial.
Animals that acquire pregnancy toxemia are more prone to have two or more fetuses that they have to support. This puts an added stress on the animal before she partuates (has her babies). The added stress makes the mother become very weak. The weakness will make the mother unable to push the babies out. Most animals that have pregnancy toxemia have a caesarean birthing in order to deliver the babies (Smith and Sherman 548). Caesareans are very costly and stressful. Animals that have caesareans usually are already under a great amount of stress and die from the added stress caused by the caesarean.
Most animals do not make it to the caesarean stage. If the animal is too weak to have the babies, then the babies are usually already dead. The sooner the caretaker can relieve the animal from the stress of carrying the fetuses, the more likely the dam (mother) has a chance to survive (Smith and Sherman 548). If the fetuses have died previously to birth, they may be starting to decompose. The decomposition process releases toxins or poisons into the bloodstream and body of the infected animal. Through prevention and proper herd management, this problem might not have ever occurred.
Prevention first starts by knowing the signs that lead up to a devastating end. Once the signs are noticed the owner may test the suspected animal with a ketone strip. Ketosis can be brought upon the animal by several different factors. One such factor is malnutrition (Belanger 91). If an animal is already at a setback from having malnutrition, they cannot support fetuses along with themselves. The malnutritioned doe usually does not have fat reserves to feed the fetuses and make colostrum. Without these vital nutrients, the animal will usually abort. If the animal does not abort, it has a very high chance of getting ketosis. In addition, an overweight animal can also develop ketosis.
It is very essential that animals be fed the proper nutrition before and during pregnancy. The body conditioning score should be about a three point five. The two extremes are one, which is very thin, and five, which is grossly obese. The animal should have some fat cover on the area of the back. This will help in the third trimester when great demands are placed on the pregnant female to make colostrum (the mother’s first milk). An overweight animal is at greater risk than an underweight animal of developing ketosis (Belanger 91). If the animal is overly fat the expectant animal will not be able to balance the amount of ketones to fat. This causes a chemical imbalance in the body (Luchjenbroers). This presents a problem because overweight animals usually have not used their fat reserves all year. Then they have to use their fat reserves to make the colostrum. They use their fat reserves, and the liver produces too many ketones for the body to handle. An underweight animal will usually abort its fetuses, while an overweight animal will be able to keep and support the fetuses it is carrying. The animal can then contract the milk fever form of ketosis.
Mastitis, an udder infection, causes unneeded stress on the body, which can predispose the animal for ketosis, and kill the doe with her usually multiple fetuses. Mastitis usually does follow ketosis because ketosis can turn into milk fever (Thedford 63). If the mother delivers her babies and nurses them naturally, the babies could die because they are drinking pure infection. Mastitis can cause the animal’s udder to become gangrene and start to fall off. This causes many problems in the future. The animal then is worthless for production and showing. This problem could have been solved earlier through preventing the disease before the animal became infected.
The caretaker should routinely monitor the animals in their third trimester very closely. The herd manager needs to watch the animal’s weight. If an animal gets too thin, then the grain to weight ration needs to be increased. If the animal is too fat, do not change the ration at all. If the ration is changed to make the animal lose weight, the animal will probably go ketotic (Smith and Sherman 547). The protein percentage in the feed during the third trimester determines how big the kids will become. The bigger babies make it hard for the mothers to have them. It also means the mothers themselves are fat, which can throw them into ketosis.
To treat an animal with ketosis, the caretaker gives the animal propylene glycol (high sugar substance) at 2 to 3 ounces twice a day (Thedford 64). One should also give the animal Vita 15, which is a B complex vitamin with niacin. Electrolytes also help the animal to perk up a bit. It will help catch the problem before it becomes serious. The sugar in the propylene glycol gives the animal the extra energy to continue to eat and make milk while supplying nutrients to the growing fetuses. This will also make the animal appear more alert and bright, rather than dull and listless.
Animals that acquire pregnancy toxemia appear dull and listless (“The Goat Barn”). This problem needs to be taken care of right away. If it is not taken care of the animal could fall into a chronic depression. The depression could lead to death. Animals that are depressed do not wish to move around in order to get food. This will also make the animal extremely weak. An animal that cannot produce milk or meat causes economic loss to the breeder/owner.
There is not a vaccination for ketosis because it is a metabolic disease; however, the prevention program has worked very well. Watching and monitoring the animal everyday, especially in the third trimester, can save the owner a lot of heartache (“The Goat Barn”). Through proper precautions and prevention, the welfare of the herd can be greatly increased. This will save the owner a lot of economic loss because of milk and meat reduction loss. One thing that should be noted is if the animal becomes weak or loses weight, be very cautious. One should be sure to contact the veterinarian if an animal gets ketosis to properly assist the burdened animal. If the breeder/caretaker knows the signs to look for, he/she can manage a successful, productive, and non-ketotic dairy or goat herd.
Works Cited
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Jersey: National Publishing Inc., 1998.
Belanger, Jerry. Raising Milk Goats The Modern Way. Vermont: Garden Way
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Luchjenbroers, A. “Cattle Diseases ketosis (acetonaemia).” DPI Note Department of
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Sherman, David M. DVM, MS. and Mary C. Smith DVM. Goat Medicine. Maryland:
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“The Goat Barn: Be Alert For Ketosis.” Countryside & Small Stock Journal (Nov/Dec
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