[Jacob-list] Hypocalcemia/Toxemia/etc

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

Fred Horak here.  I noticed the discussion on these two problems and wanted 
to be sure you didn't leave other problems aside.  We have not had any 
experience with either (specifically diagnosed by the vet) but we try to be 
very aware of our ewes during the last six to eight weeks of pregnancy if any 
behavior (symptoms) of these or other problems should arise.  Symptoms for 
acidosis, stress related abortion, herniated abdomen, and even constipation 
may be the true diagnosis.

Toxemia is often seen before birth, hypocalcemia more often after birth.  
Toxemia is related to diet and energy intake, lack of water, and multiple 
lambs.  Sometimes an aggressive ewe or group of ewes will crowd out a 
"slower" ewe and bring on toxemia by depriving the ewe of forage, feed and 
water.  (We may have a case of a ewe or two crowding out another one of the 
ewes right now and moved the weaker ewe to her own pen for extra care.)

Hypocalcemia is more often seen just before or shortly following lambing.  
This is related to calcium shortage.  The ewes demand for producing milk, the 
lambs demand for bone builders.  

Not having experienced a specific diagnosis of either toxemia or 
hypocalcemia, but having seen symptoms requiring action, I would be reluctant 
to jump to a specific diagnosis of either problem without some outside help 
from a vet.  

The symptoms for both, as well as acidosis (bloat from too much feed), 
abortion, constipation can start out the same; the ewe stands separate from 
the flock, not moving with the flock, off on her own...dull depressed, 
perhaps you could walk right up to the ewe...there may be muscle problems 
(often for hypocalcemia it is tremors or shaking, for toxemia it is often a 
lack of muscle in the rear legs).  For acidosis the legs are usually 
stretched out in front and back; constipation can look like acidosis.  

For toxemia (often too little feed/forage energy), look closely at the nose: 
runny "gooby" nose. At the mouth, foam at the mouth.   Then smell the breath. 
 If you smell anything like nail polish, paint thinner, or airplane glue, the 
smell is caused by ketones and this is really bad.

For hypcalcemia (not enough calcium) watch for teeth grinding, no cud, 
drooling and a lot of swallowing.  If the ewe goes down she may start to 
vomit in the down posture.  Hypocalcemia hits the swallowing muscles...thus 
oral doses are not good.

Symptoms can  sort of look the same depending on the progess of the disease 
but the symptoms suggest further diagnosis.  A vet check for a diagnosis is 
always in our regimen even though the vet doesn't see that many sheep.  

The key to the ewe's recovery depends on the diagnosis and progress; for 
toxemia the ewe can swallow mollasses water and eat feed...for hypocalcemia 
the ewe can't swallow as the disease progresses.  One can be treated orally 
the other must be treated with subcu shots.  

I went along way around the barn to say that one should be careful when 
diagnosing problems from overlapping/confusing symptoms.  I think the 
clearest symptoms are too often the terminal period of the problem.  Early 
observation of symptoms may be confusing so the vet resource is always the 
safer course to help identify the curative action.

Fred