[Jacob-list] Overeaters Disease

[Grose]

I have noticed several postings to jacoblist recently on vaccinations for 'Overeaters Disease' and bloat. To my knowledge, these two are not related.
 Bloat is caused by a paralysis of the motility of the rumen, and can have several causes. For example, some fresh grazed legumes can cause the openings to the rumen to constrict, which allows gas from fermentation in the rumen to inflate it. This causes excessive pressure to be placed on the lungs and suffocates the animal.
"Overeaters Disease' is caused by naturally occurring soil bacteria Clostridias C and D. These are in the same family as tetanus, botulism, 'Black-leg', malignant edema and a few others equally as nasty. These are common bacteria that cause infections as opportunistic diseases. For example, the association with bloat may come from the fact that bloat may cause tears in the rumen that then allow the Clost. C&D to invade and finish off the beast. The real cause of death is bloat. High grain feeding may cause rumen acidosis which results in ulcers which provide the bacteria access to the animal and cause problems. [Here is where providing sodium bicarb is useful.] At any rate, sheep seem to be highly susceptible to this class of diseases, so it is important to vaccinate for them with an 8-way clostridium vaccine. The most commonly observed symptom of these diseases is death. The treatment of choice for them, if you do happen to catch them in time is near fatal doses of penicillin. So, this is not something to mess around with.
Here again, don't waste time with us yahoos. Talk to a vet.

Neal Grose
Harmony, NC
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