Toxemia

21.1.1 Toxemia A toxin is a substance that acts as a poison in the body. The word “toxemia” refers to a toxin in the blood which causes severe illness in many body systems and sometimes even causes death. Toxemia may result from diseases or conditions such as HS, metritis, mastitis or navel infections. See pages 154-5, 196, 205. The AHA should try to determine the cause of the toxemia.

Symptoms/Diagnosis:

 Poor circulation evidenced by a rapid, weak pulse.

 Dark-red or purplish color to the gums around the teeth, the skin inside the vulva, or at the conjunctiva (i.e. the tissue surrounding the eye).

 Sometimes a fever at first; but as the toxemia progresses, the animal’s body temperature may drop below normal.

 Rapid breathing.

 Usually some underlying condition that is causing the toxemia.

Note: Offer the animal water to drink. If the animal drinks, this is a good sign that the toxemia may not have progressed far.

Treatment: Toxemia is life-threatening. It is particularly serious if the animal’s body temperature has dropped below normal.

 Try to decide the main cause of the toxemia (e.g. metritis, mastitis etc.) and treat the underlying condition.

 If unable to determine the underlying condition causing the toxemia, yet the animal is still alert and in reasonable condition, treat with large doses of antibiotics such as tetracycline or penicillin.

 An animal with toxemia usually recovers or dies rapidly. If the animal begins to recover, offer high quality food, and water frequently.