Pregnancy Toxemia in Sheep (ketosis in pregnant sheep)

21.2.3 Pregnancy Toxemia in Sheep (ketosis in pregnant sheep)

This is also called “Twin Lamb Disease” because it is most commonly seen in ewes carrying twin or triplet lambs. Pregnancy toxemia usually occurs during the last few weeks of gestation, when the fetuses are growing rapidly and are taking lots of glucose from the mother's body. The mother's blood glucose drops, and her body begins burning fat. The by-product is a build-up of ketones in the blood. This problem may be triggered when something disrupts the mother's food intake (e.g. illness, suddenly moving or stressing the ewes, a storm). See pages 253, 254.

Symptoms:

 The odor of ketones may be present in the breath or urine.

 Weakness; inability to stand.

 Anorexia (i.e. will not eat).

 Nervous symptoms like walking in a circle, twitching, blindness, head pressing against immovable objects.

Diagnosis:

 Based on symptoms and history.

Treatment:

 No treatment is highly effective except an emergency operation to rapidly remove the lambs, or a dose of dexamethasone to induce the mother to give birth.

 Give IV glucose (200 ml of 40%).

 If early in the course of the disease, give the ewe glycerol or propylene glycol by mouth until she improves.

Prevention/Control:

 Do not allow ewes to get fat in early pregnancy.

 Give pregnant ewes regular exercise.

 In late gestation make sure that ewes get enough carbohydrates.

 If one or more ewes gets pregnancy toxemia, increase the amount of grain to all of the pregnant ewes. Consider giving them a dose of propylene glycol (if available), and watch them closely for symptoms so that treatment can begin early.