Preparing for next season

Dr. Andrea Mongini shared tips to keep goats healthy, focusing on pregnancy toxemia, at a webinar hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

“Pregnancy toxemia occurs in the last month of gestation when the energy intake is less than energy demand,” Mongini said. “There are two types — fat does or ewes with ketosis (and) thin does or ewes with severe negative energy balance.”

Providing little to no grain for goats in their close-up period will cause pregnancy toxemia, Mongini said. Goats need extra protein in their diet. The most severe cases of pregnancy toxemia take place without it.

Taking a closer look into each of the two types of illness can help producers better understand what is happening with their herd Mongini said. One of the first things to note in fat does with ketosis is that it is associated with hepatic lipidosis during the last month of gestation. However, this is not the only cause of pregnancy toxemia.

To identify these does, producers have to pay attention to the amount of fat behind a doe’s elbow. However, there are more ways to diagnose these does. The biggest indicators are whether they have trouble getting up or have a decreased appetite, said Mongini.

They can also be tested with a urine dipstick or a beta-hydroxy-butyric-acid meter. Sometimes it can be smelled.

In thin does, many factors can trigger the disease and help detect if the does is suffering from starvation pregnancy toxemia. This includes large litter size, geriatric does, parasites, poor mobility and poor nutrition.

Once a doe has pregnancy toxemia, the next step is to determine the stage of the illness. There are three different stages. Stage one is classified with swollen distal extremities, walking stiffly or pain in their lower legs, along with having a poor appetite.

The severity of the illness in this stage depends on stage of lactation. If the doe is 1-2 weeks from parturition it is classified as a mild case and the doe can survive to kidding. If the doe is 3-4 weeks to parturition it is classified as a severe case.

“This is the period when the kids are having their growth spurt,” Mongini said.

Stage two of pregnancy toxemia is seen through early neurologic signs such as weakness, visual deficits, head pressing and tremors. Other signs include not being able to stand, blindness or star gazing and anorexia.

Stage three includes severe polio or neuro signs, periods of somnolence and fluid build-up on the lungs with labored breathing. At this stage the kids or lambs will not survive.

Basic treatment for pregnancy toxemia can be simple or complicated. If the doe is anorexic, she will need calcium borogluconate. It is recommended to give 75-90 milliliters either all at once just under the skin or the dose can be split and given twice a day.

They should also receive flunixin through an IV and 70-90 mL of propylene glycol.

“You have to be very careful to not overuse propylene glycol because it is an alcohol and it will kill the rumen microbes,” Mongini said. “Too much of a good thing can definingly occur with propylene glycol.”

If the doe is down, she should receive fluids and flunixin along with an IV with lactated ringer’s solution, dextrose and potassium chloride.

Further treatment depends on the stage the doe is in. Mongini said during stage one, producers will want to complete a physical exam to determine what caused the illness and treat that first.

Producers will also want to change the diet the doe is receiving Mongini said. The grain should be increased to 1.5-2 pounds per day.

“The goal is to get them eating quickly,” Mongini said. “If we can catch them at this phase, we can reverse them and they will be fine.”

Once a doe reaches stage two, producers must continue stage one treatment and ensure the doe is getting hydrated.

By stage three, the doe will need to receive 2 cubic centimeters of prostaglandin F2alpha and 40 ccs of dexamethasone, both delivered as an intramuscular shot. This should induce labor and birth should occur within 36 hours.

A cesarean section should be performed if the doe becomes critical, or the kids are not coming within 36 hours. At this stage it is very unlikely the kids will survive Mongini said, but there is a chance for the doe to pull through.

After talking about treatment, Mongini moved on to prevention management.

“We should be trimming hooves three times a year on goat dairies,” Mongini said.

Another method Mongini mentioned was having multiple dry pens: one for average healthy does and another one for weak and thin does or any doe that catches a producer’s eye.

“If she stands out for any reason she needs to go into a separate pen,” Mongini said.

Having multiple pens also gives the does more room to eat, said Mongini.

Three other areas of importance are parasite control, body condition monitoring and nutrition management.

“In a (total mixed ration) setting it is really dangerous because the grain is being diluted out,” Mongini said. “Often we will try to find a way to top dress grain on top of the TMR for the last few weeks of gestation, especially if pregnancy toxemia has been an issue.”