Pregnancy Toxemia: Disease that kills pregnant sheep and goats carrying twins

Sheep and Goats. [photo, courtesy]

Dear Daktari,

I keep small stock – goats and sheep. I feed my goats and sheep and well and they are fat. However, I have over the last two years lost one she goat and sheep. The disease they had was very similar. They both died within two weeks to delivery. [Samuel Limo, Rumuruti]

Dear Limo. This sounds like Pregnancy Toxemia. Pregnancy toxemia, ketosis, twin lamb disease, lambing or kidding sickness or lambing paralysis affects ewes and does in the third trimester. It is however common in sheep than goats. The condition affects too fat or thin ewes and does that are carrying twin pregnancies. This condition is rare in ewes and does carrying singletons. 

What causes pregnancy Toxemia?

It occurs when the mother does not get enough nutrients to meet her bodily needs and that of the foetus. In early pregnancy, the mother increases her appetite to meet the growing nutrient requirement of the foetus. However, towards the tail end of the pregnancy inasmuch as the mother would have wished to eat more the now big foetus reduces the stomach space to hold the food. The doe or ewe is physically incapable of eating as per the body’s requirement and hence a negative balance. That time there is a great demand for the foetus more so when they are carrying twins or triplets.  In fat does and ewes, abdominal fat decreases the ability of the rumen to fill appropriately and leads to inadequate feed intake. To meet this demand the ewe or doe uses body fat to meet the nutrient requirement. This result in ketone bodies that arise from fatty acids metabolism at a high rate. Excess ketone bodies result in ketosis or pregnancy toxemia. Depression and anorexia are normally the first signs. It results in general body weakness and recumbency. Constipation, teeth grinding and death normally occur between day three and ten after the onset of clinical signs.

Prevention and treatment

Treatment should be done immediately after onset of clinical signs. Once an animal becomes recumbent chances of recovery significantly reduces.  In high value mothers or foetuses, the offspring can be removed. This condition can be prevented through good animal husbandry practices that ensure weight management for ewes and does during breeding. Pregnancy diagnosis can be carried out for ewes and does and those with multiple pregnancy given good care to avoid ketosis. Feeding ewes and does with feeds high in energy for example grains and good quality hay during the third trimester, or about six weeks prior to lambing or kidding, can greatly reduce the risk of pregnancy toxemia. Also reduce stress triggers in the third trimester. Avoid transporting animals or movement to new pens.