Pregnancy toxemia is a metabolic disorder in pregnant cows when energy demand is exceeded by supply
Definition:
Pregnancy toxemia is a metabolic disorder in cows that occurs when the fetal carbohydrate or energy demand exceeds the maternal supply during the last trimester of pregnancy.
Pregnancy toxaemia occurs due to inadequate dietary intake such that utilization of maternal energy reserves including the fat reserves cannot compensate for the energy demands of developing fetus/ fetuses.
Clinical Signs
Clinical signs of pregnancy toxemia are mostly observed in a cow between seven to nine months of pregnancy.
(i) Lethargy depression
(ii) anorexia
(iii) loss of body condition,
(iv) recumbency,
(v) separate from the rest of the herd,
(vi) acetone smell in the breath,
(vii) Recumbent animals have forced expiratory grunts and increased respiratory rate.
(viii) Clear nasal discharge,
(ix) flaking of muzzle epithelium
(x) Faeces are hard dry and sometimes covered with mucous and may contain blood.
If affected a few days before parturition they show excitability incoordination high stepping gait and constipation
Diagnosis
History-Over-fat heavily pregnant animals on inadequate nutrition and even starve.
Slow onset of clinical signs
Clinical signs: Inappetence, rapid loss of body condition, constipation, terminal animal goes down and often with blood diarrhea nervous signs for cows affected a few days before calving
Clinical pathology: hypoglycemia, increased blood ketone bodies, presence of ketone bodies in urine.
Necropsy findings: liver is enlarged, light yellow in color, friable, and fatty (i.e. cut surface is greasy).
Prevention
1. Avoid over-fat cows in the last half of pregnancy.
2. Avoid starvation of cows, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy.
3. Provide supplementary feeding to ensure that cows have an adequate diet.
