Veterinary Clinical Medicine-II

ACUTE PARTURIENT HYPOCALCEMIA IN GOATS

Etiology

• A depression of ionised calcium in tissue fluid is the basic biochemical defect in acute parturient hypocalcaemia.

Epidemiology 

• Occurrence of acute parturient hypocalcaemia in goats is apparently rare.
• There is fall in serum calcium and phosphorus levels in all goats at kidding due to onset of lactation
• In heavy milking goats, an absolute deficiency of calcium at any stage of lactation will precipitate the disease.
• Milking goats get affected mostly during 4-6 years of age
• Cases occur before and after kidding, some even 3 weeks after parturition.

Pathogenesis: Similar to dairy cows

Clinical signs 

• Slight tremors
• Twitching
• Hyper excitability
• Slight ataxia
• Lethargy
• Incordination of limbs
• Paresis
• Recumbency
• Bloat
• Coma and death

Dignosis

• Based on clinical signs
• Rapid response to calcium therapy
• Serum calcium 2 to 6 mg/dl

Treatment: 25% Calcium Borogluconate 80-100ml slow I/V

Control: Similar to dairy cows