Ketosis increase, bicarbonate
level in blood decrease
Rumen pH decrease leading to
acidosis
Sweet acetone-like smell
in breath
Start to affect
the brain
Brain function is
affected and the animal
stops eating
Liver becomes enlarged,
pale and fatty
Epidemiology
Host
Fat beef cows
Last 2 months
of pregnancy
Bearing twins
Excessive
parasitic burden,
poor teeth or
lameness
Environment
Yarding
Bad weathers
Sudden cold
Travelling
Agent
Glucose deficit
Clinical signs
Early CS
Depression
& lethargy
Isolated from
the rest
Reduced
appetite/absent
Close to calving
Restlessness/
excitability
High
stepping gait
Tendency to
charge moving
objects
Abortion/
premature calving
Increased
resp. rate
Sweet
acetone-like odor
of breath
Differential Diagnosis
Traumatic reticulitis
Pyelonephritis
Displaced abomasum
Secondary ketosis
Metritis
Mastitis
Vagal indigestion
Treatment
Immediate vet. services
IV fluid therapy
C-sec or
induction of
calving
Anabolic steroids
administration
IM injection of glucose,
calcium borogluconate
and magnesium salts
Intensive care
Green feeds
Energy supplement
Oral treatments
Sodium propionate
Propylene glycol
Electrolytes
Control and Prevention
Early
detection of
problem
Give high-energy
feeds
Gestating cow
should not be
too fat/thin
Design nutritional
program
Supplementary
feeding practice
Separate animals
based on
production stage
References
1. W. Belinda (2007, Jan). Pregnancy Toxemia in
Beef Cattle. Primefacts 335. NSW Department of
Primary Industries. Retrieved from
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
2. S. Kenyon (n.d.). Metabolic Diseases. Unit 6 Part 2. Animal
Health Management. Retrieved from
http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/nielsen/www495/notes/unit6_2.html