ANTE-PARTUM PARALYSIS.
EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT. important results. A report submitted to the Board of Governors of the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, at tlie meeting of the Board yesterday, gives interestijig information to iarmers oil work which-lias been carried out by Mr Allan Leslie. M.K.C.V.S., lecturer in Veterinary Hygiene and Science at Lincoln College. Investigations into ante-par-tuin paralysis of ewes and the results obtained from an experimental treatment of hypodermic injections of an isotonic solution of glucose and the oral administration of treacle, are embodied iu the report, extracts from which follow: — Towards lite cml ot June ot this vear. an opportunity was afforded Mr Leslie to investigate an outbreak of aiitc-partuui paralvsis affecting ewes about three weeks off lambing. Kesults following the recommendation of more exercise and diminished food supply, as have been recommended in the past, failed to prevent the development of fresh cases, and these circumstances suggested the adoption of medicinal treatment for affected animals. After several unsuccessful attempts at treatment of advanced cases, it soon became obvious that if treatment was to be of any value to the slieepfarmer it must be carried out in the early stages of the ailment. Further investigations showed that encouraging results could be obtained by the oral administration of treacle and the subcutaneous injections of an isotonic solution of glucose, when administered to ewes showing prodromal svmptoms of the disease. This investigation was extended, and preventive treatment was tried out on over 24 outbreaks in different parts of Canterbury. This year, however, personal observations on many farms in different districts in Canterbury revealed the j>ercentage of deaths from this disease to be exceedingly high, due in no small tneasure to: (1) Shortage of grass and slow growth of green feed. (2) Weather conditions —especially during and immediately after the heavy rainfall experienced at the end of July and the early part of August. (3) A fairly plentiful feed supply earlier in the year. The Susceptible Period. Although the onset of the ailment is commonest during the last. three weeks of the gestation period, outbreaks were diagnosed in several flocks six weeks before lambing. It was found, also, that the longer the period between lambing and the development of the disease, the greater was the number of ewes affected, and in every such outbreak a definite shortage of food was the cause of the trouble. In the majority of outbreaks investigated, old, toothless ewes -were most susceptible, but it was not uncommon for younger animals to be affected, especially when the cause was solely duo to shortage of feed. It is significant
that a number of ewes, mostly young ones, that did not bear lambs in 1929, developed ante-partum paralysis this year. It is noteworthy also that abortion, of dead lambs and ante-partum paralysis were not infrequently associated with excessive feeding of roots. This would appear to be the outcome of feeding an unbalanced ration, probably a deficiency of lime, as in all cases hay or grass was very limited. On farms where hay and roots were fed together the incidence of the disease was very low. Close observation on two farms on which' ewes were actually fat and intended for sale before being mated revealed the fact that the percentage of eases of ante-partum paralysis was very high. The percentage of animals affected was over 15 per cent. The fact that this disease may be very prevalent on one farm one year and conspicuous by its absence the next year, except when due to high production and individuality and an unprcventible check, shows quite clearly how exercise alone, as a preventive, is only a hit and miss measure of control. Eesults attributed to exercise alono without reference to the regulation of the food supply must be regarded as being purely coincidental. Particular Food. Erroneous deductions have been made that turnips, mangolds, hay, lucerne, etc., are foodstuffs that are very prone to encourage the development of the ailment. Many outbreaks were encountered where excess of each of those food materials was fed. The explanation of this happening rested, in practically every outbreak, with the fact that tliat particular food, was p.ot in itself
a balanced ration, a definite shortage of pasturage prevailing in all outbreaks. Excess of turnips or mangolds without sufficient bulky fibrous material such as hay, lucerne, or cereal straw, etc., constitutes an unbalanced ration, and, consequently, the best results, as far as the maintenance of health" and condition is concerned, cannot bo expected, as excess of one or other of the different proximate principles of a ration materially influences the assimilation and metabolism of the food ingested. The feeding of an inadequate and often unbalanced ration was invariably associated with the development of the disease. Prognosis. It must be emphatically stated, here, that once the fatty changes in the liver become well established, producing marked weakness and paralysis, the condition is invariably incurable and fatal. For farmers to expect results from the hypodermic injection of glucose and the oral administration of treacle in advanced cases, when the liver structure has become incurably altered functionally, is demanding results more in keeping with those of a miracle. Furthermore, the chances of recovery, iu many cases, apart trom treatment, and depending upon the condition of the affected flock, were very favourable j if an ample food supply was available. That food supply may be preferably of a succulent nature (green oats, grass, etc.) but an adequate ration of concen- | trates, if consumed by ewes accustomed to hand feeding, is equally as helpful when definitely due to a shortage of food. i Results. j Lighly-oue cases of rime partnm j paralysis treated by the writer with treacie and glucose resulted in fortyeight recoveries. The period between lambing and the development of the disease varied from six weeks to a day or two. A change on to green feed or an increased food supply was always recommended, but owing to slow growth and shortage of food generally, this was not always practicable, and although better results can be claimed in the presence of an ample food supply, beneficial results were obtained in the absence of such a change. As before stated, green feed oats is not a specific for the prevention of the disease. On one farm, the ewes were on green feed for five weeks prior to lambing and out. of the flock of just over -200. twentyseven developed the ailment. The ewes were exercised every day. Fortunately, these outbreaks arc more amenable to treatment and out of the number treated only three deaths occurred. The ewes were very fat during the early part of the gestation period. Lean in-lamb ewes developing antepartum paralysis benefit markedly when shifted on to green succulent feed or given a ration sufficient for their needs. In fact, for the majority of outbreaks in Canterbury, the incidence of the disease can be conspicuously reduced by making a practice of sowing down sufficient green feed not only for after lambing but before. The nearer lambing the better were the results obtained from medicinal treatment. The writer visited a few farms where it was impossible to do anything other than supply food. I Of 33 affected cases out of a flock of about 400 treated regularly with treacle alone and no change of food, which j consisted of an insufficient quantity of grass, 13 deaths occurred. The first dose lof treacle was one pound and four tablespoonful doses were administered
every second day until recovery took place. The initial dose of an isotonic solution of glucose was 400 c.c. and this amount was often, repeated daily or every other day. One case received 2400 c.c. over a period of a fortnight until lambing took place. Two healthy lambs were born but the mother had little milk to rear them. Another recently paralysed case lambed two healthy lambs two days after receiving 800 c.c. of the glucose solution within a period of ten hours after diagnosis. The latter cases both received the maximum dose of treacle. A few hours after the glucose was administered it was easy to note a marked improvement and abatement of the symptoms in most cases. Frequently, however, a relapse would take place even after a period of a fortnight. The writer has noted complete recovery following treatment, but owing to the animal not having access to sufficient food the symptoms have reappeared. The beneficial effect of the oral administration of milk and eggs was demonstrated in these cases. Calcium Treatment. During the investigation an attempt was made to ascertain the therapeutic value of a 10 per cent, calcium chloride filtered solution administered hypoilermically, either alono or in conjunction with glucose. The calcium treatment did not appear to enhance the value of the glucose and treacle treatment when both were prescribed together. One ounce of a filtered 10 per cent, solution of calcium chloride was employed. The subcutaneous injection of a similar amount of calcium chloride without the glucose failed to give satisfactory results.
Prevention. The importance of not over-stocking and the adoption of the practice of reserving food for periods of shortage have often been stressed by the Canterbury Agricultural College, and tho significance of these practices was admirably demonstrated this season, since it was very noticeable that farmers who had adopted these practices and had taught their ewes to feed from trov.hs were comparatively free from the dj^case. The preventive measures tabulated below are the outcome of the above investigation, and although they may not be always practicable they are given in detail so that each sheepfarmer may be in a position to decide 011 the factor or factors that influence his outbreak. (1) Regulate the lambing season to tho food supply and avoid early lambing in districts where early spring growth is slow. (2) In areas subject to severe weather conditions, accustom ewes to hand-feed-ing at a period when they can be starved. (3) Select ewes suitable for a particular area or farm and regulate the food supply so that the ewes do not, become unduly fat at mating time. Pregnant ewes "do not. require so much food during the early part ot' the gestation period as during the latter part. (■1) A reserve of food should be available, and hand-feeding should be practised at the proper time. (■') Sluggishness, increased fat content of the liver of heavy in-lamb ewes, and excess of dry, bulky food prior to I lambing make ewes lazy and favour constipation, retention of the urine, and evci'sion of the womb. In-lamb ewes I near lambing markedly benefit by having access to some succulent food i periodically. (0) Heavy in-lamb ewes cannot, withstand a period of starvation on hare pasture following stormy weather and inaccessibility to green feed oats, grass, turnips, etc. Hand feeding should be resorted to where practicable. (7) Flushing of ewes prior to and at tupping time does not mean increased fatness of condition. The main object | of flushing is to stimulate body metabolism and encourage the development of u>strum and impregnation, and thus prevent a scattered lambing. (H) Gambling with weather and the feed supply can be overcome to a certain extent by lambing mobs at different times. (!)) Avoid the "'hunger and burst" system of feeding cwck. (.10) The oral administration of treacle in doses of one and a half pounds for big ewes, one pound for mediumsized ewes, and about half a pound for small ewes, and the hypodermic injection of an isotonic solution (5 per cent.) of pure anhydrous glucose (dextrose) in 16 to 20-ounce doses is recommended for the treatment of affected cases showing prodromal symptoms of the complaint. A repetition of the medicinal treatment may be necessary, according to tho needs of the case, and the dosage of the agents used should be .suitably adjusted. (11) In view of the fact that different. breeds and individuals of the same and different breeds have \ .trying peculiarities and metabolic needs, flocks of a mixed nature are thus more difficult to 111 a nage. (12) This investigation has demonstrated that green feed is not a pure preventive when 110 attention is Jjiid to the regulation of the food supply luring the early part of the gestation period. For Canterbury conditions, however, the essence of success in pre-
venting the development of antepartum paralysis is the growing of green feed and its use during the latter part of the gestation period. (13) To maintain the health of pregnant animals exercise is always indicated.
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Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 10 December 1930, Page 16
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2,075ANTE-PARTUM PARALYSIS. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 10 December 1930, Page 16
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