Symptoms and Prevention and Treatment Methods of Enterotoxemia in Sheep
Enterotoxemia in Sheep
(Agricultural Wealth Network) [Characteristics]
This disease is caused by the massive proliferation of Clostridium welchii type D in the sheep's intestines, producing toxins. After death, the kidneys tend to soften easily, so it is also called "soft kidney disease." Because it mostly occurs as an acute attack with sudden death, it is also called "fast-disease-like." It mostly occurs in sheep in good body condition and under two years of age, and is sporadic. The rainy season, sudden climate changes, overeating tender grass and concentrated feed, and insufficient exercise are all predisposing factors. At onset, the animal may lie dull or run and jump, grind its teeth, fall to the ground on its side, with limbs twitching and spasming, rolling left and right, head and neck bent backward, rapid breathing, foam from the mouth and nose, sometimes emitting painful groans, and mostly dies within 1-2 hours.
[Prevention and Treatment]
1. Vaccinate twice each year in spring and autumn, with subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of 5 ml of sheep quadruple vaccine (fast disease, sudden death, enterotoxemia, lamb dysentery).
2. Prevent overeating of young, tender, succulent feed and concentrated feed, and provide appropriate exercise.
3. For those with a longer disease course (more than 2 hours), 10-20 grams of sulfaguanidine may be given orally or immune serum injected.
4. Intramuscular injection of 0.5-0.7 grams of chloramphenicol, 3 times/day.
5. Mixed intramuscular injection of 1.6 million units of penicillin and 500 mg of streptomycin, 4 times/day.
This disease is caused by the massive proliferation of Clostridium welchii type D in the sheep's intestines, producing toxins. After death, the kidneys tend to soften easily, so it is also called "soft kidney disease." Because it mostly occurs as an acute attack with sudden death, it is also called "fast-disease-like." It mostly occurs in sheep in good body condition and under two years of age, and is sporadic. The rainy season, sudden climate changes, overeating tender grass and concentrated feed, and insufficient exercise are all predisposing factors. At onset, the animal may lie dull or run and jump, grind its teeth, fall to the ground on its side, with limbs twitching and spasming, rolling left and right, head and neck bent backward, rapid breathing, foam from the mouth and nose, sometimes emitting painful groans, and mostly dies within 1-2 hours.
[Prevention and Treatment]
1. Vaccinate twice each year in spring and autumn, with subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of 5 ml of sheep quadruple vaccine (fast disease, sudden death, enterotoxemia, lamb dysentery).
2. Prevent overeating of young, tender, succulent feed and concentrated feed, and provide appropriate exercise.
3. For those with a longer disease course (more than 2 hours), 10-20 grams of sulfaguanidine may be given orally or immune serum injected.
4. Intramuscular injection of 0.5-0.7 grams of chloramphenicol, 3 times/day.
5. Mixed intramuscular injection of 1.6 million units of penicillin and 500 mg of streptomycin, 4 times/day.