What to do about acute gastric dilation in raccoon dogs? Practical solutions shared
Acute gastric dilation occurs mostly in silver-black foxes, Arctic foxes, sables, mink, nutria and raccoon dogs. It is caused by poor feed quality or overeating, which weakens the stomach's contraction and secretion functions, allowing microorganisms to multiply in large numbers and produce gas, leading to enlargement of the gastric volume and extreme dilation of the stomach wall. According to the cause, it can be divided into primary gastric dilation and secondary gastric dilation.
The former is mostly caused by eating excessive amounts of palatable, dry, difficult-to-digest or easily fermentable food, followed by strenuous exercise or drinking a large amount of cold water, thereby causing acute gastric dilation. Secondary gastric dilation mainly occurs secondary to gastric torsion, pyloric obstruction and small intestine stricture, constipation, intestinal obstruction and other conditions.
1. Clinical symptoms and pathological changes: Often several hours after eating, the abdominal circumference increases, the abdominal wall is tense, and movement is reduced or weak. Percussion of the stomach area gives a tympanic sound. Panting, difficulty breathing, accelerated heartbeat, and visible mucous membranes are flushed or cyanotic. In the later stage, the animal is listless and loses the ability to move, and often dies from suffocation or gastric rupture.
2. The gastric volume increases, containing a large amount of gas and sour-smelling contents. The stomach wall becomes thinner, the gastric mucosa is congested and hemorrhagic, and the surface is covered with mucus. Catarrhal inflammation appears in the intestinal mucosa. Pulmonary congestion or edema. When the stomach ruptures, feed residues and a large amount of gas are present in the abdominal cavity.
3. Prevention and control measures: Strictly implement the feeding system. When changing the number of feedings, pay attention to feed quality. In the early stage, appropriately reduce the feeding amount, then gradually increase it to the normal daily ration standard. Separate young animals into individual cages at the appropriate time; do not keep weak animals and those with a strong appetite in the same cage.
During the lactation period of female animals, an appropriate amount of antibiotics should be added to the feed. You can use 5% lactic acid 3-5 milliliters, oxytetracycline 0.3 grams, magnesium oxide 0.2-0.5 grams, orally once; salol 0.05-0.1 grams, lactasin 1 gram (orally); when abdominal pressure is too high, an injection needle can be used for puncture to slowly release the gas in the stomach. After releasing the gas, inject penicillin 50,000-100,000 units through the puncture needle hole. Fast for 24 hours.