Ketosis is a metabolic condition also called pregnancy toxemia at the end of gestation and lactational ketosis during early lactation. The central metabolic events are fat mobilization and the availability of glucose. The disease in late gestation does is classified by multiple feti, obese or extremely thin does due to an inability to respond to the increased metabolic demand for energy in the dam. The doe is unable to obtain sufficient amounts of energy, and ketones accumulate in the blood from the incomplete metabolism of body fat.

Lactational ketosis is rare in goats...

Symptoms: Symptoms of ketosis include lack of appetite, in which the doe goes off feed,and decrease in milk production. The goat’s breath will have a sweet smell. Other symptoms include lack of energy and isolation from herd. The doe lacks appetite and the eyes become dull. The doe will present with grinding of the teeth, progressing to blindness, star gazing, tremors and coma. Fecal output is reduced to a few, small dry pellets.

Treatment: Use of ketone strips on urine are useful for monitoring ketosis in dams. These are available at your local drug store. Treatment consists of feeding good quality roughage and increased concentrate in early stages. Administer propylene glycol or ketoplus two to three times per day. Propylene glycol may be toxic at high and repeated doses. Limit to 60cc/dose in a dam that is eating, discontinue if she goes off feed. Supplement with a mixture of sodium bicarbonate given twice daily. Alternative treatment may consist of Calf Pac/Probios mixed with 100cc Revive (one bottle 50-percent %Dextrose, 20cc B-complex, 5cc B-12, 2cc 500 mg/ml thiamine) and 100cc of water. Corn and sweet feed and karo syrup would also be of benefit. If there is no response to treatment within 24 hours, your veterinarian should be contacted for more aggressive treatment.

Aggressive treatment consists of a C-section and removal of kids, which are often non-viable, and is usually the only treatment of choice for saving the dam. Force feeding and maintaining appetite are critical. Snatching a cud from healthy goats to feed to sick goats can be useful. Boer goats may be predisposed.

Control/Prevention: Feed obese does high quality roughage and concentrate. Provide good sanitation, ventilation and proper exercise. Allow does free exercise for two to three hours per day.

Early diagnosis of pregnancy and selective feeding of dams with multiple feti to maintain adequate Body Condition Score (BCS)is important. Conduct regular BCS of herd. Avoid excessive weight loss during pregnancy and improve BCS of thin does. Early recognition of clinical signs is key to successful intervention.

Reference: Mary C. Smith & David Sherman: Goat Medicine

Browse related Articles by tag: goat, goat health