Pregnancy Toxaemia in Sheep and Goats

By Ioannis Xypoleas, Animal Nutritionist MSc

Pregnancy toxaemia, also known as ketosis, is a serious metabolic disease affecting pregnant ewes or goats in the final stage of gestation, particularly when they are carrying more than two fetuses.

Causes:

Pregnancy toxaemia is caused by a negative energy balance — when the animal consumes less dietary energy than it needs to meet its metabolic demands:

1. Pregnancy with multiple fetuses

2. Inadequate nutrition (poor quality or insufficient quantity of feed)

3. Obesity or excessive thinness during pregnancy

4. Stress (transportation, weather conditions, illness, parasites)

Pathogenesis

As the energy demands increase and the feed intake is insufficient, the animal’s body begins to break down stored fat for energy production. This process leads to the formation of ketone bodies, which, in high concentrations, cause toxicity (ketosis). The more body fat an animal has, the greater the production of ketone bodies.

Symptoms

1. Decreased appetite or complete anorexia

2. Weakness, lethargy

3. Isolation from the flock

4. Unsteady gait, neurological symptoms

5. Recumbency and inability to rise

6. Decreased body temperature

7. Death if the disease is not treated

Diagnosis

1. Clinical signs and history (advanced pregnancy)

2. Urine: elevated ketone bodies

3. Blood: hypoglycemia, ketonemia

4. Post-mortem: fatty liver

Treatment

➡️ If addressed in early stages, treatment can be effective.

1. Energy supplementation:

       Propylene glycol: 60–120 mL orally, twice daily for 3–5 days

2. Fluids/Electrolytes:

       Intravenous administration of glucose or dextrose

3. Corticosteroids:

       To induce parturition

4. Caesarean section:

       If the animal does not respond and is near term

Prevention

1. Balanced nutrition during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester

2. Use of energy supplements (e.g., molasses, dextrose, propylene glycol, calcium propionate)

3. Administration of vitamins (e.g., choline, niacin)

4. Ultrasound scanning to identify multiple fetuses

5. Avoid obesity or emaciation in early pregnancy

6. Minimize stress factors