White muscle disease of lambs: causes and signs, methods of treatment

White muscle disease of lambs is understood as a severe pathology, which is characterized by a serious violation of metabolic processes in the body. The disease most often affects the nervous system, heart and skeleton. If signs of illness appear, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian in a timely manner. Otherwise, the probability of death of animals is high.

Description and causes of the disease

The development of animals depends on the amount of trace elements in the body. With a shortage or excess of a certain substance, there is a risk of metabolic disorders and the development of various pathologies.Lambs often suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. This is due to the rapid growth of animals and improper maintenance. Babies are highly sensitive to selenium deficiency. It is a true biotic element found in trace amounts in tissues and organs.

With a lack of this substance, white muscle disease occurs in lambs. With this pathology, the liver, skeletal muscles, myocardium and other organs suffer. In affected individuals, the muscles resemble boiled fish or chicken. Most often, the pathology develops in winter or spring. With anomalies of intrauterine development, it appears immediately after birth. In 1 month, up to 15% of animals can suffer. In 2-3 months, this parameter often increases to 70%. At other ages, the disease is much less common.

Most often, lambs get sick when grazing on acidic soil or in the lowlands of rivers. Despite the large volume of selenium, the element combines with iron. This provokes the appearance of insoluble compounds that do not enter the plants.

The level of this substance in the grass depends on temperature and humidity. In cold and rainy weather, the volume of the element is significantly reduced. Also, the risk of developing the disease increases with a lack of vitamin E. As a result, the animals become weaker, they develop convulsions and other unpleasant symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of disease

Most often the disease develops in winter or spring. It can have several flow options. In the acute course of the disease, which is typical for cubs under the age of 1 month, there is a depressed state, insufficient motor activity, decreased appetite, weakened muscle tone, tremors, and stagnation.

Lambs with this disease have weak front legs. Therefore, the gait is disturbed, the animals are forced to rely on the metacarpal or toe joints, lameness occurs. With damage to the heart and blood vessels, the pulse quickens to 140-200 beats per minute, arrhythmia develops.In difficult situations, the lambs lie with their necks extended. Most of these animals die.

Subacute course is usually observed in 1-3 months. At the same time, there is a lag in growth, unsteadiness of gait, lameness, tremor. There is also a weakening of muscle tone, paresis, and the muscles of the pelvic girdle atrophy. Lambs may moan when moving. With damage to the myocardium, the pulse quickens, arrhythmia develops. There is also a risk of bronchopneumonia and damage to the digestive organs. After 10-20 days, the lamb may die.

Chronic course of pathology is usually observed in 6-8 months. This results in increased fatigue and stunting. In animals, the tone of muscle tissues decreases, lameness and developmental delay are observed. As the disease progresses, atrophy and exhaustion, paresis and paralysis of muscle tissues develop. Often there are problems in the work of the heart and blood vessels, and bronchopneumonia develops.

How an ailment is diagnosed in animals

The correct diagnosis can be made on the basis of the clinical picture. The doctor may also perform laboratory tests. At the first symptoms of the disease and the absence of pronounced manifestations, special attention should be paid to the work of the heart. To do this, conduct functional tests and make an electrocardiogram.

Lambs are made to run for 15-30 seconds to complete the study. When they stop, listen to the heart. In the presence of the disease, arrhythmia and tachycardia are present.

Methods for treating white muscle disease in lambs

It is advisable to treat the disease only in the initial stages of the disease. In advanced cases of myocardial dystrophy or heart block, this is useless. To cope with the pathology, sick animals should be placed on soft bedding, provided with complete rest and transferred to a milk diet.

It is also recommended to give lambs high-quality hay, green grass, oatmeal mash. They require vitamins A, D and C. However, the most effective method of therapy is the use of drugs with vitamin E and selenium. Usually a 0.1% solution of sodium selenite is used. For 1 kilogram of weight, you need to use 0.1-0.2 milliliters of the product. It is administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously.

It is important to consider that sodium selenite has a toxic effect, therefore it is permissible to use it only as directed by a doctor.

Vitamin E is prescribed 10-20 milligrams three times a day. The drug should be given to animals for 5-7 days. Complex preparations can also be used - for example, Selevit. Give lambs and other useful substances. These include cob alt, which is recommended for lambs in the amount of 2-4 milligrams. They also require amino acids - cysteine, methionine. These substances must be given to animals at a dosage of 0.5-1 grams 2-3 times a day.

In addition, lambs require protein hydrolysates. These substances are recommended to be administered intramuscularly at 40-50 milliliters every day. The course of treatment should be 6-8 days. If necessary, symptomatic treatment is carried out. To maintain the work of the heart, 1.5-3 milliliters of Cordiamin, 2-5 milliliters of lily of the valley tincture, 3-5 milligrams of camphor oil can be used. In case of complications, the use of antimicrobials is recommended.

Danger of disease

With white muscle disease, the probability of death of animals is high. If adequate measures are not taken in a timely manner, pathology can lead to the loss of 60% of the entire livestock.

Prevention measures

To avoid the development of the disease, pregnant females and cubs need to provide the right conditions for feeding and housing.Of no small importance is the use of vitamins and trace elements. Pregnant females 1 month before birth and newborn lambs are recommended to inject intramuscularly or subcutaneously 1 milliliter of sodium selenite solution with a concentration of 0.1%. Also, for prevention, "Selevit", "Selferol" are used. Preventive doses of these drugs should be 2 times less compared to therapeutic ones. If fish oil is included in the diet of animals, the need for vitamin E increases by 2-3 times.

There is also an oral remedy for the prevention of white muscle disease. For this, it is recommended to use "Bentoselen". This remedy is used in tablet form. For lambs, there is a dosage of 0.25 grams of the substance, for ewes - 0.5 grams. To prevent disease in lambs, the remedy is given for 2-3 days and 25-30 days of life.

In this case, the dosage should be 30 milligrams per 1 kilogram of weight. Pregnant ewes require 15 milligrams of the substance per 1 kilogram of weight.The tool is used 25-30 days before childbirth. White muscle disease is a serious pathology that often occurs in lambs. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, there is a risk of death of animals.