Sub Clinical Pregnancy Toxaemia Diagnostic Indicators and its Therapeutic Evaluation in Goats

A total of 516 adult non descriptive does brought to Veterinary University Peripheral Hospital, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai – 51, during the period October 2016 to September 2018. were treated for various medical conditions. Of this, 72 does were in their last six weeks of gestation carrying twins/triplets and presented with the history of off feed. They were subjected to determination of blood beta hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) concentration by means of a portable blood ketone and glucose monitoring system and qualitative urinalysis using urine dip stick. Does with BHBA > 0.8 mmol/L and < 1.6 mmol/L were classified as sub-clinical pregnancy toxaemic group (n = 12) while the remaining does BHBA level were within normal range (< 0.8 mmol/L). The control animals were selected from adult Tellicherry does in the age group of 2 to 4 years maintained at Livestock Farm Complex (LFC), Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai – 600 051 and a private goat farm (ECR Goat Farm), Injambakkam, Chennai. The sub- clinical pregnancy toxaemic group were resorted to treatment with intravenous glucose therapy (5 per cent Dextrose) and oral administration of glycerine for 3-4 days @ 25 ml twice daily supported with parenteral Vitamin B1, B6 & B12 therapy with an overall cure rate of 100 %. Reliable diagnostic indicators for sub-clinical form of pregnancy toxaemia include presence of ketone body in urine and BHBA > 0.8 mmol/L and < 1.6 mmol/L.

• Periparturient mortality in goats have a great economic impact on the livelihood of marginal farmers.

• Reliable diagnostic indicators of negative energy balance in the primary stage of the disease are the need of the hour for better herd health management.