Vol. 10, Special Issue 8 (2021)

Author(s):
V Vijayanand, M Balagangatharathilagar, P Tensingh Gnanaraj and S Vairamuthu

Abstract:
Out 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, 264 (51.16%) were treated for various medical conditions. Among the does treated, 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 beta hydroxybutyric acid level > 1.6 mmol/L were classified as clinical pregnancy toxaemic group (n = 12). The control animals were selected from adult Tellicherry does in the age group of 2 to 4 years maintained at a private goat farm (ECR Goat Farm), Injambakkam, Chennai. The clinical pregnancy toxaemic group (n = 12) were resorted to treatment with intravenous glucose therapy (5% Dextrose), parenteral therapy of Vitamin B₁, B₆ & B₁₂ and oral administration of glycerine @ 25 ml twice daily. Of the twelve animals treated only four showed signs of improvement to therapy with a cure rate of 33%, while mortality was present in four does (33%) and the remaining four (33%) did not show any sign of recovery to therapy and hence the owners resorted to disposal of their animal. Reliable diagnostic indicators for detection of pregnancy toxaemia under field conditions include presence of ketone body in urine and blood BHBA (≥ 0.8 mmol/L).