Lactation tetany in horses (clinical signs, treatment, prevention)

Abstract

The publication covers the clinical signs and flow of lactation tetany of horses, applied treatment of sick animals and prevention of this pathology. The degree of manifestation of clinical signs in lactation tetany corresponds to the concentration of ionized calcium in the blood serum of mare. For the mild form of the course of lactation tetany, the only sign of the disease may be increased excitability of the animal. In severe forms in sick horses there is a complex of typical clinical signs for hypocalcemic tetany. The amount of calcium in the serum in the initial stage of the disease, when the excitation of the animal is observed> 8 mg%; with the appearance of spasm signs - 5-8 mg%; lying position and numbness - <5 mg%. If there is no applying of timely treatment, the disease progresses with a mortal term within 24-48 hours. The preliminary diagnosis is based on data from anamnesis, clinical signs of the disease and response to specific treatment. The final diagnosis requires confirmation of low levels of ionized calcium in serum. For therapeutic purposes, for the mares is given intravenous introduction of calcium solutions, symptomatic treatment. Preventive measures are providing the sufficient amounts of calcium and phosphorus and their correlation in feed during the entire period of pregnancy and feeding the foals.