Lactation tetany in horses (milk fever, hypocalcemic tetany, transport tetany, eclampsia): distribution, etiology

Abstract

The publication covers issues of distribution and etiology of lactation tetany in horses. This disease occurs as a result of a disturbance of calcium metabolism in the mare's body. This pathological condition is associated with a sharp decrease in the level of ionized calcium in the blood serum, and sometimes with changes in the concentration of magnesium and phosphorus in it. Lactation tetany is a rather rare disease of horses. This pathology is diagnosed after a kidling with the onset of lactation, in the mares, when hypocalcaemia develops in organism of animal, after prolonged physical activity or transport (transport tetany), eclampsia. Signs of the disease are variable and associated with neuromuscular hyperresistibility. Lactation tetany is more likely to be affected by shire horse breeds. The mortality rate of animals is high and reaches more than 60%. Hypocalcemic tetany occurs in mare, which feeds the foal - on average 10 days after kidfling or 1-2 days after it is weaned. Mechanisms of hypocalcemia development in the mare's organism, which feeds the foal, consist of reducing the absorption of this element from the intestine, increasing its loss through the kidneys, sweat or milk (in the presence of lactation); or inhibition of osteolysis due to changes in the level of parathyroid hormone (parathormone), calcitonine or vitamin D, in stress states.