Metabolic+and+Nutritinal+Disease

Metabolic & Nutritional Disease

Metabolic Diseases

• Metabolism: The process of converting food to energy within cells for vital processes and synthesizing new organic material.

• Disruption: Metabolic diseases disrupt normal metabolism.

  • Affect the cell's ability to perform critical biochemical reactions involving the processing or transport of proteins, carbohydrates, or lipids.

• Causes:

  • Deficiencies or excesses of nutrients altering healthy state.

  • Enzyme deficiencies necessary for specific chemical reactions.

  • Abnormal chemical reactions making metabolic processes difficult.

  • Organ diseases in liver, pancreas, or endocrine glands.

• Common in production animals (e.g., livestock).

  • Example: Dairy cows lacking calcium, magnesium, or energy reserves to meet metabolic needs.

Nutritional Diseases

• Can be caused by:

  • Specific nutrient deficiencies, excesses, imbalances, or metabolic disturbances.

• Effects include alterations in:

  • Energy metabolism, immune function, cognitive function, bone formation, muscle function, and fetal growth and development (if pregnant animals have deficiencies).

• Often easily cured by adjusting dietary constituents.

Ketosis

• Definition: A common disease of dairy cows in early lactation, arising from negative energy balance leading to adipose mobilization and high glucose demand for milk synthesis.

  • If feed intake is insufficient to meet energy demand, there is not enough ruminal production of propionic acid (main precursor of glucose), leading to hypoglycemia.

• Metabolic Processes:

  • Mobilization of free fatty acids and glycerol from fat stores, which are oxidized to form Acetyl-CoA.

  • Excess Acetyl-CoA converted into ketone bodies: acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHP), and some acetone.

  • Ketone bodies accumulate, excreted in milk and urine.

Symptoms of Ketosis

• Signs include:

  • Anorexia, decreased milk production, weight loss, firm dry feces, occasional neurological signs (nervous ketosis).

  • Can be subclinical or unrecognized.

• Diagnosis:

  • Measurement of BHB, elevated in blood, urine, and milk of fresh cows.

  • Various on-site tests exist for measuring ketones in urine, milk, and blood.

Treatment of Ketosis

• Early Detection: Leads to quicker recovery and improved milk.

• Standard Treatment:

  • Oral administration of propylene glycol, provides precursors for glucose production.

  • Additional therapy may include bolus glucose treatment and vitamin B12 for hypoglycemic cases.

Ketosis/Pregnancy Toxemia

• Most common metabolic disorder in pregnant small ruminants (sheep, goats) during late gestation.

• Caused by inadequate nutrition (low energy) and decreased rumen capacity due to fetal growth, especially with multiple fetuses.

• Signs include partial anorexia and hypoglycemic encephalopathy, alongside elevated BHB in blood/urine.

• Treatment:

  • Oral propylene glycol/corn syrup for quick energy.

Milk Fever (Hypocalcemia Parturient Paresis)

• Caused by insufficient calcium around calving.

• Serum calcium levels drop, leading to:

  • Hyperexcitability of the nervous system, reduced muscle contraction strength, tetany, partial paralysis.

• Stages:

  • Stage I: Loss of appetite, excitability, hypersensitivity, weakness.

  • Stage II: Lasts 1-12 hours, dullness, incoordination, trembling muscles, constipation.

  • Stage III: Inability to stand, loss of consciousness, nearly inaudible heart sounds.

Treatment of Milk Fever

• Treatment focuses on restoring calcium levels quickly to avoid complications.

• Recommended: IV injection of calcium gluconate.

Grass Tetany (Hypomagnesemic Tetany)

• Occurrence: In cows and ewes, especially when grazing lush, rapidly growing pastures with low magnesium levels due to high protein and potassium.

• Clinical signs: Excitability, blindness, hypersensitivity, muscle tremors, urination, staggering, convulsions, coma, death.

  • Preventative: Daily oral Mg supplements, often combined with palatable agents (molasses, etc.).

Rumen Acidosis

• Affects wild or domestic ruminants, mainly dairy/feedlot cattle and sometimes sheep.

• Due to ingestion of excessive fermentable, carbohydrate-rich feeds (corn, wheat, barley).

• Acidosis Occurs: When rumen pH drops below 5.5, causing atony, depressed appetite/production, disturbed rumen flora, severe cases leading to shock/death.

• Prevention: Reduce fermentable carbohydrate intake per meal.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Vitamin A Deficiency

• Essential for epithelial maintenance, visual purple function, kidney function, bone development.

• Deficiency: Causes skin disorders and night blindness.

Vitamin D Deficiencies

• Required for calcium absorption and bone health.

• Deficiency: Causes rickets and osteomalacia, particularly in young growing animals.

Vitamin E Deficiencies

• Important antioxidant protecting cellular membranes.

• Deficiency: Causes liver necrosis, specific species disorders (e.g., exudative diathesis, muscular dystrophy).

Vitamin K Deficiencies

• Critical for prothrombin production, affects clotting time.

• Deficiency: Can result in hemorrhages, impaired bone mineralization.

Vitamin B Deficiencies

• Includes complex B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, etc.).

• Deficiencies relate to metabolism and may cause skin issues, anorexia, and impaired blood cell production.

Niacin Deficiency

• Deficiency leads to black tongue in dogs and can cause pellagra in humans (dermatitis, dementia, diarrhea).

Pantothenic Acid Deficiency

• Grazing animals can manufacture it, whereas poultry/swine rely on diet.

• Deficiency impacts growth and leads to lesions in nervous system and skin.

Vitamin C Deficiencies

• Important for tissue growth, immune regulation.

• Deficiency: Can cause scurvy and joint issues.

Cobalt Deficiency

• Ruminants need cobalt for B12 synthesis; deficiency leads to ill-thrift and anemia.

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)

• Result of calcium/phosphorus imbalance, often due to poor husbandry or vitamin D deficiency.

  • Symptoms include bowed legs, arched spine, rubber jaw, and fractures.

White Muscle Disease (WMD)

• Associated with vitamin E and/or selenium deficiency, leading to muscle degeneration.

• Symptoms: Skeletal muscle pallor, necrosis of muscle fibers.

Parakeratosis

• Result of zinc deficiency/inadequate absorption.

• Symptoms: Skin lesions, lethargy, anemia, and delayed growth.

Obesity

• Excessive adipose tissue, defined as >20% above ideal body weight.

• Causes: Energy intake exceeding expenditure.

• Common health issues: Chronic inflammation, cardiopulmonary issues, diabetes, and decreased life expectancy.

• Risk factors include lack of exercise, breed predisposition, age, neutering, etc.