On-Call / Vet

My practice has several small ruminant herds in it. We see a few cases each year of Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) or Infectious Leukoencephalomyelitis. This disease is devastating to the animal it affects. CAE is usually seen in young goats. The most important thing to remember is there are no effective treatments for CAE. Prevention is the only way to control this syndrome.

Over the past several weeks I have had numerous questions regarding the safety of Johnson grass as a forage or for hay. The extremely, hot and dry summer left many pastures short and several producers feeding hay as we approach fall. Johnson grass is a plant that tends to grow and proliferate during periods of heat and drought when other grasses fail to grow. As a result many pastures have an abundance of Johnson grass this year in comparison to other forages and during periods when feedstuffs are in short supply, producers naturally consider grazing or haying the Johnson grass. However, under the right conditions Johnson grass can accumulate high levels of nitrate and/or prussic acid and become highly toxic to livestock.

Recently there has been increased emphasis on controlling leptospirosis in cattle with special consideration for the serovar Leptospira Hardjo-bovis.

While driving cross country in between calls I have noticed from the road a few cattle beginning to show evidence of lice infestation. Cattle, horses, sheep, goats and swine are all susceptible to parasitism from lice. Interestingly enough, lice are species specific meaning that there is a particular species of louse that prefers feeding on a specific species of livestock. Furthermore, in each species of livestock there are two types of lice that may be observed. Biting lice feed on dead skin cells and other debris from the surface of the skin. Sucking lice feed off of the blood. All species and types of lice cause skin irritation and in rare instances sucking lice may cause significant anemia.

Arguably the most significant health concern regarding dairy production is that of mastitis. By definition, mastitis is inflammation of the mammary gland of the cow. This inflammation is typically a result of invasion and infection of the mammary gland by bacterial organisms. When considering the strategic treatment and prevention of mastitis, bacterial organisms are commonly divided into two groups: contagious and environmental pathogens.

In this day and age significant concern has developed over the use of pharmaceuticals in animals intended for human consumption. Amongst consumers, there are many varying opinions regarding the use of drugs and chemicals in food animals ranging from those that prefer organically produced products to those that give little concern over the matter.

As spring approaches, many goat producers are preparing for the beginning of kidding season. One condition that producers may encounter as does enter their last trimester of pregnancy and near parturition (birthing) is ‘pregnancy toxemia’. This can be a life-threatening condition for some does and early recognition of this disease is paramount to providing successful treatment. This very same condition is also seen in sheep with similar clinical signs and treatment options.

Recently the West Nile virus has been in the news. This year has provided excellent conditions for the virus to be seen. Thirty-two states have reported human cases. Most of the cases are occurring through Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Missouri has had 2 cases occurring in horses.  

Over the past few weeks our clinic has seen a couple of cases of classic anaplasmosis. Anaplasmosis is a clinical condition primarily recognized in cattle caused by the organism anaplasma marginale. This organism acts as a parasite to the red blood cell of the animal resulting in destruction of circulating red blood cells and rapid onset of severe anemia. This condition can produce acute death in cattle and is a complex disease in regards to effective treatment and prevention strategies.