Acidosis (Grain Overload)
Over consumption of, or unaccustomed access to, high risk grain such as wheat or barley.
SYMPTOMS
• Signs occur within 24-36 hours of changing to a grain rich diet.
• Mildly affected sheep may have diarrhoea but continue to eat.
• More severely affected sheep may stop eating, be tender footed, get up and down frequently, spend more time than usual lying down and grind their teeth.
• Some affected sheep die over 2-3 days and others slowly recover.
• Those that recover are often chronically lame (laminitis).
DIAGNOSIS
• History of eating high risk grain without being acclimatised, clinical signs and post mortem findings.
• On post mortem, damage to the rumen wall may be seen.
TREATMENT
• Remove animals from grain, feed good quality hay and provide access to water.
• Treat with sodium bicarbonate (bicarb soda) at a dose of 10g/sheep.
PREVENTION
• Gradual introduction of high risk grains into the diet
• Make sure sheep cannot get sudden access to a pile of grain.
Main Picture by: Dun Eideann Flock

Written by
H Cetin KATIRCI
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