Transport Tetany in Ruminants

Core Definition & Characteristics:

Nature of Condition: Defined more as a "management syndrome" than a specific disease.
Primary Metabolic Cause: Tetany resulting from hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, or a combination of both.
Prognosis: Often characterized by a fatal progression involving recumbency and coma.

Target Populations:

High Risk: Cows and ewes in late pregnancy following prolonged transport stress.
Other Cattle: Recently calved cows, bulls, steers, and dry cows.
Other Small Ruminants: Lambs being moved to feedlots or animals transported for slaughter.

Etiology (Risk Factors):

Transport Conditions: Crowded, hot, and poorly ventilated vehicles (trailers or railroad cars).
Nutritional Stress: Deprivation of feed and water for >24 hours during transit.
Pre-shipment Factors: Heavy feeding immediately before shipment.
Post-arrival Factors: Forced exercise immediately after unloading.
Physical Stress: Prolonged travel on foot.

Clinical Findings:

Early Phase (Excitement): Restlessness, excitement, trismus (lockjaw), grinding of teeth, and a staggering gait.
Late Phase (Recumbency):
- Paddling of the hind legs when lying down.
- Gastrointestinal: Rumen hypomotility, GI stasis, and complete anorexia.
- Systemic: Tachycardia, rapid/labored respiration, and potential abortion in pregnant animals.
Progression: Animals become increasingly obtunded, leading to coma and death within 3–4 days.
Sheep/Lamb Specifics: Partial hind limb paralysis followed by lateral recumbency; some may show normal serum biochemical profiles.

Diagnosis:

Criteria: Based on a recent history of transport or forced exercise followed by characteristic clinical signs.
Biochemical Markers:
- Cattle: Moderate hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia.
- Sheep/Lambs: Mild to moderate hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia.
Postmortem: Generally reveals no specific lesions other than ischemic muscle necrosis caused by prolonged recumbency.

Treatment Protocols:

Parenteral Therapy (Slow IV):
- Calcium Borogluconate (25%): 400–800 mL for cows; 100 mL for ewes.
- Magnesium Supplementation: Combined 5% magnesium sulfate solution.
- Lambs: 50 mL/day administered subcutaneously (SC).
Supportive Care:
- Intravenous isotonic fluids (e.g., Lactated Ringer’s solution).
- Sedation: May be necessary for excited animals.
- Environment: Soft bedding with good footing; high-quality feed like alfalfa hay (high in Ca and Mg, low in K).
Note on Failure: Lack of response to treatment is common, often due to concurrent muscle necrosis from being down too long.

Prevention & Management:

Pre-Transport: Feed high-quality alfalfa hay several days before shipment; use ataractic agents (e.g., promazine hydrochloride) for nervous animals.
During Transport: Avoid overstocking, ensure adequate ventilation, and provide regular feed, water, and rest periods.
Environmental Timing: Move animals during cooler times of the day.
Post-Arrival Care:
- Exercise: Restrict movement for 2–3 days.
- Water: Provide limited access to water for the first 24 hours to prevent over-consumption.

Transport Tetany in Ruminants

Core Definition & Characteristics:

Nature of Condition: Defined more as a "management syndrome" than a specific disease.

Primary Metabolic Cause: Tetany resulting from hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, or a combination of both.

Prognosis: Often characterized by a fatal progression involving recumbency and coma.

Target Populations:

High Risk: Cows and ewes in late pregnancy following prolonged transport stress.

Other Cattle: Recently calved cows, bulls, steers, and dry cows.

Other Small Ruminants: Lambs being moved to feedlots or animals transported for slaughter.

Etiology (Risk Factors):

Transport Conditions: Crowded, hot, and poorly ventilated vehicles (trailers or railroad cars).

Nutritional Stress: Deprivation of feed and water for >24 hours during transit.

Pre-shipment Factors: Heavy feeding immediately before shipment.

Post-arrival Factors: Forced exercise immediately after unloading.

Physical Stress: Prolonged travel on foot.

Clinical Findings:

Early Phase (Excitement): Restlessness, excitement, trismus (lockjaw), grinding of teeth, and a staggering gait.

Late Phase (Recumbency):

Paddling of the hind legs when lying down.

Gastrointestinal: Rumen hypomotility, GI stasis, and complete anorexia.

Systemic: Tachycardia, rapid/labored respiration, and potential abortion in pregnant animals.

Progression: Animals become increasingly obtunded, leading to coma and death within 3–4 days.

Sheep/Lamb Specifics: Partial hind limb paralysis followed by lateral recumbency; some may show normal serum biochemical profiles.

Diagnosis:

Criteria: Based on a recent history of transport or forced exercise followed by characteristic clinical signs.

Biochemical Markers:

Cattle: Moderate hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia.

Sheep/Lambs: Mild to moderate hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia.

Postmortem: Generally reveals no specific lesions other than ischemic muscle necrosis caused by prolonged recumbency.

Treatment Protocols:

Parenteral Therapy (Slow IV):

Calcium Borogluconate (25%): 400–800 mL for cows; 100 mL for ewes.

Magnesium Supplementation: Combined 5% magnesium sulfate solution.

Lambs: 50 mL/day administered subcutaneously (SC).

Supportive Care:

Intravenous isotonic fluids (e.g., Lactated Ringer’s solution).

Sedation: May be necessary for excited animals.

Environment: Soft bedding with good footing; high-quality feed like alfalfa hay (high in Ca and Mg, low in K).

Note on Failure: Lack of response to treatment is common, often due to concurrent muscle necrosis from being down too long.

Prevention & Management:

Pre-Transport: Feed high-quality alfalfa hay several days before shipment; use ataractic agents (e.g., promazine hydrochloride) for nervous animals.

During Transport: Avoid overstocking, ensure adequate ventilation, and provide regular feed, water, and rest periods.

Environmental Timing: Move animals during cooler times of the day.

Post-Arrival Care:

Exercise: Restrict movement for 2–3 days.

Water: Provide limited access to water for the first 24 hours to prevent over-consumption.