Rumen Acidosis in Small Ruminants and Its Therapeutic Management

Forty two small ruminants, 26 (61.90%) sheep and 16 (38.10%) goats were treated for rumen acidosis. 19 (45.24%), 12 (28.57%), 6 (14.29%) and 5 (11.90%) animals had eaten apple, cooked rice (wazwan left over) turnip and chapatti respectively and manifested clinical form of ruminal acidosis with, 2.86%; (n=18) as mild (Rumen fluid pH=6.32 ±0.09316), 38.09%; (n=16) moderate (Rumen fluid pH=5.71 ±0.074) and 19.05%; (n=8) (Rumen fluid pH=4.54 ±0.159) as severe ruminal acidosis and accordingly they were classi-fied as group I, II and III, respectively. In group I rumen motility was reduced (1.67±0.162) and subse-quently it was almost absent in group III (0.13±0.125). Rectal temperature recorded to be 102.58±0.166, 101.26±0.188 and 100.83±1.061 in group I, II and III respectively. There was a significant increase heart and respiratory tares before treatment in all the groups. A significant increase in blood glucose and Hb, PCV and TEC was also observed in mild, moderate and severe acidotic animals. Therapeutic measures con-sisted of neutralization of acidity by oral and / or parenteral use of isotonic (1.3%) and hypertonic (5%) sodium bicarbonate with adequate fluid therapy. Oral and parenteral use of isotonic (1.3%) sodium bicar-bonate was given to moderate rumen acidosis. Administration of oral sodium bicarbonate, bolus Rumentas was given to groups I and II and a course of antihistaminic drug was also given to all the groups of animals. Moreover, animals of group II and III were also offered intravenous injection of high dose vitamin B1 along with fluids. Gastric lavage and cud transplantation following rumenotomy was done in animals of group III. All animals except two (one each from group II and III) were recovered uneventfully.