A field study of watery mouth: clinical, epidemiological, biochemical, haematological and bacteriological observations

Abstract

More than 500 cases of watery mouth in newborn lambs were recorded in 11 flocks and a detailed examination was performed in more than 200 cases. The condition occurred predominantly in lambs aged 24 to 48 hours. The incidence in a flock varied from 1 per cent to 24 per cent and the mortality in affected lambs varied from 7 per cent to 83 per cent. A bacteraemia was found in 38 per cent of the affected lambs. There were no consistent abnormalities of clinical biochemistry or haematology. Watery mouth was more common in twins and especially in triplets than in single lambs. In twins the highest incidence of watery mouth was recorded in lambs born to ewes in poor body condition. Antibiotic given orally within 15 minutes of birth greatly reduced the incidence of watery mouth.

Watery mouth disease in lambs: biochemical parameters before and after treatment

“…Twenty‐one of 23 lambs (91·3 per cent) treated for watery mouth disease recovered, which was similar to the treatment response reported by Collins and others (1985) but higher than the 59 per cent success reported by Eales and others (1986). After 23 cases of watery mouth disease, the farmer was instructed to administer an oral antibiotic to all lambs within 15 minutes of birth (Eales and others 1986), thereafter too few cases of watery mouth disease occurred to permit systematic investigation of individual treatments.…”

“…Plasma IgG concentrations were not measured, therefore the contribution of passively derived antibody to total protein concentration could not be determined. Collins and other (1985) and Eales and others (1986) found no significant relationship between plasma IgG and susceptibility to watery mouth. The normal glucose concentrations recorded in lambs with watery mouth disease were in general agreement with results obtained after experimental endotoxin administration in neonatal calves (Gerros and others 1995).…”

Perinatal complications and maximising lamb survival in an adolescent paradigm characterised by premature delivery and low birthweight

“…Irrespective, the low colostrum volume necessitated that many of the very premature lambs additionally received banked colostrum and IgG absorption per se was not routinely assessed. It is accepted that the use of prophylactic antibiotics could negatively impact the neonatal microbiota but all lambs were treated identically and our approach to neonatal care was justified by the complete absence of E.coli enterotoxaemia (watery mouth), umbilical infection (navel ill) and infectious polyarthritis (joint ill), all of which are commonplace on farm [ 59 , 60 ].…”

D‐lactic acidosis in lambs

“…The findings in the lambs described here show that D‐lactic acidosis in lambs is a syndrome that is analogous to FKS but is not to be mistaken for watery mouth disease. Although the clinical signs may be similar, watery mouth disease usually occurs in lambs aged 24 to 48 hours (Eales and others 1986). The lambs in the present study were two weeks old, and Bleul and others (2006) observed FKS in kids aged five to 30 days.…”