BACKGROUND Pregnancy toxaemia (PT) is a disease that affects pregnant goats during their last month of gestation and is characterized by a high case fatality rate. This study involved 32 does maintained on a commercial dairy goat farm that were diagnosed with PT. A physical examination was performed on and haematology parameters obtained from each doe, at the time of diagnosis. The data from the 24 PT goats that died was compared with the corresponding data from the 8 PT goats that survived. RESULTS Polypnea, swollen limbs, anorexia with absence of ruminal motility, recumbency, nervous signs and drooping ears were the most frequently observed clinical manifestations. Nineteen out of 21 recumbent goats died. Sixteen out of 17 goats with anorexia and absence of ruminal motility died. Mean beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) values in the goats that died were not significantly different from those in goats that survived. The blood values for pH and pCO2 (p < 0.005) as well as for HCO3-, BE and K+ (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the goats that died than in those that survived. CONCLUSIONS The clinical signs most indicative of a poor prognosis are anorexia with absence of ruminal motility and recumbency. Among the blood parameters to be considered, hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis are the most relevant. Goats with PT have a high mortality and their condition can deteriorate very fast. Based on the authors's experience, a good strategy to minimize the economic losses caused by PT is to focus on the offspring survival rate since an early decision (induction of kidding or caesarian surgery) can increase the number of alive kids.

中文翻译：

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临床观察结果和血液化学值对预测妊娠毒血症的奶山羊的临床结局有用。

背景技术妊娠毒血症（PT）是在怀孕的最后一个月中影响怀孕山羊的疾病，其特征在于病死率高。这项研究涉及32头确诊为PT的商业奶牛场饲养的猪。诊断时，对每只母鹿进行身体检查并获得血液学参数。将来自死亡的24只PT山羊的数据与存活的8只PT山羊的相应数据进行比较。结果多发性呼吸，四肢肿胀，厌食，无瘤胃活动，卧位，神经体征和耳朵下垂是最常观察到的临床表现。在21头卧卧山羊中，有19头死亡。在17只厌食和无瘤胃运动的山羊中，有16只死亡。死亡山羊的平均β-羟基丁酸（BHBA）值与存活山羊无明显差异。死去的山羊的pH和pCO2（p <0.005）以及HCO3-，BE和K +（p <0.001）的血值显着低于存活的山羊。结论最能预后不良的临床体征是厌食症，没有瘤胃蠕动和卧位。在要考虑的血液参数中，低钾血症和代谢性酸中毒最为相关。PT山羊的死亡率很高，病情会很快恶化。根据作者的经验，