Discussion
Lactation tetany occurs in mares, which had low ionized calcium
concentration as calcium was excessively utilised for milk production in
high producers. animal that graze on lush pasturelands with large number
of succulent fibres tend to be in increased lactation as result of which
loss of significant amount of minerals especially calcium as stated by
Rach et all.,1972. It may also be noted on animal fed on imbalanced diet
in terms of quantity of feed and all elements for lactation( Bradford
vets/ pet care articles/ retrieval as on 18th sept
2023).
It is common with 10 days after foaling this is because of increased
mobilisation of calcium for skeletal development at last trimester of
pregnancy, also increased calcium supplement before foaling reduces
mares ability of mobilization of calcium by change in the level of
parathyroid hormone (Tsvilikhovskyi et al., 2014).the urgent need of
calcium is not met out by the interaction of parathormone and vitamin D3
or very slow to be met out.
Calcium is a regulatory ion crucial for various cellular activities such
as coagulation, neuromuscular excitability, enzyme activity, etc. Around
99% of calcium was found as an inorganic matrix in the bone, and the
remaining 1% was found in extracellular fluids.
In acute hypocalcaemia, skeletal muscle tremors with decreased smooth
muscle contraction result in bradycardia, dysphagia and colic (Toribio,
2004). Also, he stated that most of the mares with calcium deficiency
presented with various clinical signs including ataxia, tetany, muscle
fasciculation-trismus due to spasmodic contraction of masticatory
muscles, tachypnoea, rapid violent respiration with dilated nostrils,
colic, hyperhidrosis, and hyperexcitement. Because of tetany, animal
will exhibit the signs as incoordination, stiff gaits. Hypersensitivity
to sound is less at rest rather than in exercise.
Therapeutic management of Lactation tetany should be done with
administration of 300 to 500 ml Inj. 25% calcium boro gluconate
intravenous infusion for the adult equine which weighs 500 kilograms
(Radostits O, 2006). Vitamin D at a low dose may be beneficial to the
mare, which also results in hypervitaminosis D. In addition to the
calcium, the protein (albumin) and magnesium levels should be evaluated,
to make the availability of ionized calcium (Toribio et al 2011).