Pregnancy Toxemia in Sheep: Prevention is Critical

Pregnancy toxemia (twin lamb disease) is a metabolic disorder affecting ewes in late pregnancy that causes intense suffering and high mortality. Prevention through nutrition management is achievable.

Key Facts

Pregnancy toxemia results from negative energy balance in late pregnancy, particularly with twin or triplet lambs
The ewe's glucose demand from multiple fetuses exceeds her ability to maintain blood glucose
Signs include depression, blindness, grinding teeth, and inability to rise — often progressing to death
Treatment is difficult and success rates are poor once clinical signs are advanced
Prevention through adequate nutrition in the last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy is highly effective
Body condition score at scanning and appropriate supplementation based on litter size are key preventive tools

Welfare Considerations

Pregnancy toxemia causes severe suffering — affected ewes progress from early depression and separation from the flock to recumbency, convulsions, and death within days. Blindness in some cases adds to their distress. Because treatment success is poor once clinical signs develop, prevention is the paramount welfare priority. Scanning ewes to identify litter size allows targeted nutritional supplementation — ewes carrying triplets need substantially more energy than those carrying singles. Nutritional planning should be a central component of ewe welfare during the peri-parturient period.

What You Can Do

Implement scanning programs to identify litter size and guide nutritional management
Assess ewe body condition at scanning and adjust feeding accordingly
Ensure adequate energy supplementation for all ewes in the last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy
Monitor ewes daily in late pregnancy for early signs of metabolic disease
Treat affected ewes immediately with glucose and veterinary support — do not delay