Glycaemia as a sign of the viability of the foetuses in the last days of gestation in dairy goats with pregnancy toxaemia

The importance of glucose in the pregnant goat (and ewe) as the major source of energy to the foetus(es) is well known. So pregnant goats are at high risk of developing pregnancy toxaemia due to the rapid foetal growth [1]. The energy requirements of the pregnant goat increase by a factor of 1.5 when she carries one foetus and by a factor of 2 when she carries two foetuses [2]. Blood glucose levels in pregnant goats is generally low, because of foetal demand. There is little information in literature addressing the occurrence of hyperglycaemia in pregnant does. Bulgin [3] showed that as the disease progresses in ewes, blood glucose and cortisol levels may be elevated (above 3.85 mmol/L and 10 ng/ml, respectively) due to foetal death. Wastney et al [4] suggested that the hyperglycaemia occurs because foetal death removed the suppressing effect of the foetus on hepatic gluconeogenesis. Smith and Sherman [5] referred to the existence of a marked hyperglycaemia in terminal cases.The main objective of our study is to show that levels of glycaemia in pregnant goats with pregnancy toxaemia could be an indicator of foetuses survivability.The data from the physical examination of the 10 does is presented in Table 1 and blood data is shown at Table 2.When compared with the reference interval, the LG group had two does with low rectal temperature, four does with lower heart rate, one with a high heart rate and all five does with higher respiratory rate. In the HG group, all five does had a lower rectal temperature, one had a lower heart rate, two had a higher heart rate and four had a higher respiratory rate when compared with the reference interval. The average rectal temperature in the HG group was significantly lower than in the LG group (p < 0.05). All the does were recumbent, five of them were able to stand and walk when forced to do so (three LG does and two HG does). The other five were unable to stand or walk (two LG does and three HG does). Three does vocalized when a