author(s)
V Vijayanand, M Balagangatharathilagar, P Tensingh Gnanaraj and S Vairamuthu

abstract
Periparturient mortality in goats have a great economic impact on the livelihood of marginal farmer. Pregnancy toxaemia in small ruminants occur as a result of negative energy balance consequent to enhanced requirement for glucose by the developing foetuses in the last trimester (last 6 to 4 weeks) of gestation. Among the does treated for various medical conditions at Veterinary University Peripheral Hospital, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai – 51 during the period October 2016 – September 2018, 72 does in their last six weeks of gestation carrying twins / triplets and presented with the history of off feed, dullness and acetone odour in their breath were subjected to determination of blood beta hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) level by way of a portable blood ketone and glucose monitoring system and qualitative urinalysis using urine dip stick. Does with beta hydroxybutyric acid level > 1.6 mmol/L were classified as clinical pregnancy toxaemic group (n = 12). The control animals were selected from adult Tellicherry does in the age group of 2 to 4 years maintained at Livestock Farm Complex (LFC), Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai – 600 051 and a private goat farm (ECR Goat Farm), Injambakkam, Chennai. The clinical pregnancy toxaemic group (n = 12) were resorted to treatment with intravenous glucose therapy (5 per cent Dextrose), parenteral therapy of Vitamin B₁, B₆ & B₁₂ and oral administration of glycerine @ 25 ml twice daily. Of the twelve animals treated only four showed signs of improvement to therapy with a cure rate of 33 per cent, while mortality was present in four does (33 per cent) and the remaining four (33 per cent) did not show any sign of recovery to therapy and hence the owners resorted to disposal of their animal. Reliable diagnostic indicators for detection of pregnancy toxaemia under field conditions include presence of ketone body in urine and blood β-hyroxybutyric acid concentration (≥ 0.8 mmol/L).