Attention! This is a potentially life-threatening condition for your goat. Time is of the essence, contact your veterinarian immediately.

White Muscle Disease

Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy, Stiff Lamb Disease, Selenium Deficiency

White muscle disease (WMD) is an acute muscle necrosis caused by a deficiency in selenium and/or vitamin E.

Affected goats tend to be reluctant to move, weak, exhibit poor growth, and muscular lesions. WMD also causes abortion and stillbirths in pregnant does.

Symptoms

Abortion
Stillbirth
Reluctant to move
Weakness
Poor growth
Muscular lesions
Sudden death

Diagnosis

  • History
  • Clinical signs
  • Physical exam

Treatment Options

Selenite, sodium: 1 mg/18 kg SC once

Prevention

  • Provide proper amounts of selenium in diet

References

    Risk Factors

    • Fast growing kids are most susceptible to WMD.

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