SYNONYMS

• RUMEN ALKALOSIS.
• ALKALINE INDIGESTION.
• AMMONIA POISONING/
• UREA POISONING
• RUMEN PUTRIFACTION
• Incidence is LESS
• Rumen alkalosis can occur with the generation of excessive
ammonia.
• Ammonia CONCENTRATIONS raise when HIGH PROTEIN diets are
fermented in the rumen.
• Rumen liquor pH > 7.5 .
• Each gram of UREA – 2.81 gm of proteins.
 ALKALINE INDIGESTION-
ETIOLOGY
• Feeding of Paddystraw alone ( for 4 weeks )
• Urea poisoning .
• Accidental consumption of ammonia containing fertilizers.
• Excessive urea treatment of paddy straw(as NPN source)
• High protein diets- legumes ,concentrates.
• Spoiled feeds.
• Excessive soya been cake ingestion.
• Accidental ingestion of placenta.
• Drinking of Contaminated and Sewage water.
• Injudicious usage of alkalies Mg(OH)2.
• Sethuraman and Rathor ( 1979) induced Rumen alkalosis
in cattle and buffaloes by intraruminal administration of
guar (గోరు చిక్కు డు ) soaked overnight at the rate of 25 g/kg body
weight.
• Administration of Urea @ 1.25 g/kg B.wt –Experimentally
( Repeated Adminstration of small quantity of urea)

• Parthasarathy ( 1981) Produced alkaline indigestion

as a result of accidental ingestion of gingilly oil cake in one cow and
one buffalo
Factors responsible for Alkaline indigestion
( Venkatewarlu ,1990)
Feeding of decomposed feed
stuffs %
5%
Drinking of Sewage
water
10%

Sudden change in Sudden change in High protein diets

Feeding of Paddy straw alone
High protein diets
Drinking of Sewage water
50% Feeding of decomposed feed stuffs

Feeding of Paddy
straw alone
35%
 RAPID
SUDDEN PRODUCTION ONSET OF SIGNS Ruminal pH >7.5
ABSOPRTION OF
OF NH3 IN RUMEN 10-30 mts
NH3 IN B/S

TACHYCARDIA Systemic Excess blood Further ↑ NH3

TACHYPNOEA Alkalosis AMMONIA absorption

RUMINAL
REDUCED RUMINAL ALTERED RUMEN
ATONY RUMINAL
MOTILITY MICROFLORA
ALKALOSIS
Tremors,
Hyper CNS SYMPTOMS BLOOD PH ↑
excitability

ABDOMINAL RECURRENT More NH3 in

DISTENSION &PAIN TYMPANY rumen
 ALKALINE INDIGESTION-CLINICAL SIGNS
• Tachycardia &Tachypnoea.
• Decreased Ruminal motility.
• Mild dehydration.
• Muscle tremors,Drooling of saliva.
• In-coordination , weakness.
• Excitement ,Hyperaesthesia
• Violent struggling &Bellowing
• Recurrent Tympany,Bloat.
• Abdominal discomfort.
• Frequent recumbency.
• Reduced Milk fat
• Pupillary dilatation
 % of cases Showing Clinical signs
Alkaline indigestion

Ataxia &Muscle tremors

Ocular &Nasal discharges
Colic
Rough Coat
Depression &Dullness
Salivation
Reduced Milk yield
Tympony
Anorexia
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Series 1
 ALKALINE INDGESTION –SMALL RUMINANTS
• Dullness
• Depression.
• Salivation.
• Arched back condition.
• Tonic convulsions.
• Absence of rumen motility ( Histamines)
 CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
• Ruminal fluid pH – 7.5-8.5.
• Feeding of paddy straw for 4weeks- pH- 9-10
• pH -8.4 –Complete destruction of microflora
• Colour – Olive ,Brownish green.
• Slightly viscous to Watery
• Aromatic odour
• ↑pH,SAT ,MBRT &Rumen Ammonia Nitrogen ,
• Blood glucose ( Due to gluconeogenesis from glucogenic amino acid s
absorbed through portal circulation).
• ↓ Rumen motility
 ALKALINE INDIGESTION -
TREATMENT
• Vinegar -5% @ 0.5-1 lit – Sheep
@ 5ml/kg –q24 hrs (10-30 lit –Cattle).
• Cold water -@10- 30 lit –P/O-dilute the excess ammonia.
• 2% Lactic acid (500ml -50-70 ml diluted in 8-10 lit water- P/O.
• Glutamic acid - 100 -200 gm in 1lit of water-P/O.
• Rumen liquor -5-8 lit-P/o
• Molasses, Readily digestible CHO, Grain ,turnips –Supplemented.
• Antihistamines.
• CBG –To improve GIT motility.