Archive Case #77: Ovine White Muscle Disease

Clinical Clues

1. A fast-growing lamb is examined for stiffness, weakness, and reluctance to keep up with the mob.
2. The farmer reports sudden deaths have also occurred in a few similarly aged lambs.
3. The lamb has a short stilted gait and tires easily.
4. Blood testing reveals markedly increased muscle enzyme activity.
5. The flock is grazing in an area known to be low in selenium.
6. Nutritional deficiency of selenium and vitamin E can cause degenerative disease of skeletal and cardiac muscle in young sheep.

Diagnosis

Ovine White Muscle Disease

This case is most consistent with Ovine White Muscle Disease because the lamb has muscle weakness, elevated muscle enzymes, and a nutritional risk for selenium deficiency. The most important clues are the stiff gait and flock history of sudden deaths, which make a primary joint disorder less likely.

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.