When there is a large amount of fluid in the fetal membrane cavity, it is called polyhydramnios, which is mainly characterized by excessive urine or amniotic fluid, or both. This disease is common in sheep and goats. There is no significant change in the quality of the fetal fluid, and it may be thinner than the normal fetal fluid.

The amount of amniotic fluid of sheep is generally not much, the maximum is about 450ml, but when the amniotic fluid is too much, it can reach about 700ml.

1、 Etiology

1. Because some parts of the umbilical cord or fetal membrane are twisted.

2. The fetus or the mother's kidney is inflamed, the heart is weak, and the liver and lungs suffer from some diseases.

3. Some cases of hydroamnion are obviously caused by the disturbance of the function of amniotic epithelium, which can secrete amniotic fluid.

4. Plenty of amniotic fluid is easy to occur when pregnant with twins or fetuses.

2、 Symptoms

Most cases occurred in the second half of pregnancy, and the disease developed slowly. At first, the whole body showed no symptoms, and the appetite was normal, but the abdomen gradually expanded. When the course of the disease is serious, the abdomen of the sheep who are three and a half months pregnant is enlarged, the back is extremely depressed, and the noise nest is jacked up by fetal water. When the pregnancy process is normal, the noise nest is very obvious.

The general condition deteriorated gradually with the progress of the disease, and the appetite decreased significantly. The sick sheep were extremely emaciated and disheveled. The eyes are listless and gloomy, the breathing is difficult, the pulse is fast and weak, sometimes it can reach 100~120 times.

Sick sheep are difficult to walk, like to lie down, and are not easy to stand.

When checking the vagina, it was found that the cervix was deep in the abdominal cavity.

When the course of the disease is serious, uterine rupture or abdominal muscle rupture may occur, premature delivery may also occur, and the fetus has no viability.

When the course of the disease is mild, the pregnancy is normal, but as usual, weak or even no contraction occurs during delivery. In this case, the fetus cannot be delivered without midwifery. If you cannot stand up two or more weeks before delivery, you often die of cachexia or septicemia.

3、 Diagnosis

Because it is easy to see from the external visual diagnosis that there is too much fetal fluid, it is not difficult to make a diagnosis, but it must be distinguished from hydroperitoneum and multiple births. It is easy to make a differential diagnosis when the fetal membrane ruptures, because the urine is thin and light brown, while the amniotic fluid is serous, transparent, or light turbid white.

4、 Treatment

1. When the course of disease is light, small and nutritious feed can be given, and drinking water and salt can be restricted. Exercise regularly every day and wait for normal delivery. Under such feeding management, normal pregnancy can be maintained.

2. Uterine puncture through the abdominal wall allows the liquid to drain. Sometimes it can be effective, but it often causes abortion.

3. A large amount of chlorination (3-5 g per day) or dihydrogram urine plugs (5 tablets per time, 3 times per day) can be injected to increase water excretion.

4. When the course of the disease is serious, especially when there are symptoms endangering the life of ewes, abortion should be carried out as early as possible.