RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 195 



RICKETS (Rachitis, Leg Weakness) 



Rickets is a disease of lambs in which the bones are soft and 

 flexible from retarded hardening due to lack of proper mineral salt. 



CAUSE 



Failure of the bones to receive enough mineral salts, especially 

 lime, may be due to faulty processes in the body, but is usually due to 

 lack of lime salts in the feed and to lack of exercise. Suckling lambs 

 may become affected if the mothers do not get feed enough, or if the 

 feed is low in lime content. Some soils are deficient in lime, and feed 

 grown on them is also deficient. Lambs closely confined, even if prop- 

 erly fed, may develop rickets. 



SYMPTOMS 



The symptoms are most apparent in the long bones of the legs. 

 Nodular enlargements may be observed on the ends or sides of the 

 bones, which are soft and porous. They are bent or bowed outward, 

 inward, or backward. The spine may be curved also. Stiffness or 

 lameness is present. The animal does not like to move about, lies 

 down a good deal, or crawls about and kneels when eating. The sec- 

 ond set of teeth is slow in coming. The licking or nibbling of walls 

 is observed, and there is a desire for filth and for foul water. 



TREATMENT 



Lambs should not be penned closely, but should be allowed plenty 

 of room for exercise. They should also have nutritious feed, grown 

 on good soil. Lambs should be given new pasture or plenty of green 

 feed, timothy hay, clover, alfalfa, pea hay, oats, linseed cake, or other 

 feeds rich in lime and phosphates. Dams of nurslings should be well 

 fed on such feeds. Chalk (calcium carbonate) may be given to ewes 

 with suckling lambs, or to lambs, in doses from one-half to 2 teaspoon- 

 fuls daily, or sodium phosphate may be alternated with the chalk. 



