D-lactic Acidosis in Neonatal Ruminants

D-lactic acidosis in neonatal ruminants is a condition that causes metabolic acidosis and is often overlooked. D-lactic acidosis-related diseases are named differently according to animal species. The disease is called 'Floppy Kid Disease' in goat kids, 'Ruminal Drinkers' in cattle, and 'Drunken Lamb Syndrome' in lambs. Large quantities of D-lactic acid is produced by bacterial fermantation in colon and rumen and absorbed through intestines, thus anion-gap metabolic acidosis occur. D-lactic acidosis can cause depression, dehydration and neurological symptoms therefore diagnoses can be challenging. In this review, metabolism, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and laboratory alterations of D-lactic acidosis will be evaluated