Case Review - Therapeutic approach to post parturient hemoglobinuria in cattle

Post parturient hemoglobinuria (PPH) is considered as metabolic disorder which primarily occurs due to deficiency of phosphorus nutrient inside the body of animal. This deficiency can have multiple causes such as poor dietry uptake, excessive discharge from milk (in case animal is lactating) and no replenishment from diet etc. The pathophysiology of PPH is closely associated with excessive haemolysis of erythrocyte due to increase fragility of erythrocytic wall that is in turn due to phosphorus deficiency. Here in this presented case, the lactating buffalo who parturiated 20 days ago, had complaint of haematuria, inappetence and reduction in milk production. Though the signs and other accessory symptoms were self-explanatory, the modalities like estimation of cbc and serum calcium and serum phosphorus were carried out to support tentative diagnosis and help arrive at conclusion w.r.t. diagnosis. Also keeping in mind other differentials, the blood smear examination was carried out, which yielded negative result (negative for any blood protozoa like babesia). The line of treatment included Buffered phosphorus and inosine injection, antioxidant injection, oral phosphorus powder, and supportively B-complex injection and intravenous fluid administration carried out. The medical management proved to be very efficient both in terms of improvement in blood parameters as well as colour of urine (which return to normal 5 days after treatment). Active, alert and appetite presenting animal thus recovered fully from metabolic disorder of PPH.