In sheep, dog or coyote attacks have been associated with sudden outbreaks of chronic copper poisoning. Ingestion of certain plants such as subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), cause a mineral imbalance and excessive copper retention, resulting in chronic copper toxicosis (phytogenous toxicosis).

Sheep are very susceptible to copper intoxication, a deadly disease that causes significant economic losses worldwide. Two types of copper poisoning can occur depending on the chronic or acute exposure to copper. Chronic toxicosis is the most common form and is developed after a long subclinical period of copper accumulation in the liver.

Effective control of copper poisoning in sheep was obtained by subcutaneous injection of Three doses of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate at 3.4 mg/kg bodyweight on alternate days. This caused a substantial reduction in liver copper content and in liver damage and reduced mortality rate in animals that had developed the haemolytic crisis.

2015年4月6日 · Let’s examine why sheep are more likely to get copper poisoning than other species that are more tolerant of this element such as goats. Simply stated, sheep have a greater difficulty disposing of excess copper than other species of animals. If there is an excess of copper in a sheep’s diet, it is stored in the liver.

Chronic copper poisoning occurs after the sheep's liver capacity for copper storage has been exceeded. This results in sudden release of copper into the circulation, causing liver damage, destruction of red blood cells and jaundice. There is variation in breed susceptibility to copper toxicity related to ability to absorb dietary copper.

2025年1月21日 · A look at copper poisoning (copper toxicosis) in sheep, how much copper do sheep need, and how to maintain healthy copper level in your sheep herd.

2018年10月9日 · How does chronic copper poisoning (CCP) occur? Sheep are the domestic animal most prone to CCP. They absorb copper from the diet in proportion to the amount of copper offered, not to the body’s need as with the absorption of other minerals. Any excess absorbed copper is stored in the cells of the liver, eventually reaching toxic levels.

Copper toxicity in sheep usually results from the accumulation of copper in the liver over a period of a few weeks to more than a year with no clinical signs. Most of the copper is sequestered in hepatocellular lysosomes, where it does

Acute copper poisoning can occur at copper intakes of 20-100 mg/kg in sheep and young calves, and 200-800 mg/kg in adult cattle. Chronic copper toxicity occurs when high levels of copper are ingested over a period of time, but at doses below the acutely toxic level.

Copper toxicity in sheep is characterised by a haemolytic icterus crisis after the accumulation of large amounts of copper in the liver. The diagnosis of a copper toxicity is based mainly on liver copper concentrations (> 1000 mg Cu/kg DM) and copper and molybdenum levels in the diet.