Veterinary Biochemistry & Metabolism

Acute rumen indigestion (grain overload / rumen acidosis) results from rapid fermentation of readily available carbohydrates by Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus spp., which produce excess d-lactate and l-lactate. Because mammalian tissues lack significant d-lactate dehydrogenase to metabolize d-lactate, its systemic accumulation leads to severe d-lactic acidosis.

Acetic acid ($ ext{CH}_3 ext{COOH}$, dilute vinegar) is administered to treat urea poisoning. It lowers rumen pH, shifting uncharged, easily absorbed toxic ammonia ($ ext{NH}_3$) into charged, impermeable ammonium ions ($\text{NH}_4^+$), thereby preventing fatal systemic hyperammonemia.

Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is an enzyme located in the biliary canalicular membrane and microsomes. Alcohol strongly induces hepatic microsomal synthesis of GGT, making serum GGT the most sensitive biochemical marker for chronic alcohol consumption and alcoholic liver cirrhosis.