Aboutgoatlady Expertise Specializing in New Goat Owner understanding of goat physiology, goat anatomy, goat care and herd management. *I am not a veterinarian, any advice and information should be verified by your veterinarian before administering to your goats.
Note: Keep in mind, the goat expert is volunteering her time to help other goat owners, she also runs her farm with her own herd of 100 goats and may not be at her computer at all hours. Questions are answered as soon as she can possibly read and answer them, usually within 24 hours.
(! During times of severe summer weather in the Midwest, I may experience a delay in internet service due to the interference of the satellite reception - but will answer your questions as soon as service is restored. !)
Experience 17 years experience of raising goats and herd management. Active hands on experience with goat herd and research with various Caprine University Research and Extension Centers nationwide. 15 years dedicated to helping other goat breeders/owners with goat anatomy, goat disease and goat health care issues via phone, published goat care articles and internet interaction.
Organizations 5 year active member of International Veterinary Information Service
Publications United Caprine News, Homesteaders Magazine, Columnist for Goat Magazine, Owner and Author of GoatPedia™
Education/Credentials Graduate Programs in Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University
Expert: goatlady Date: 7/10/2008 Subject: 2 1/2 mo. old Boer with scours
Question QUESTION: I just found our 2 1/2 mo.old Boer buckling lying on the ground, not moving. I had to touch him to get him up. I noticed he has a bad case of scours. They are dribbling from his butt. He will try to eat, but really noy much. He was fine last night. What do I do first? We are very new at this .
ANSWER: HI Helen,
Scours most typically means worms or coccidiosis- both are gastrointestinal related parasites that are serious and must be dealt with asap- First take his temperature rectally- anything lower than 101.5 is low - higher than 103.5 is high. I will assume you will find the rectal temp in the 90's. Is this a bottle baby? I will tell you upfront this does not sound good- you will have to act quick and aggressively to save him. ;(
If the poop has a very strong smell it is more than likely coccidiosis-
To treat coccidiosis, you need a liquid medication called Sulmet or DiMethox, both say they are water treatment BUT do not use it in the water because you have no way to measure how much each goat actually gets- For Fawn, I would give her one of these 2 which ever you can find, they are both about the same. Treating cocci is a 5 day program- The first day dosage is always the large dosage and the following 4 days is half of that dosage- the standard dosage is 6TBSP per 100lbs the first day orally and 3TBSP /100lbs for the next 4 days given orally right from the bottle not diluted. 1TBSP equals 15ccs.
You will have to weigh him to find out what dosage to give him.
If the poop is not very smelly but his inner eyelid membrane is light or white, you will deworm him- would not hurt to do both actually.
The choice for deworming is either Ivomec Plus injectable injected SubQ 1cc/40lbs again in 10 days and again in 10 days for a total of 3 times 10 days apart. OR Valbazen which is an oral suspension given at the rate of 1cc/10lbs body weight orally- never to be used on pregnant does or does who "may" be pregnant. Both of these get all the gastrointestinal worms as well as Liver Fluke which is noted for being in wet states. All of the other dewormers are not nearly as effective. I have a complete article for you to read on this topic:
If he has a fever (over 104) he may also have pneumonia which needs to be treated with an antibiotic- I use Tylan200 - it is the best over the counter upper respiratory antibiotic available - 1cc/25lbs injected SubQ every 12 hours.
These things need to be done tonight-
with a baby this sick there is no time to wait until tomorrow- call a vet if you need to- tell him you suspect worms,. cocci and or pneumonia. If he is a bottle baby - he may need to be treated for enterotoxemia as well esp if he has been eating milk replacer. CD Anti toxin is what he will need- no less than 2ccs for a small baby- for larger kids and adults 1cc/5lbs injected SUbQ every 6 hours .
goatlady
Goat-Link.com
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QUESTION: We don't have a "goat" vet anywhere close to us. This goat gave up his bottle at 8 weeks and is on pasture and clean water since. He doesn't have a fever and his resp. are good. His inner eyelid is pinky. We separated him fom the rest of our young herd. He weighs 26 lbs. and his poop is greenish- brown and kind of a watery-paste. I dont have access to Valbazen or Ivomec, but do hav the dewormer, Safe-Guard which my feed-supplier goat breeder recommended.it says 0.6mL/ 25lb. We gave him 0.6mL. Should we give him a bottle to rehydrate him? Is there a way to make some home-made real quick? Thank you for all your help. Also, should I worm all 9 of my other goatlings so they don't break down?
ANSWER: HI Helen,
The dosage of safeguard you gave is way under dose- triple it- and go ahead and do the rest of them BUT at the same time get the IvomecPlus so you can re-deworm them- Safeguard is not a very efficient dewormer.
read this where I compare the 2 side by side: http://goat-link.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=113
I would still get the CD antitoxin and the cocci medicine- you risk losing him without these.. :(
Good deal on the bottle feeding, glad he is not on replacer! Good on the temperature too. Add electrolytes to his water bottles for re-hydration.
goatlady
Goat-Link.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks so much for your help. Last night we lost one of our nubian bucklings to whatever this is..:( My husband says the goatlings got into some Polk salad which was growing in the woods by our back fence. Would this have anything to do with what's going on? Also, my little Boer made it through the night but has since gotten a bloaty belly. All of this is very scary for us and we really appreciate everything you are doing to help.
Answer HI Helen,
Possible the poke could have done this:
Clinical signs
The eating of nonfatal quantities of poke, perhaps of the shoots, may cause retching or vomiting after two hours or more. These signs may be followed by dyspnea, perspiration, spasms, se
vere purging, prostration, tremors, watery diarrhea (often bloody) and, sometimes, convulsions. If a fatal quantity is eaten, perhaps including roots, the above signs are followed by paralysis of the respiratory organs and other narcotic effects, culminating in the death of the poisoned animal.
In pigs:
* Unsteadiness, inability to rise, wretching.
* Jerking movements of the legs.
* Subnormal temperature.
In Cattle:
* Same general signs plus a decrease in milk production.
Livestock signs
This plant is a gastrointestinal irritant, with clinical signs of poisoning occurring within a few hours of consumption:
* Abdominal pain
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea (sometimes with blood)
* Death
