Sick doe--HELP

I would check her temp. If it's more than 104 I would start antibiotics for listeriosis ASAP even if it means a special trip to town for the antibiotics.

Hi.

Her temp is 101.5. So no fever. I took the thermometer out a bit early b/c she started complaining, but it wasn't going up at all so I think it's a pretty good temp. Maybe a few tenths higher, but no more.

And she is not circling at all so I don't think it's listeriosis. I called the vet again and he really thinks it does sound like polio.

Now....I think Mary is a BIT better, but only a bit. She fought me when I tried to give her her shot, so she is more aware. But....she still walked right into the golf cart--I know she can't see right still. She isn't dehydrated, her skin feels much better. So she must be drinking. She is eating her pellets at night and the boys got her to eat dried leaves this morning. But she did stagger a bit once and can obviously not see right.

So for those who know about polio. Can improvement be this gradual? We are to give her 20 CC three times today. I read they should improve pretty quickly but we are not seeing that. But she's no worse and I'd say a little better in some ways.

Dee

MamaDee the link to GoatWorld tells all about the goat polio. It says this if you didn't read it: If you caught it soon enough and started treatment you should starting seeing signs of improvement in as little as two hours, if the disease is caught early enough. Here are the signs of goat polio: Symptoms - Excitability, "stargazing", uncoordinated staggering and/or weaving, drunkenness, circling, diarrhea, muscle tremor, head against wall, and apparent blindness. As it progresses, convulsions and high fever may occur, and if untreated, the animal generally dies within 24-72 hours. Goat polio has all kinds of signs. A goat may have a few or all it just depends how bad. I know because I had a goat a long while back had that and lost her.

Can improvement be this gradual you ask? The answer is YES.

Goat Polio sometimes is hard to fight but just hang in there. When my goat had this problem she had these signs: uncoordinated staggering and/or weaving, drunkenness, circling, diarrhea head against wall, and apparent blindness. She never had a temp some have it some don't. What happen to me I didn't catch it in time so I lost her but believe me now I keep all types of things on hand just incase.

Good Luck with your goat.

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Allwolf,

Thanks. I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your goat. Mary's symptoms match your goat's exactly. Would you mind sharing how you lost her? Did you know she was getting worse? Did something change before she died. Mary has been the same it seems for the last few days. I thought yesterday she was better after the vitimin B, but today she seems back to where she was. But......

I called the vet to get more vitamin B1. When I got there to pick it up I noticed the bottle was different. They gave me a B complex the first time!!!! I am SO mad at them. I specifically told them NOT a complex---only B1. So....assuming it's not too late now I am hoping against hope that Mary will improve with this correct vitamin. She was still eating hay when I went to give it to her, but she wasn't walking around at all, just standing there looking pitiful. She can walk, she just didn't unless we led her. Still obviously blind.

I am so angry. I hope it's not too late now that we have the correct stuff. That explains why her recovery wasn't rapid.

Dee

MamaDee
When my little gal got sick I didn't know what was wrong. The first signs she had was start of the runs and I thought at first was Cocci so gave her meds for that she never got rid of it. Shortly after treating her for Cocci she started acting odd. She was starting to have uncoordinated staggering or weaving, circling, act like she couldn't see me at all that really scared me. I called a buddy of mine and they told me to get V-B and give her shots of it alone with goat power punch. So I ran down to a feed store and got the stuff because by that time she was so bad she couldn't even stand up and if did she would only walk in circles. I gave her V-B alone with the goat power punch and after she got the shot about 30 mins she stood up on her own but not long. Then she would fall right back down. I worked with her and worked with her. The next day I gave her another Shot of V-B alone with power punch she seem to start doing better and started to stand on own didn't circle any. I was feeding her hay and giving fresh water and few goat pellets. I took her outside that day she seem to be doing good and all. That night I feed her and thought eveything was going to be ok. Well here is where I get the shock of my life. The next morn I get up to check on her. She was worse than ever I gave her a V-B shot and goat power punch tried to feed her she ate very little so I thought I would take her outside to see if would help but No just laid there an just gave up. She was only outside no more than 15 mins til she died. I tried every way in the world to save her but she just gave up of way I seen it. I cried and cried because I blamed myself for a long while but I was told I done all I could and guess it wasn't ment for her to be here. So stop beating yourself up. I hope I didn't make that to long but want to explain what happen to me.

I sure hope your little goat start doing better. Me I didn't know what was wrong and when found out it was to late. Oh boy fixing to cry.

Good Luck.

__________________
Love all animals don't abuse them. I hope if caught abusing & animal I want to be first in line to kick your butt. I despise mean people & liars.

AllWolf,

I fear it is too late. We went down to give her her second B1 shot and she was laying down. She hadn't done that yet. She seemed really out of it and her breathing was labored. She did get up and walk so we could lead her out and give her the shot but she didn't fight me this time. She walked around a bit but then laid back down. I am afraid she won't be alive in the morning.

I am so mad at the vet and myself. He actually took away the B complex the nurses tried to give me and got another bottle. He said this was the B1 and what I needed. I should have checked myself....but didn't. It was a complex. So we wasted two days giving her a complex when she should have had the B1. And now it's too late. I don't know if it would have made a difference or not starting right out with the B1. But it doesn't matter now. I'm sure she's gone, but I can't bring myself to go down there now. I've got to put the children to bed and have a good cry.

I'll check e-mail before I go to bed....if there's any emergency thing I can do let me know....but I don't think there is. I already said good-bye.

Dee
t riad

Oh MamaDee that is so sad! I would bring it up with the vet, he should have known better and given you the right thing!

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I went out to the barn today and I knew Mary would be gone. And so she was. I will post more about this later on--hopefully I can help other new goat owners. I know I did the best I could but I still feel sick about it.

Thank you all for your help. You guys are the only reason I figured out what was wrong in the first place. Next time I'll know sooner.

Dee

(((((((Hugs))))))) from NJ it is terrible when you loose a loved animal. Been through it and you will always remember it. IT never leaves you.

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