New baby with very yellow diarrhea

dunroven · #1 02/23/08, 12:39 PM

What do I do for this. Would a little Pepto Bismol solve the problem?

RedTartan · #2 02/23/08, 12:45 PM

How old is the kid exactly? Did it already finish passing the dark, tarry poo? This may be normal. I don't think they get berry-poo until they start eating some solid food. Kind of like a breastfed baby, KWIM?

RedTartan

dunroven · #3 02/23/08, 01:13 PM

The baby was born on 02/20, so its only 3 days old. Not sure what the KWIM means? Sorry about that. This is very watery though, so I didn't know if maybe it was too loose.

Alice In TX/MO · #4 02/23/08, 01:51 PM

Know What I Mean = KWIM

AnnaS · #5 02/23/08, 02:28 PM

Normal manure from a three day old kid should be bright yellow and formed- kind of looks like a ball of rice. Liquid feces are not normal.

If she's acting and eating normally, she may have been overfed, fed milk at a different temp or from a unclean bottle, or given replacer. Then I'd give her electrolytes for a day and put her back on milk.

If she acts sick, running a temp, or has bad smelling diarrhea, she has one of many bacterial infections of baby goats. Tri-sulfate aka SMZ tablets or Albon should be given, or another antibiotic as prescribed by your vet.

In either case, it's important to keep her hydrated with electrolyes or milk.

Pepto-Bismol slows down the dehydration by solidifying diarrhea, but can also prolong infection by retaining the bacteria & its toxins in the gut. Diarrhea is a useful immune reaction- it's the resulting dehydration that is harmful.

I'd use Pepto in a weaned & older goat that had eaten something icky, but not in a nursing kid.

RiverPines · #6 02/23/08, 02:37 PM

Bottle or mom fed?

dunroven · #7 02/23/08, 03:06 PM

This is a mom fed baby. No changes in temperature for the milk, and she is the only baby on mom. She could have had too much, but I have to wonder if I need to do something to kind of slow it down a little bit.

Anna, there are no vets in this area that work with goats. Unfortunate, but they are just starting to understand that goats are curable animals too. Last summer the vet we used for our calves told us that when a goat got sick, in his mind, it was a dead goat. Of course we don't use that vet anymore either now!

AnnaS · #8 02/23/08, 05:36 PM

Being dam fed does eliminate a lot of potential problems. I'd just keep an eye on her & make sure she's staying hydrated and lively.

{QUOTE]Anna, there are no vets in this area that work with goats.[QUOTE]

Since you are in Iowa, any vet you use can consult with Drs. Paul or Cassie Plummer at University of Iowa, Ames. You'd have to suggest this to your vet,though.

dunroven · #9 02/23/08, 06:02 PM

They're not thrilled about the prospect of treating goats. They want to deal with "real livestock." You know hawgs and kows and sech. Makes me so mad. They'll deal with horses too, and I am glad they do all that, but darn I don't understand why they don't see goats as an animal. I thought vets were supposed to have this "caring" attitude toward all animals. Boy I have learned differently.

moonspinner · #10 02/24/08, 08:44 AM

Can you get a temp?

dunroven · #11 02/24/08, 08:57 PM

The baby is all okay today. Poop is a little more formed and a lot less bloody. The baby is just racing and tearing everywhere. I have decided to name her Wanderer. I'll get pictures of all my babies soon. I have really enjoyed this kidding season. I have 1 more that I'm not real sure that she is pregnant. Just gonna do some watchful waiting.