CL? Please Help!

CookingPam777 · #1 01/18/09, 06:46 PM

My goat Snow got a bump about 3 months ago just below the ear. It stayed the same size for a long time so I thought it may go away. It never did get bigger. Today it popped. How do I know if it is CL? She seems 100% healthy. Her weight has been good. She has been eating well dewormed etc. Even now that it has popped she is healthy and happy. Which I read that they will act healthy. How can I protect my other goats and what should I do? Is it just a regular abscess? It just looks wet where it popped. No odd color or smell. It was about the size of a walnut. It appeared after she was bred. What do i do? Will the babies get it? Should I use her milk?

CookingPam777 · #2 01/18/09, 06:52 PM

A burst CL abscess is virtually unmistakable; pus is cheesy, toothpaste-thick, whitish/yellowish -- and very infectious.

I read this if what came out is like water does that mean it is not CL?

Minelson · #3 01/18/09, 07:11 PM

CookingPam. I am hoping someone can help you with this asap. I can't ...no experience, sorry. But in the meantime it would be a good idea to get her separated from the rest of the herd. I'll be watching this, hoping you get some help quick. I know I sure would be freaking out

cathleenc · #4 01/18/09, 07:32 PM

I think the definitive answer is to call your vet and have the abcess cultured. Knowing the answer will tell you where you stand...... and I sure hope it's CL free.

gl!

Jcran · #5 01/18/09, 08:00 PM

I think under the ear IS kind of a popular spot for CL; good luck, but I agree with above posts, get her separated and tested. AND if the area where she was living when it popped is bedded, I'd scrape all that up and GET rid of it.

HappyFarmer · #6 01/18/09, 08:01 PM

I have no experience with CLA either, however from what I've read the only way you can tell for sure if it's CLA is to have the pus cultured. I've heard it looks cheesy too, but I wouldn't take the chance I'd have it tested.

Where did it burst? Hopefully you can keep your other goats out of the area it burst, and segregate the doe until you have test results back. CLA can harbor itself in feeders & fences & whatnot. If you have any more kids due, pull them, bottle feed them from clean milk/colustrum, & keep them on clean ground if you can.

If she were mine I would have had segretated her,had it cultured prior & culled her if it was positive. Not all abscesses are CLA, so it's important to be sure. If I'm not mistaken the abscesses will show more during stess, such as a pregnancy. Check your other goats.

The good news is there is a vaccine soon to be on the market, so if your facilities have been contaminated there is hope for your herd on the horizon.

Good luck,
HF

Jcran · #7 01/18/09, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyFarmer

The good news is there is a vaccine soon to be on the market, so if your facilities have been contaminated there is hope for your herd on the horizon.

Good luck,
HF

Do you know WHO is developing the vaccine? That would CERTAINLY be good news!! Yippee and a-Yayhoo

topside1 · #8 01/18/09, 08:18 PM

JCran is right that is the most popular of locations. Directly below the ear opening. Hope your wrong, and you just have a abcess from a splinter, insect bit, thorne, horn butt, tooth ache or whatever...If her lump is on the jaw line then it's not CL. Read the statement below as a laymans guide. Let's hope,,,,Topside

Not all abscesses are caused by corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, but those appearing at lymph-gland sites (often under the ear but not always) should be considered suspect and investigated. CL is an equal-opportunity infection -- no breed or sex is exempt. A burst CL abscess is virtually unmistakable; pus is cheesy, toothpaste-thick, whitish/yellowish -- and very infectious. A simple and inexpensive blood test can be performed to diagnose infection. There are several testing methods, but they are unreliable on animals under eight months of age; "false negatives" are high, particularly on goats showing no visible signs of infection. The most accurate testing is done on exudate (pus) taken from the abscess itself.

HappyFarmer · #9 01/18/09, 08:23 PM

I believe it's Colorado Serum.
HF

topside1 · #10 01/18/09, 08:43 PM

Pam, I'm sure you are fully read on this subject, but here's another link you may find helpful. If the excretions are not cheezy white to yellow with a toothpaste consistancy, well you maybe one happy goat owner. The only abcess I've lance and flushed was very hard, greenish, and cheezy. It's obvious to me which problem you have by the descriptions of the pusy oozy...Of course I'm not a Vet, and have been know to make mistakes ever now and then.....Topside

http://goat-link.com/index.php?optio...=101&Itemid=96

CookingPam777 · #11 01/18/09, 09:23 PM

It does not have anything like that just watery puss coming out. Thank you for the link. When your this worried you can never be to read up and one extra link doesn't hurt! I could not find pictures so this was helpful. I will keep it very clean and be using hand sanitizer after handling. I will of coarse wash my hands to but just for extra germ killing. I will also get her separated till she gets better. Is this a good plan? By the pictures she does not need tested I think. I can get a picture for you all if that would help. Seeing as it is just watery puss do you still think it is CL and needs tested?

Lizza · #12 01/18/09, 09:33 PM

Personally, I would have the puss tested ASAP. Hopefully it is nothing but I would rather have that puss tested (the best way to test CL) and get good news then always wondering about the rest of your herd.

Lizza · #13 01/18/09, 09:44 PM

Two more links for you with pictures:

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0085/

http://www.goatworld.com/articles/cl/cl5.shtml

I hope it is nothing!

susanne · #14 01/18/09, 09:57 PM

every abscess needs to be tested just to be on the safe side. only from looking at the content, does not determine what it is. do your self and your other animals a favor and have it tested. i would also recommend putting the doe in quarantine until test result comes back.
better safe then sorry

manygoatsnmore · #15 01/19/09, 01:01 AM

I would put my money on staph rather than CL, but without a test, you just can't know. Send a sample off to WADDL and get it cultured. It's cheap peace of mind!

#16 01/19/09, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyFarmer

I believe it's Colorado Serum.
HF

Yes, but it was supposed to have been released by now. I've gotten the impression that it's been "almost done" for years.

Canadians can get one called Glanvac, which was produced for goats. Not that this helps us in the States, though I hear that Canada has some of the most spectacular snow-drifts this time of year. Road trip anyone???

KimM · #17 01/19/09, 07:42 AM

Please post a pic so we can see the exact area. I have had many Boer breeders tell me that the stress from pregnancy can bring out CL abcesses if they're infected. If you handle that area at all, wear gloves. If it is CL, it is contagious to people (rare but possible - and incurable).
Have you isolated this goat? Was she out with the others when it ruptured? IF it is CL, the rest are likely infected already. You won't know unless you test, no matter what the pictures show. I wouldn't drink her milk until she was tested either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CookingPam777

It does not have anything like that just watery puss coming out. Thank you for the link. When your this worried you can never be to read up and one extra link doesn't hurt! I could not find pictures so this was helpful. I will keep it very clean and be using hand sanitizer after handling. I will of coarse wash my hands to but just for extra germ killing. I will also get her separated till she gets better. Is this a good plan? By the pictures she does not need tested I think. I can get a picture for you all if that would help. Seeing as it is just watery puss do you still think it is CL and needs tested?

goatkid · #18 01/19/09, 07:54 AM

I would definately isolate the goat and have the pus tested to be on the safe side. Clean the area where she lives. If she would turn out have CL, you'll have to watch your other goats closely and put down any that develop abcesses. As for the vaccine, it only works on goats who haven't been previously exposed to CL, but could prevent future goats from picking it up on your property. As far as her kids go, if a CL positive goat kids and you are there for the birth, immediately remove them and feed the babies the colostrum of a negative doe, they should not get CL. You'll have bottle babies. They would need to be raised in an area your other goats have not occupied.
Let this thread be a reminder to folks. If a goat pops up with an abcess, isolate it. Take it to the vet immediately to have the pus tested. You don't want the abcess opened on your property.

susanne · #19 01/19/09, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goatkid

Let this thread be a reminder to folks. If a goat pops up with an abcess, isolate it. Take it to the vet immediately to have the pus tested. You don't want the abcess opened on your property.

yes, so important.

CookingPam777 · #20 01/19/09, 01:54 PM

So are you telling me Rose my favorite will likely get CL? If so I'd rather die before hand. I will get a picture. Can I save them? Yes it did pop in the pen. I did get her out and she is isolated. How can I save Rose and lily now? Rose just CAN'T die. We have already had a near death experience with her when she ripped her horn off in the fence I DO NOT want another. I realize she will have to die someday but not when she is 11 months old. I want her to die from being old not my mistakes. Thank you guys for not beating me up over what I did wrong that really helps. Please help the ones in the pen now. The abscess has blood coming out. I could not find where it popped either I looked everywhere.