Doeling sick, dont know with what

Cannon_Farms · #1 07/03/09, 07:20 PM

4 month old doeling I bought a month ago is acting strang, now its just the start of her symtoms but hopefully if we can figure it out i can save her.
first symtom noticed was this evening, fine around 3 stiff neck and seemingly unable to see as good, shes not staring off in space but doesnt seem to be able to focus in good, her puples are dilated but not all the way.
So, I would think possibly polio, but shes frothing a bit at the mouth, shes been in the same pen for a week with three other doelings, the only thing that changed last night is I gave them a bit of oak leaves as a treat. I kicked my chickens out and theres nothing in the pen but shavings and dirt.
No fever, no discomfort other than her neck seeming stiff or shes not got that much control either one, she holds it to one side, she doesnt seem bloated.

mpete · #2 07/03/09, 07:28 PM

oh my.... has she been hot? Could the other kids have hit her in a bad way? I'm afraid I don't know polio symptoms except the falling down...

Chaty · #3 07/03/09, 07:31 PM

I would start treating her with Fortified B Complex till I saw a improvement. I give 3 cc's every 4 to 6 hr. Sounds like the beginning of polio...

mpete · #4 07/03/09, 07:34 PM

What causes polio?

mawalla · #5 07/03/09, 08:21 PM

Polioencephalomalacia is the long word for what is being called ,"polio". The symptoms you describe sounds like what this doeling is experiencing. The following web site may help you. Good luck. I've had sheep and lambs come down with it years ago and had excellent results with thiamine treatments done ASAP.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/meatgoa..._Vlietstra.pdf

Cannon_Farms · #6 07/03/09, 08:58 PM

Im giving her thiman shots, vet said he wasnt sure about the frothing but it wouldnt hurt to do the thiman shots regardless, its been an hour since the first and shes acting a bit better but still kinda drunk like.
Shes by far the biggest kid in the pen out of the four, however they like to try to climb the hay bags, I seen one get flipped a bit when the bag gave in to her climbing on the side.

Cannon_Farms · #7 07/03/09, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mawalla

Polioencephalomalacia is the long word for what is being called ,"polio". The symptoms you describe sounds like what this doeling is experiencing. The following web site may help you. Good luck. I've had sheep and lambs come down with it years ago and had excellent results with thiamine treatments done ASAP.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/meatgoa..._Vlietstra.pdf

That is a great artical, even for the experts its a great one to read. Shes doing better, eating hay quite contently so maybe we will get lucky.

Minelson · #8 07/03/09, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mawalla

Polioencephalomalacia is the long word for what is being called ,"polio". The symptoms you describe sounds like what this doeling is experiencing. The following web site may help you. Good luck. I've had sheep and lambs come down with it years ago and had excellent results with thiamine treatments done ASAP.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/meatgoa..._Vlietstra.pdf

Thank you for posting this article...very informative

mawalla · #9 07/03/09, 10:56 PM

You are most welcome. Although I raise sheep and not goats, though I have had a few pet goats, there are several areas in management where they are similar. I have always found information from Pipestone to be reliable for both species.

It was about 6 years ago when I had several lambs and sheep come down with "polio". We attributed it to the new well's water. The water was quite gasious for a few months after it was drilled. It probably contained sulfer which, through research, I found could cause the thiamine to "tie up".

Our first introduction to the illness was with a lamb that was down with the classic stargazing posture. We got him to the vet who took one look at him and had him diagnosed. She said, "You are going to think I'm a magician after I give him this shot." She then went on to teach me what to look for in case any of the others came down with it and sent me home with a bottle of thiamine. The lamb recovered and we had a few more adults that we ended up having to treat but we didn't lose any. We watched their eyes. At the first sign of blindness, we treated.

The well's water has cleared up and is quite delicious now. However we still keep thiamine on the shelf.

Cannon_Farms · #10 07/04/09, 05:49 AM

ok, she was down this morning when she was due for another shot with the same thing so Im going to say this is it.
In the artical it said it was because the rumen ph was unbalanced any one with ideas on how to balance it? I have three doeses left before I have only the vitamine b complex to get me through until monday.

chris30523 · #11 07/04/09, 06:33 AM

Probiotic will help bring the rumen back or stealing a cud from another goat. Are you still feeding horse feed? She may have been getting more than her share. I don't use any feed with molasses and very little corn if any. Hay, water,and probiotic. I haven't had a case of polio in my herd yet so I am only guessing.

Minelson · #12 07/04/09, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mawalla

You are most welcome. Although I raise sheep and not goats, though I have had a few pet goats, there are several areas in management where they are similar. I have always found information from Pipestone to be reliable for both species.

It was about 6 years ago when I had several lambs and sheep come down with "polio". We attributed it to the new well's water. The water was quite gasious for a few months after it was drilled. It probably contained sulfer which, through research, I found could cause the thiamine to "tie up".

Our first introduction to the illness was with a lamb that was down with the classic stargazing posture. We got him to the vet who took one look at him and had him diagnosed. She said, "You are going to think I'm a magician after I give him this shot." She then went on to teach me what to look for in case any of the others came down with it and sent me home with a bottle of thiamine. The lamb recovered and we had a few more adults that we ended up having to treat but we didn't lose any. We watched their eyes. At the first sign of blindness, we treated.

The well's water has cleared up and is quite delicious now. However we still keep thiamine on the shelf.

Once again very helpful information. We are in the process of moving and I will insist on having the new well water tested before giving it to the goats. Just another reason to get it done. Dh doesn't understand why I am obsessed with these things..lol

Cannon_Farms · #13 07/04/09, 12:15 PM

I feed the horse feed, however what I normally feed has less molassis in it as its a dry pellet than the goat feeds at the store, I had forgotten though that we ran out of the tiz whiz and fed some sweet feed i bought for the pig and rabbit to mix with their foods and its a higher molassis content, not a whole lot but aparently enough.
I started the probotics just now, gave some oral b complex along with the thiman inject as Im almost out of the thiman and about to go out and figure out what goat to try and steal cud from, not on my top ten things I want to do today but what can you do.
She got so much better last night, was down this morning, I had to work so I didnt see if she came back up, but 6 hours after the last injection was when i got home and she wasnt normal.

chris30523 · #14 07/05/09, 06:39 AM

You have not had good luck bringing kids home. I am sorry. Hope she gets better. Sounds like you are doing all you can.

Backfourty,MI. · #15 07/05/09, 07:30 AM

Thanks for the article on Polio Mawalla, very informative! This is a very good thread for alot of us, especially the newbi's here I Bet.

Cannon Farms, I sure hope she bounces back quickly.
I make up my own goat feed so no molasses in it. Don't know if that's good or bad but been doing it probly close to 2 years. I got tired of buying feed at TSC mostly & having to return it for 1 reason or another. My goats seem fat & happy & no problems.

fishhead · #16 07/05/09, 07:36 AM

I would give her some baking soda to help bring the rumen pH up. Also cut her back to hay only if you haven't already done so.

Good luck!

shelleydar · #17 07/05/09, 08:29 AM

thanks for the article - we have A LOT of sulfur in our water. Now I'll be prepared.

Cannon_Farms · #18 07/06/09, 02:41 PM

well we made it to the vet, shes not doing well at all and isnt responding to well but he does feel it is polio but because shes going nuroligic on us and wont drink water if she dies he wants us to test her for rabies.
very very fustrating and tireing thats for sure.

Minelson · #19 07/06/09, 03:10 PM

I'm glad you got to the vet...prayers that she makes it through this

and hugs to you

Cannon_Farms · #20 07/06/09, 04:15 PM

its definatly something I wouldnt want anyone to ever have to go through, shell get better for a few min after her meds and then she goes back down, its so hard.
I know fully understand what my friend was saying, the best goats be it sweet or pretty are looking for three things, food, a way to get out of the fence and to die, I think this will be my final clue that maybe we shouldnt have goats.