Diarrhea, Should I be concerned?

[jil101ca]

Penny came down with very watery diarrhea Sat evening. She has no temperature and is eating normal.

The only thing that was different was she was accidently put out with Libby (her Mom) and nursed her dry and also stole some milk from Fawn.She has been separated from Mom since the first of June and eating grain and hay.

Would this sudden big feeding of milk cause her diarrhea? She got a butt bath yesterday and today it seems to be firming up. She doesn't have it in her tail and all down her legs today.

[pookshollow]

Yep, could just be overeating. I had a doeling a couple of years ago that came down with terrible diarrhea - just after I'd weaned her brother. Her mother is a good producer and she just went to town on the milk, the little piggy!

Keep an eye on her. If her stools are starting to firm up, she should be just fine.

[jil101ca]

Thank you for the response Pookshollow. Thats what I thought but is always good to hear from those who are more experienced. I'm still such a noob.

[pookshollow]

You're welcome! I was pretty new when it happened to me, and that was pretty much the answer I got too - little piggy!

After a while, you get a feel for what is something to be concerned about.

[AnnaS]

I agree with Pookshollow. Manure colored, pudding consistency diarrhea can be treated with time, peptobismol, and/or electrolytes and should clear up in a day or two.

The scary diarrheas are those that are yellow, watery with chunks, or rotten smelling. These should be treated with antibiotics, electrolytes, and maybe SQ fluids.

[jil101ca]

She is all cleared up now, I wish she would understand that she is weaned now and a big girl. Libby needs to put her foot down and say no more.

[pookshollow]

Goats don't understand "you're a big girl/boy now, you don't need milk any more"! My bottle babies still come screaming at me, wanting their bottles - and they've been weaned for a couple of months now.