hurt goat?

[oconnorclan]

One of our goats sprained her neck. does anybody have any ideas for us. We put up a sling for her and she seems to be ok right know,But is there any thing else we can do for her?

[Alice In TX/MO]

What symptoms are you seeing? A bent neck is often "goat polio" which is a thiamine (B vitamin) deficiency or Listeriosis.

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/ar...steriosis.html

[oconnorclan]

her neck does have a bend to it and she cant really hold it up, if we position it straight she can stay but if she moves one side or the other it flops down and to that side. Also she doesn't seem able to use her legs much.

Yesterday when we found her we brought her inside, , she drank alot of water(always does in the morning and seemed stiff but kind of holding her head. after maybe 30 minutes we got her up on her feet she stood a few minutes then started walking around exploring the house. after an hour or so of her seeming fine we were about to take her outside, opened the door and she collapsed and hasn't been back on her feet since other than when we had her in the sling, but she isn't putting any real weight even then. She is eating good, drinking less but drinking, watching everything going on around the house, she doesn't seem to be in pain. periodicly we move her posisition when she starts moving around seeming uncomfortable. Last night she was drooling but thats been mostly gone all today. Her lungs sounded a bit rattly while in the sling last night but clear all day today.

Hope this gives a bit more helpful info.. I'm sure i have overlooked and/or forgotten some things.

So far we have been making sure she has plenty of food and water obviously, mixed some garlic with her grain to help if there is any infection setting in and gave her some B vitamin. And as mentioned above put up a sling so she can be up sometimes also we braced her neck, enough to help hold it straighter but obviously plenty of space to breath eat and drink :-)

thanks for your help!

[Alice In TX/MO]

This goat needs to see a veterinarian.

IF it's goat polio.....

"The diagnosis of Polioencephalomalacia is most often confirmed by response to thiamine hydrochloride at 10mg per kilogram(4.5 mg per pound) of body weight every 6 hours for 24 hours. The first dose should be given intravenously(IV) if possible; the remaining injections can be given intramuscularly(IM). If only multiple B vitamins are available, be certain to dose according to the concentration of thiamine in the mixture."

Thiamine is a prescription medication, injected.

[julieq]

Sounds like polio to me! Get her quickly to the vet for an injection is my advice. We had a doeling years ago develop it and sought immediate vet care. She healed up just fine.

[oconnorclan]

Unfortunately we are snowed in and cant get anywhere..... hopeing we can get out tomorrow we are giving her the B oraly for now, hopefully it will be enough to keep her going to tomorrow .. she IS trying to move a bit more though.. so.. wait and see I guess.