Doe is sick...

[severtki]

We have a 9 mo. old doe (not bred) who is off her feed and has diarrhea. Her temp yesterday was 104.2, and she's got goopy eyes (she also is cocking her head funny when looking at us, as though she's having trouble with her vision -- though not sure about that symptom...) . We wormed her yesterday with Ivermectin with the thought she might have a load of parasites (haven't yet taken a sample to the vet, weekend and all). She's about 80lbs and we gave her 2cc sub-Q (per Fiasco Farms site).

It's hard to tell -- her breathing might also sound a little raspy, though not obviously labored or anything yet.

Hard to narrow down the possibilities here -- worms, bacterial, pneumonia, coccidia, etc. We are located in Northern NY so some parasites just aren't a problem for this area.

She's got free choice baking soda and still has some interest in hay. Also gave some electrolytes in her water bucket, but not much interest there either.

Other things we should be on the lookout for? Ideas? She's a lovely doe and so we're being a little more proactive than we otherwise might.

Thanks in advance!

[CaliannG]

Head tilt: could be meningeal worm which requires special treatment. Also check for Listeriosis.

Actually, I'd check for Listeriosis or Goat Polio first...the head tilting, goopy eyes (corneal swelling), looking like having impaired vision, fever, and diarrhea fit those. That will need antibiotics.

[severtki]

Yikes -- Goat Polio does seem to be a likely possibility. Just started her on a course of penicillin, but don't have Thiamine (vitamin B1) and vets around here aren't open until tomorrow morning. Any alternate means of getting some Vitamin B to her until then? None of the electrolyte supplements seems to contain thiamine.

Thanks for the pointer to that diagnosis, Caliann!
Kirk

[Bearfootfarm]

Any alternate means of getting some Vitamin B to her until then

Tractor Supply sells it.
Many other feed stores and possibly pet stores may have it since it's OTC

[CaliannG]

If your feed store is open, you can get over-the-counter injectable B-complex that could be of some help. Also, there are thiamine crumbles sold as a top dressing for horses that may be of aid if she will eat them.

If it comes down to it, and my supplies were that limited, I would NOT be above getting some plain thiamine vitamins from the grocery store down her throat.

[severtki]

None of the stores near us (including Tractor Supply) said they stock this. I did get some B1 from a pharmacy, ground up 400mg into a water suspension, and drenched her with it...

Now we wait. Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I'll keep you posted.
Kirk

[Backfourty,MI.]

Keeping my fingers crossed for your girl! What kind of goat is she?

[Bearfootfarm]

None of the stores near us (including Tractor Supply) said they stock this

They should be able to order it for you.

[Laverne]

From what I've read Listerosis is a herd wide problem and they circle around, also called circling disease. It's good you're are covering your bases. This article may help. http://dairygoatinfo.com/index.php/topic,11565.0.html
Also check for ear infection.

[Gaby Rose]

Oh Yikes! My girl had Polio last year. She was having trouble seeing and her coordination was off. She also kept tilting her head way behind her. I would get some B1 asap. Good luck Kirk!

[severtki]

Gave her another 400mg thiamine orally (drench) and 5cc pen sub-Q tonight. I'll call around tomorrow for the injectable thiamine -- sounds like we should have this stuff on hand anyway.

From the symptoms, seems more like polio than listeriosis. Whichever (or door #3), she's pretty uncomfortable. I've got her on a video monitor and she's whimpering a little with each breath.

Thanks for all the words of advice.

[Laverne]

If she's not eating well she won't create heat to keep warm so I'd put a coat on her as a precaution.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Keep us updated on your doe if you can please.

[severtki]

Got thiamine injectable this morning and gave her the first dose. She's really sick of being poked...

Haven't really seen much change -- she's still whimpery. (My wife is in bed with a bad flu/cold right now and I'm hearing her make the same noises...) Don't you just wish there was something else you could DO (for both of them)?

[Backfourty,MI.]

It's a very helpless feeling! Sounds like your doing what ever possible! Keep trying & don't give up, on the wife either! Hahaha!

[severtki]

Well, dang it.

She went downhill quickly -- the last time I went out to her she was unwilling or unable to stand (back quarters didn't seem to want to work for her) and shrieking between pants. She didn't move from underneath her blanket. She didn't make it.

So my final request for advice - what would you do now? We've got 8 other (seemingly) healthy does, four of whom were sharing a pen with her until a couple days ago when this all started. Any answers that I should be looking for here? Or is it just one of those things that happens? We've had others go before for other reasons, but I'm not at all confident in my diagnosis (goat polio) and treatment plan. Frankly, I just don't know what we'd do if someone else started showing the same signs...

<sigh> this is the hard part, isn't it? Next week we have kids due, so there will be a bright spot there.

Thanks,
Kirk

[Backfourty,MI.]

I am so sorry you lost her, it is so frustrating when your doing everything you think you should & they still don't make it. So hard to diagnose sometimes too but it could be that it was just too far already or her immune system too weak to help fight it off even though you were giving her the med'd. Hard to say, I wish I could tell you what to do but I sure hope the rest of the goats stay healthy.

[Ranger]

I'm so sorry about your girl. If it were me, I'd have the vet post her. I would want to be sure that the others aren't at risk.

[CaliannG]

Definitely have a necropsy done. You need to know what killed her before your other goats get it.