Help with kid/lamb loss!!!

valcwby01 · #1 05/19/11, 01:32 AM

I have a BIG problem and NO idea what is going on. I have lost a kid (angora) and a Southdown lamb so far, and trying to save the second southdown ewe lamb right now. The symptoms are unable to stand and throwing the head back. She was losing weight, but gave her a small daily supplement (Dyne for Goats/Sheep) and she seemed to be doing better. Now unable to stand, shallow breath, and throwing head back. I have not been able to find thermometer to get temp, but I am at the point of running to Wally World to get one. I am panicking. Nose is cold. HELP!!! Cannot find anything online or in my books to help me. She is about ten to fifteen pounds and two months old. Has not been a real thrifty lamb to begin with, but need to figure it out. Not only to hopefully save her, but stop it from occuring again.

Creamers · #2 05/19/11, 01:35 AM

Sounds like polio. . .potentially -
http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/ar...steriosis.html

Thiamine RX HCI - hard to find, nationawide shortage - but you can order with a vet RX the thiamine 200 mg in the small bottle - you'd need a few bottles - but sadly, if it is polio, it will not arrive in time to save that kid. . .might not be the polio at all, but that is what comes to my mind.

houndlover · #3 05/19/11, 01:38 AM

Not polio if it's a lamb too, I'd say cocci. Get a fecal ASAP and go from there.

CaliannG · #4 05/19/11, 02:03 AM

I would do a fecal for coccidiosis, but look to a possible selenium deficiency also. But it is definitely sounding like coccidiosis with a possible secondary infection of pneumonia.

I would get to the vet, ASAP, if you are not experienced in dealing with either coccidiosis or pneumonia. You will need Nuflor, injected.

valcwby01 · #5 05/19/11, 02:22 AM

She is now having what seem to be seizures. I am not holding out hope for her, but not giving up either. I just can't have another one like this. Vet on another emergency, but they are giving him the message. I am sick to my stomach right now.

valcwby01 · #6 05/19/11, 03:38 AM

I just lost her. This really sucks!!

CaliannG · #7 05/19/11, 04:30 AM

I am so sorry!

You need to have the vet do a postmortum fecal to see if it was, indeed, coccidia. If it was, and you get or have any more kids or lambs, you need to know EXACTLY what to do as soon as symptoms start, or start doing prevention early.

~hugs~ It really dos suck. I am so sorry.

valcwby01 · #8 05/19/11, 05:12 AM

Thank you CaliannG. We are taking her to the vets office here shortly. I don't want this to happen again. I appreciate your kindness and advice. Everyone, Thank You!

kmorisett · #9 05/19/11, 08:32 AM

Listeriosis has symptoms like that too, although it says it is more common in adults than kids. Can lambs have it too? I am thinking yes, since it is zoonotic, and even people can get it.

Wonderland · #10 05/19/11, 10:25 AM

I'm so sorry. That does really, really suck.

NorCalChicks · #11 05/19/11, 10:39 AM

Sorry you lost the little one. I hope you and your vet will be able to nail down the problem so you don't have this happen anymore. Poor little thing.
Best wishes...

Fowler · #12 05/19/11, 10:47 AM

OMGoodness....I am so sad for you...please take them in and see what the problem is...this is your 3rd one having the same issues.

you are in my thoughts.

motdaugrnds · #13 05/19/11, 11:18 AM

Oh valcwby01, I feel so bad for you. Do get a "necropsy" and find out what it died of; and please let us know.

Sharmom · #14 05/19/11, 01:32 PM

So sorry for your losses! I hope you get some answers.

Sharmom

ne prairiemama · #15 05/19/11, 02:29 PM

Oh no!! I'm SO sorry thats awful! Last year we lost our baby goats. This year with the cocci. prevention they are doing WAY better! Ours had similar symptoms as yours...

fishhead · #16 05/19/11, 03:19 PM

I lost a kid to listeriosis. Near the end the head was tilted sideways and it couldn't swallow. It started with a 106.5 temp. I had it turned around with large doses of PenG but stopped too soon.

valcwby01 · #17 05/19/11, 05:25 PM

Thank you, and everyone else, for your support and advice. TWO THANK YOU'S to Houndlover, who posted advice on my goat thread as well. The Vet thinks it is Cocci, but has sent off the stool samples to the lab to confirm it. Also said that the lamb had a mild symptoms of White Muscle in the muscle tissues he collected and looked at some other samples near the area he took lab samples from. Gave me a script for Bo Se to get from our local "animal" pharmacy, which I am not familiar with its use. I was always told that we are not selenium deficient in this area of the country, per our county extension agent. But the vet said he has seen an increase in White Muscle sharply over the last two years.
Advised to put everyone on a five day treatment of Sulmet that was in the same pen as the two recent lambs that died. Advised to start putting it in the drinking water of the kids again, just to be on the safe side. Nobody around here, with the exception of a few isolated cases, has ever really dealt with this in small ruminants. Vet said that using an enclosed barn, which I just started doing last year, could be the cause. Before, my animals were out in the open with just portable "awnings" (for lack of a better term) to keep them dry and give them shade. Now, with the barn, he says the humidity can build up just enough to help the cocci grow. Otherwise, it is too dry for it to become active? Not sure I am remembering that correctly, so those of you with more experience with this would probably know exactly what he was saying. Only thing that confuses me is this lamb and the other were in outside pens. Our humidity has been only 5-15% (no you're not reading that wrong, it is DRY) with no measurable precipitation in the last four months, so how did these buggers "activate"? Maybe it was because I am exhausted from no sleep, but I am thinking I misunderstood some of this. Anyone? We have Sulmet solution from when the kids were showing SOME of the same symptoms left, but it is over two months old now. Is it still safe to administer? Will check back on reply to this question when I get back from pharmacy. I did ask them, and they replied "Since it is not a product that was sold here, we cannot advise you on the shelf life". Great!! This situation just KEEPS GETTING BETTER!!! LOL
Again, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO OFFERED ADVICE, OR JUST A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT!!!

valcwby01 · #18 05/19/11, 05:28 PM

Oh, second question, though. We are having some late kids and one more darn lamb. How young is too yound to put them on a cocci prevention? And do I give the Bo Se now or when they get older and start eating on their own more? (Sorry for my grammar, I am TIRED!!) Both of these conditions are kind of new to me, and my neighbors and friends I have been bugging today.

Laverne · #19 05/20/11, 03:42 AM

Coccidiosis prevention is started at 20 days old along with worm prevention. This is done every 20 days till they are about 6 mos. old, maybe older. Bo-Se is given at birth. It is 1/2 cc for goatlings and probably for the lambs also but you may want to verify that.
This is the best protocol to follow in raising goats. Prevention is the key.
http://dairygoatinfo.com/index.php/topic,2077.0.html