Heat stroke?

pookshollow · #1 07/22/11, 06:52 PM

I found a three or four month-old NigieX doeling this morning, having what looked like convulsions. At first, I thought she was just rolling and rubbing her head, but realised that she was having trouble getting up. I did have to chase her to catch her, and when I did, she was having tremors and mucous was pouring out of her nose.

I had the thermometer in her for 30 seconds, and it was already up over 104, so I ran the hose on her for a couple of minutes and put her into the barn, out of the sun. I gave her Banamine, a combo of Borgal/Penicillin and Thiamine. She seems alert enough, and I have seen her picking at hay, but she is still having tremors through her head and neck - looks like a Bobble-head doll or someone with Parkinson's.

She was de-wormed yesterday (Ivermectin) along with the rest of the herd, and no one else is showing the neurological symptoms, although I do have a couple with the upper respiratory thing. No changes in feed, no access to anything poisonous, just this awful heat. Yesterday was the hottest day I have ever experienced.

Thoughts, suggestions?

Alice In TX/MO · #2 07/22/11, 07:05 PM

How much Ivermectin did you give her? How was it administered? Do they have access to cool water at all times? Have you put your hand in the water to check the temperature?

pookshollow · #3 07/22/11, 07:15 PM

It was sheep drench Ivermectin, so she got double the sheep dose, same as the other goats (I did it by weight). It was an automatic dosage syringe, so no chance that she got a horse dose by mistake.

They always have water - it's in the barn in the shade and I refill it several times a day. One bucket is on the ground for the wee, wee Nigies, and she's quite a bit bigger than them, so I know she can reach it. In fact, she can reach the buckets that are hung up as well. Also, they have access to the pond/creek if they want.

The snot and fever are making me think viral/bacterial, especially as I have two others with upper respiratory problems.

Donna1982 · #4 07/22/11, 07:25 PM

Has anyone else heard of giving beer to a goat that has heat stroke? The breeder we are getting the LaMancha from swears by it.

I have no idea what is wrong with your goat but hope she gets better.

pookshollow · #5 07/23/11, 11:08 AM

I doubt that beer is a good idea for a goat with heat-stroke. They tell people to avoid alcohol in hot weather, so why would it be good for goats?

Well, baby is still alive this morning, and looking quite bright, although still bobble-headed. I wonder if she suffered some brain damage due to a high fever. I'll keep giving her thiamine along with everything else and see how she does. She is nursing, so that's always a good sign!

Alice In TX/MO · #6 07/23/11, 02:06 PM

I made the mistake of giving a kitten Ivomec once. She was bobble headed for about 36 hours, then recovered.

Do NO give cats Ivomec.

Goatress · #7 07/23/11, 02:59 PM

Hope she continues to recover. Have no idea what it could have been, wondering if the heat combined with worming, maybe did it.....best wishes for speedy recovery...

Donna1982 · #8 07/23/11, 05:00 PM

Pook glad she is starting to improve. Hope she continues. The beer has something to do with the yeast. I'll have to ask her again.

Alice In TX/MO · #9 07/23/11, 05:23 PM

I've got something swimming up from my memory about NOT giving kids Ivomec because the blood/brain barrier isn't developed yet. Anybody else remember anything about that?

pookshollow · #10 07/23/11, 06:16 PM

But this isn't a tiny kid - she's 4 months old. I dewormed younger kids than her, and they're all fine. I really don't think the deworming had anything to do with it - I think I'm dealing with a respiratory illness, maybe pneumonia, and the heat combined with a fever caused her brain to overheat.

Alice In TX/MO · #11 07/23/11, 06:30 PM

I'm digging further, but the first reference says not to use Ivomec in kids younger than six months old.

Back to googling.

Edited to add:
Of course, all there is out there is anecdotal, as there hasn't been any real testing. Just repeated.... do not use in young kids, do not use in kids under X months of age.

Maybe that one kid was just more sensitive to it?

Minelson · #12 07/23/11, 06:31 PM

Glad she is nursing Pooks...I hope she continues to get better for ya

lasergrl · #13 07/23/11, 06:31 PM

This particular goat could have an ivermectin sensitivity. Any animals can have a reaction to any drug no matter how safe. The symptoms just scream ivermectin toxicity. Ataxia, tremors, lateral recumbancy, excessive salivation, fever. All symptoms of ivermectin sensitivity.

KimM · #14 07/23/11, 08:05 PM

Yes I did that once too but an adult cat. She had the same symptoms as lasergirl said, plus her pupils were dilated huge. She did get over it but it freaked me out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I made the mistake of giving a kitten Ivomec once. She was bobble headed for about 36 hours, then recovered.

Do NO give cats Ivomec.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lasergrl

This particular goat could have an ivermectin sensitivity. Any animals can have a reaction to any drug no matter how safe. The symptoms just scream ivermectin toxicity. Ataxia, tremors, lateral recumbancy, excessive salivation, fever. All symptoms of ivermectin sensitivity.