help 5 week old doeling with diarrhea

pop5 · #1 12/15/11, 05:41 AM

its like a mustard colour, she's still eating though not as much as her sister and she's moving around as normal, she has'nt lost weight and otherwise looks healthy. these are my first babies and not sure what to do, should i call a vet? i've tried to read up as much as i can on the internet but cant find a lot. she's feeding off mum and also taking some of the other does grain + free hay, i also put down clean warm water. thanks x

FrogTacos · #2 12/15/11, 06:37 AM

Do you have any sort of scour halt medications? Kaopectate or Pepto Bismol would work in a pinch. I would give her about a teaspoon (5 mL) of whichever you have now, then watch and see if it helps. You can repeat the dose a couple times a day if needed. Probios would be really good to give as well.

I don't mean this to sound bad, but if it starts looking like she might poop herself to death - really watery, very lethargic, you would need to treat her for Coccidiosis immediately. Ive seen 2 with it and they couldn't walk a foot without leaving a poo trail. Really just pouring out of their bottoms. I *just* bought a bottle of Corid yesterday so I have it on hand when my babies start arriving - it was $18 at my Co-op. The recipe my friend has used (successfully) is mix 3cc of the Corid with 16cc of water - and doses the kids at 2cc of that mixture per day. If you treat one baby, you treat them all.

pop5 · #3 12/15/11, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrogTacos

Do you have any sort of scour halt medications? Kaopectate or Pepto Bismol would work in a pinch. I would give her about a teaspoon (5 mL) of whichever you have now, then watch and see if it helps. You can repeat the dose a couple times a day if needed. Probios would be really good to give as well.

I don't mean this to sound bad, but if it starts looking like she might poop herself to death - really watery, very lethargic, you would need to treat her for Coccidiosis immediately. Ive seen 2 with it and they couldn't walk a foot without leaving a poo trail. Really just pouring out of their bottoms.

thanks for your reply, the poop isnt watery and she's not really lethargic, i'm watching her all the time and i really dont want to lose her, i've just cleaned her bottom for the second time, gentle but she didnt like it and felt quite strong as she tried to get away from the sponge. I have no medications and the only one i've heard of is the Probios, i've written down the other two medications you've mentioned and i can try and get some, also i've just read that raspberry leaves are good crushed and mixed with a little honey and salt and given once a day for 3 days, i'm now reading up on Coccidiosis

pop5 · #4 12/15/11, 06:55 AM

By the way her twin is fine.

FrogTacos · #5 12/15/11, 07:12 AM

If its not really runny, you probably don't need to worry about her having the Coccidiosis. If/when you ever do suspect it, you would want to treat all of your kids as a precaution.

Kaolin-Pectin is the animal version of Kaopectate (marketed for humans) and is really inexpensive. I bought a 32 ounce bottle for $4. Will work just fine for minor cases of diarrhea.

I always follow medications with Probios just in case anything I give upsets the stomach bacterial balance.

Excellent website for getting meds if you have a hard time finding them:
http://www.jefferspet.com/

pop5 · #6 12/15/11, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrogTacos

If its not really runny, you probably don't need to worry about her having the Coccidiosis. If/when you ever do suspect it, you would want to treat all of your kids as a precaution.

Kaolin-Pectin is the animal version of Kaopectate (marketed for humans) and is really inexpensive. I bought a 32 ounce bottle for $4. Will work just fine for minor cases of diarrhea.

I always follow medications with Probios just in case anything I give upsets the stomach bacterial balance.

Excellent website for getting meds if you have a hard time finding them:
http://www.jefferspet.com/

Aaww thanks FrogTacos i'll have a look on the site now and remember what you've said. I also just found something else which says yellow poop indicates Enterotoxemia/Clostridium infection, dont know what it is, and also with Coccidiosis the poop tends to be green. Going to try and get the Kaolin-Pectin.

Alice In TX/MO · #7 12/15/11, 08:04 AM

Did you vaccinate with CDT? Do you have her on a Coccidiosis prevention program?

Here's a good page with a list of management steps for kids:
http://www.dairygoatinfo.com/index.php?topic=2077.0

prairiedog · #8 12/15/11, 08:11 AM

I second Alice.

pop5 · #9 12/15/11, 10:13 AM

Good read thanks Alice. Well i last cleaned her bottom a few hours ago and i've just been and checked her and no sign of anymore diarrhea yet, i'm hoping she had just eaten too much, is it okay for them to eat the same grain as the other doe's? she seems more alert too. Just spoken to someone at the livestock enviroment and she said i had to phone back again in the morning to speak to a vet.

mpete · #10 12/15/11, 11:24 AM

I agree with Alice and prairiedog... sounds like the start of cocci.... You don't have to have a blow out of diarrhea to have cocci... some goats don't ever show any symptoms.

pop5 · #11 12/15/11, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpete

I agree with Alice and prairiedog... sounds like the start of cocci.... You don't have to have a blow out of diarrhea to have cocci... some goats don't ever show any symptoms.

oh crikey.. well i should talk to the vet in the morning and hopefully he can come out straight away.

punchiepal · #12 12/15/11, 06:49 PM

No need for the vet to come out and pay the farm charge. Gather some of her pellets in a baggie and take them to the vet for a fecal. It will cost you less.

**mygoat** · #13 12/15/11, 07:33 PM

Goat kids should be raised on cocci prevention. My prevention plan consists of one initial treatment dose cource with dimethox 40% injectible at week 3. After that I use either Corid or dimethox, doesn't matter which dilution as long as you use it in the proper rate for goats - as PREVENTION dosages until 'well grown'. for me, 'well grown' is 50-60lbs.

http://www.dairygoatinfo.com/index.php?topic=9125.0

Yes it's true that cocci doesn't necessarily show the classic symptoms of diarrhea. Depends on the goat's immune system, stress levels, and the strain of cocci that's causing the problems. The MOST COMMON sign of cocci problems is stunted growth in kids.

I agree, no need for the expense of a vet visit. I'd have a fecal done to confirm, but try to find some dimethox 40% or the 12.5% solution (powder will work in a pinch but it goes bad shortly after mixing. You could just mix a little at a time though)

pop5 · #14 12/20/11, 06:33 PM

Thanks for all your good advice, Tabitha's diarrhea cleared up on the third day and she is back to her normal self and they're jumping and running about like before. When i spoke to the vet over the phone he said it was nothing to worry about or Esmeralda would have it too and that he couldnt get out to see her that day, i'm waiting for him to come out now to give them and the rest all their injections they need x