Yearling doe with diarrhea

[wolffeathers]

I have a yearling grade nubian that has had diarrhea for a few days. She's eating, drinking, peeing and pooping but it's dark brown diarrhea. She's always been 'that' one that's a little "off" from the other goats, usually preferring the outskirts of the herd off by herself. So it's hard to tell if she "off" her usual "off-ness" or not.

I treated her yesterday with Sulmet, thinking that it may be coccidia.

I also bought probiotics to treat her with after the Sulmet. The Sulmet bottle says that it works fast and improvement should be seen pretty quickly, so hopefully I'll see improvements this evening.

Any other suggestions? Didn't get a temp on her, there hasn't been any change in diet. Another doe has semi-solid formed pieces(instead of pellets) and the third has regular ol' goat pellets.

It's been a tad chilly but not bad(40-50s during the day with some drizzle earlier in the week). I've got them pulled in a horse stall anyway, since they don't need to be chilly on top of being sick.

All have been copper bolused and wormed with Cydectin over the summer. They also have free choice Black Onyx minerals.

[FrogTacos]

Will start by saying I could be very wrong here, but I have seen 2 with Coccidiosis and they both looked sicker than dog. Hedging a bet that if she is otherwise behaving like normal it 'shouldnt' be the Cocci.

Do you have regular Scour Halt? I was goat sitting for a friend and one of his little girls got the dark brown runs really really bad, one dose of the SH and she was good to go. Could also try Pepto and/or Kaolin Pectin (Kaopectate)

[wolffeathers]

Well, the thing that made me think Cocci was yesterday she started standing hunched. She would still graze/browse but she stood with her back legs together and kind of hunched up underneath her.

The other thing that lead be to believe she wasn't feeling well; was when we went to give the Sulmet, she only "fought" by lifting twisting her head. Even with my bad knee I was able to straddle her and force the Sulmet. She's somewhat tame, but even my most tame doe will fight like the dickens when it comes to giving copper bolus, meds, or "forcing" any other "horrible" procedures on them.

I don't have Scour Halt, we just bought the Sulmet yesterday(and it wasn't cheap :/ )

[Alice In TX/MO]

I vote for coccidia, too. Getting a fecal done is always a good idea.

I've not used Sulmet on goats, only pigeons. What dose are you using?

Here's a link to dosages for lots of things.
http://www.dairygoatinfo.com/index.php?topic=9125.0

[wolffeathers]

I looked for Albon, as most said that was the preferred treatment, but TSC didn't have it.

So I bought the Sulmet Oblets 5g. She got 3/4(probably more like 1/2 as we still had to deal with the chew/swallow/spit dance) of the tablet. The label says 1 per 50lbs(for calves/horses/etc) and I found a forum thread that talked specifically about oblets and they gave a 20lb goat about 1/4 tablet.

TSC didn't have the other stuff unfortunately and I didn't want to wait for Albon to ship.

[mpete]

can you get a fecal done?

[wolffeathers]

Originally Posted by mpete

can you get a fecal done?

Don't know of any vets in the area that handle goats(or livestock in general). They are all cat, dog, horse vets.

We went through veterinary hunts when we had our dairy cow. It's a headache. Finally a local horse vet said she'd do it, but charge $50 for each farm visit(and wouldn't let us take a non-horse to her facility).

[mpete]

any vet can do a fecal. Or if you know someone with a microscope. They are looking for microscopic eggs and cysts in the sample.

[wolffeathers]

Originally Posted by mpete

any vet can do a fecal. Or if you know someone with a microscope. They are looking for microscopic eggs and cysts in the sample.

I will check around if the Sulmet doesn't do the trick.

(Maybe the college Bio teacher will let me "play" with a microscope.)

[Alice In TX/MO]

They don't do a farm visit for a fecal test. Get some of the poop in a zip lock bag and take it to the vet. They can tell coccidia from worm eggs.

My vet charges $15.

The dosage on the bottle is wrong for goats. Never heard of using the big pills for goats.

This is from dairygoatinfo.com

"and then there is Sulmet which is very ineffective in most areas for the control of cocci"

[Alice In TX/MO]

You have to have flotation solution and some practice to do the fecal test.

Here's the HOW TO:
http://www.dairygoatinfo.com/index.php?topic=11299.0

[Alice In TX/MO]

Can you put your location in your User Information? or post it?

We most likely have someone who can help you out nearby.

[wolffeathers]

Located near Fort Bragg, NC.

LOL Wonder if TSC will refund that expensive Sulmet minus 1. :P

I'll update on her condition when I get home.

I was going off of this thread I found about the Sulmet oblets(since that was the only thing I had available).

[Alice In TX/MO]

Delete Goatspot from your bookmarks.

[wolffeathers]

LOL Okay.

[wolffeathers]

I found a gallon of the generic 12.5% Albon at a small privately owned feed store. I'm guessing that's going to be the better choice, yes?

[FrogTacos]

Do any of your stores carry Corid?

[wolffeathers]

Yes, the same one with the Albon carries Corrid.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I think the Albon is good.

Dose from dairygoatinfo.com

12.5% Albon S.R. [Sulfadimethoxine] and Di-Methox 12.5%[Sulfadimethoxine] GIVEN ORALLY are the exact same drug
The dose is 3.2cc per 5 lbs

[Backfourty,MI.]

I agree with Alice, I would guess it's cocci & I also would use the Di-Methox or Albon over the sulumet or corid.

Keep us updated on how's she's doing.

If you can get the 40% Di-Methox injectable, it's still given orally but you don't have to give as much as with the 12.5%.