HELP! Sick Kids

TroutRiver · #1 07/10/12, 01:37 PM

I am posting this for a friend who I've been helping out for the last few days. He has a small meat goat herd of about 10 nubian bucklings, and in the last few days almost all of them have come down with diahrea, one has died. The ONLY vet within 150 miles of us is completely useless when it comes to goats, so we are pretty much on our own.

I will start off by saying that these goats did not have a very good start in life, and it's no surprise to me that they have weak immune systems. I have to agree to disagree with most of his management decisions for most of his animals. But now he is asking me for help.

He claims that these bucklings are all 10-12 weeks old, but if that is true they are extremely stunted. I would judge by looking at them that most of them are about 5-6 weeks old, and they are not getting any milk or milk replacer of any kind, just hay and grain (but I told him to hold the grain because of the diahrea, and just give them plenty of hay and fresh, clean water). They definitely do not have the energy that kids this age should have.

The one that died came down with the diahrea last week, he separated that one with one other that also had diahrea. I don't think he really gave them anything for it, just separated them. The one made it through and got better, the other did not. As of about 48 hours ago almost all of them have diahrea, including his one older goat who is about 8 years old and just a pet. She free ranges on the property and is not kept in the same pen with the meat kids.

He said over the phone that he "didn't think" they had a fever. I dont think he actually checked, I will check tomorrow when I am over there. they have all been treated (preventatively) for coccidiosis about 2 weeks ago, they have all been dewormed and have had CDT vaccines. What are other possibilities for causing diahrea like this? I will be over at his place tomorrow, what other information besides temp should I gather while I'm there?

Ford Zoo · #2 07/10/12, 01:54 PM

I think first the diarrhea needs to stopped and they need to be well hydrated. Pepto for the diarrhea. Is the diarrhea foul smelling? I would also start treating actively for coccidosis. And they probably need probios.

If they had such a rough start, did they even get clostridium at birth? And if they are as young as you think, the CD&T vaccine probably didn't do them much good. I'm not familiar with the signs of enterotoxemia, but if diarrhea is a sign, maybe they also need a dose of antitoxin?

mpete · #3 07/10/12, 01:58 PM

I agree. If you can't do a fecal, start treating for cocci. It jumps onto a weakened immune system quick and can be devastating to a herd. Unfortunately it sounds like you have your work cut out for you... if he is taking this "wellidunno" approach, there may not be anything you can do....

Ford Zoo · #4 07/10/12, 02:05 PM

I found this article on enterotoxemia, but after reading it, I'm still leaning to cocci too since they have been sick for a while now.

Enterotoxaemia

TroutRiver · #5 07/10/12, 02:07 PM

Thanks. I will tell him to treat for cocci immediately and give them pepto. I also told him to give them probios and he said he would. I will check tomorrow to make sure he actually did.

They were not born on his farm, they are from a pretty well known dairy farm up North, and I am fairly certain that they did get colostrum there. But I think he weaned them the day he got them, or close to it... WAY too early

Backfourty,MI. · #6 07/10/12, 02:12 PM

I would treat for coccidosis as well, not the preventative dose but the treatment dose.
Kaopectalin sold at most feed stores will help with the diarrhea better than pepto. It's the same as human Kaopectate only a larger jug for livestock & much cheaper to buy it that way.

Does he have chickens or anything like that where they could be eating another animals feed? If not I'm leaning towards cocci too.

If they were weaned so young & he wants them for meat kids then they should definately be on some kind of pelleted feed like Noble Goat. 5-6 weeks old is way to young to wean off of milk & really too young to only feed hay & browse in my opinion.

If they are that young & had their first CD & T shot I would give them 2 more boosters at 3 weeks apart.

Also get a temperature while there & see what other information you can learn from your friend about his goats & care given.

Backfourty,MI. · #7 07/10/12, 02:14 PM

Different Cocci meds and doses

Here's a link to cocci med's & doses.

Ford Zoo · #8 07/10/12, 02:14 PM

Those babies are lucky you are willing to help, now hopefully the owner will be pro-active and follow your advice.

We just had some wannabe farmers buy newborn calves. We, along with some others gave them plenty of good management advice before they got the calves, and again the day they brought them home. They kept saying the calves were sick, I know darn well they never followed any directions they were given. Needless to say, all 18 died...If only they would have done what they were supposed to...

Cliff · #9 07/10/12, 02:17 PM

Ugh, poor goats. I don't know what kind of meat goats he thinks he will have by weaning them at that age. They will be runty and take forever to grow, if they actually live.

I'd lean towards cocci also. Especially since their guts are doubtless a mess and out of balance. I would check when and with what they were wormed also.

KrisD · #10 07/10/12, 02:42 PM

You may have to be blunt with a guy like this. Ask him would you take a 6 month old child off milk and hand them a steak to eat? No you wouldn't. My Oberhasli wethers are Easter babies and still nursing mom, they are also 60# each. He needs to stop the diarrhea immediately and treat for cocci. I would also stop all grain for now and put them either on Noble Goat or Showmaster and they would stay on it. Start with small amounts and work his way up. I would also give SQ fluids if you have it. Some Vit C and a shot of B vitamins wouldn't hurt either. Make sure he has wormed the kids as well. Push fluids (think electrolytes) and probiotics even yogurt or kefir would be great.