Emergency - help

[TroutRiver]

Just got home from work and my alpine buck is stumbling around stiff-legged and falling over. He was perfectly fine when I left this morning. I am freaking out! No cuts or anything anywhere on him. I am not aware of any toxic plants on the property but I imagine he must have eaten something? What can I do?!? Please help ASAP. Thank you!

[where I want to]

Could be goat polio. Have you taken his temperature? Have you looked at his eyes to see if he is focusing properly?

Has he had any recent problems?

Goat polio , if that is what it is, needs large doses of thiamin.

[TroutRiver]

one eye is twitching, but he is focusing ok, managed to walk up a pretty big hill in the time it took me to go and get some activated charcoal. Just gave that to him. TSC is out of the CDT antitoxin, and the vet does not carry it.

[where I want to]

Thiamin is a vitamin B product. You can administer Fortified Vitam B Complex.
Listeriosis can also cause staggering.
CD antitoxin is for enterotoxemia- I've never had it but didn't think it caused staggering.
Has he had his tetanus shot? Are you thinking that he has tetanus and you need a tetanus antitoxin?

[Backfourty,MI.]

Originally Posted by where I want to

Thiamin is a vitamin B product. You can administer Fortified Vitam B Complex.
Listeriosis can also cause staggering.
CD antitoxin is for enterotoxemia- I've never had it but didn't think it caused staggering.
Has he had his tetanus shot? Are you thinking that he has tetanus and you need a tetanus antitoxin?

C & D Antitoxin is also used for poisoning or when they eat something they shouldn't have or at least that's what the vet told me when he sold it to me for 2 of my girls that got in a bush they shouldn't have been into.

They were bellering though & puking up all over the place that's how I knew poisoning.

What about Polio or Listeriosis?
Did you get his temperature?

[TroutRiver]

temp is normal. He is definitely focusing with his eyes, the one is still twitching but not quite as badly as before. I just saw him take about 3 steps before he stumbled, so he has some mobility. His legs aren't completely rigid, but he is definitely walking stiffly and tips right over and falls after just a few steps. I can get some thiamine but it will take me about an hour of driving. I will do it if he needs it, but from the little I know I don't think it's polio... what do you guys think?

I was looking for CDT antitoxin for the reasons mentioned by backfourty.

[Ford Zoo]

Could you get some human vitamin B/thiamine just to get him a starter dose before you drive an hour one way?

[Minelson]

I don't know TroutRiver but I'm sending you lots of prayers that you get this figured out asap and he is ok....
Any goat vets in your area?
(((hugs)))) oh and what is his name? (for my prayers)

[Ford Zoo]

Onion creek ranch B Vitamins and their importance to goat health writes:
"The word "fortified" in the name is crucial; "fortified" means that the vitamin complex contains 100 mg/mL of Vitamin B 1 (thiamine). "
And:
"Usage of Fortified Vitamin B Complex is acceptable, because it contains Vitamin B 1 as well as other necessary B vitamins. Dosage is four (4) cc's per hundred pounds bodyweight given IM (into the muscle) every 12 hours. Since all B vitamins are water soluble, overdosing is difficult and the margin of safety is wide. Better too much than not enough when giving B vitamins."

Oral human supplement may help get ya started until you can get the injectable.

[TroutRiver]

Thank you! I will drive downtown and try to find some human b vitamins. Minelson, his name is Einstein

[Backfourty,MI.]

The Fortified Vitamin B will surely not hurt him & may help him but I would still try & Locate the Antitoxin somewhere. What about any local livestock farmers you know or any mom & pop type feed stores that may have it.

Wondering also if maybe some moldy hay maybe?

Not sure if your Buck reminds me of when Emily's goats all got sick or farmerjohns warrior. Warrior was so sick with menengeal worm though & he was weak & down if I remember correctly.

Make sure & get enough of the activated charcoal down him if you really think he ate something he shouldn't have.

[TroutRiver]

Found a dairy farm that had the antitoxin on hand, so I gave him that, and b vitamin complex. The people at the farm that gave me the antitoxin told me to also give him Penicillin, so I did that too. I don't think there is much else I can do but hope for the best. He had about 55cc of activated charcoal. I also gave him a drench with aloe juice and a blend of herbal tinctures.

Thank you so much for the advice, I will give another update tomorrow. If anyone has any other thoughts or suggestions, please post!

[Ranger]

Pulling for him!!!!!!!!

[Minelson]

Sending prayers for Einstein!!

[The Tin Mom]

Deer worm? Have had that twice here and it requires a quick response. Ivermectin did the job - but it had to be injected....

ETA: Deer worm is meningeal(sp) worm. Scary stuff!

[Backfourty,MI.]

How much of the Antitoxin did you give him? For his age he should get 20cc. 10cc for a kid.

You should give the penicillin for a full 7 days.
Keep us updated please on his symptoms if signs of improvement.
I'll keep my fingers crossed & pray for Einstein too!

[Ford Zoo]

Yes, Trout River, I hope he pulls thru!!

[Donna1982]

I hope he gets better soon.

[mpete]

It takes *A LOT* of b to get the correct thiamine dose. With giving penicillian you also should give him some sort of probios to help keep the rumen healthy.

[Plowpoint]

Sounds like you did the all right things. I do not have goats, I have sheep, but goats and sheep can have similar issues.

I too was thinking it sounded like Listerosisis. I lost a prized Ram to that one year...hope the fella pulls through.