Mini-Nubian sick - need advice - urgent

silvergirl · #1 08/03/12, 03:56 PM

My 10 month old Mini-Nubian has polio-encephalitis. I've been nursing her through this and she has made it 36 hours so far. She has not eaten at all and I am wondering what I can feed her - she won't eat her goat chow or even the handful of alfalfa pellets I put in for her... The only water she has taken has been the water I am syringing into her mouth. She has had three injections of bantamine per the vet's instructions, and I managed to find a feed store with injectable B vitamin complex this morning - so she has had one injection of thiamine and is due for another in about two hours. She is still able to stand and to walk slowly. She loses her balance, falls and panics, becomes rigid but relaxes with gentle handling in a few seconds time. I think if I could get some food into her, it would make a difference... Anyone with any suggestions about food or her care? Anything more I can do? I spent all of last night with her, and got her through the night - I had maybe an hour's sleep. Please help my Ruby... she is a sweet little creature, and I don't want to lose her. Thanks.

Alice In TX/MO · #2 08/03/12, 04:02 PM

Your vet needs to administer IV fluids if she's not taking any by mouth. You can inject Lactated Ringers solution under her skin for fluid, but I've never done that.

Pony · #3 08/03/12, 07:37 PM

I have nothing to add but my prayers.

GoldenWood Farm · #4 08/03/12, 07:54 PM

If you can't get to a vet right away one thing I did with my buck who just went down and was very dehydrated was I drenched him 20cc's at a time with Pedialyte (I did a gallon per the vet's orders) and that helped him a lot. Yes it took me about 1 1/2 hours to drench him but it sure helped with hydrating him.

Another thing I would do is get some probios in her. Also can you offer her some green leaves? I got my boy to eat a small bit by offering some fresh green leaves. I will say keeping them hydrated is the most important thing, so like I said even if you have to gently drench her and it takes 2 hours she need electrolytes big time. I hope and pray she pulls through for you! I am still working with my boy..he was pretty weak but today he seems to be doing better.

Justine

fishhead · #5 08/03/12, 08:56 PM

B vitamin complex is a diluted version of fortified thiamine. Your vet should be able to get you the right stuff. The B complex doesn't contain enough thiamine for what your are trying to do unless you inject a bunch. It's better than nothing but you really need fortified thiamine.

Good luck!

Backfourty,MI. · #6 08/03/12, 09:51 PM

I agree with fishhead, ask your vet for the Prescrition Thiamine. Keeping her hydrated is very important. Also getting her to eat some browse, maybe her favorite bush, grass, poplar leaves, etc.
Is she eating any hay or anything else at all? Probios paste is another great suggestion given above.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your little Ruby.

Minelson · #7 08/04/12, 07:23 AM

Praying for Ruby! Please keep us updated

The Tin Mom · #8 08/04/12, 08:50 AM

Praying!

ozark_jewels · #9 08/04/12, 10:15 AM

When successfully treating Polio in the past, I gave high doses of thiamine, PenG, Dexamethasone and kept them hydrated with Lactated Ringers. Get Lactated Ringers from your vet, along with a disposable IV kit. Use the IV kit to run the Ringers under her skin(SQ).
When they are really sick, liquids by mouth many times is not enough.
Any green leaves that you *know* they can eat, oak, maple, willow, wild grape, etc is what tempts my goats. Much better than hay or grain when they are sick. Much more tempting.

Natural Beauty Farm · #10 08/04/12, 08:37 PM

Where in NC?
We are right on the line in VA if it helps

How do you know it is Polio?
What is her temp?
Dollar store has a digital thermometer for $1, great deal, same brand as TSC sells
When was she last wormed?
Last fecaled, to make sure the meds are working?

Old saying..... can live without air for 3 min, water for 3 days, food for three weeks......
See what is important..... A full grown goat will drink 1-1 1/2 gallons a day to survive.

fishhead · #11 08/06/12, 05:52 AM

What happened?

I hope it turned out well.

FrogTacos · #12 08/06/12, 07:31 AM

I had one with Polio last year, per my vets instructions the only thiamine I could get my hands on was the B1 tablets from the vitamin section in Walmart - 250mg per tablet. Crushed and drenched 4 on the first dose, 5 on the second, 10 on the 3rd (you cant overdose them with it) - the tablets cost about $5 and saved her life. I drenched her with electrolytes often for a few days, didn't encourage her to eat much - however, if yours will eat them, give her all the BOSS she wants, they are naturally high in thiamine. Your girl might have moderate to severe vision impairment, mine did - had to put her in a small pen by herself for quite a while, took her about 9 months to make a full recovery.

**beccachow** · #13 08/06/12, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrogTacos

I had one with Polio last year, per my vets instructions the only thiamine I could get my hands on was the B1 tablets from the vitamin section in Walmart - 250mg per tablet. Crushed and drenched 4 on the first dose, 5 on the second, 10 on the 3rd (you cant overdose them with it) - the tablets cost about $5 and saved her life. I drenched her with electrolytes often for a few days, didn't encourage her to eat much - however, if yours will eat them, give her all the BOSS she wants, they are naturally high in thiamine. Your girl might have moderate to severe vision impairment, mine did - had to put her in a small pen by herself for quite a while, took her about 9 months to make a full recovery.

I never would have thought of that. Better than nothing; you would definitely need to high dose the goat as you did, though, to ensure enough is getting absorbed into the bloodstream.

fishhead · #14 08/06/12, 12:16 PM

I thought that thiamine couldn't survive the passage thru the gut to the point of absorbtion?