Happy and relieved

[trnubian]

So yesterday Hannah (my big heavy bred nubian) wasn't acting right when I was cleaning up their pen. She acted really uncomfortable. She didn't eat her grain that morning or for lunch. She was trembling a little. Her temp was 102 but I suspected the beginnings of milk fever. I went in to grab some calcium gluconate and dextrose. When I came back out with the meds my cousin pointed out that she JUST had some really runny poo. I looked and she did. So at least I knew it wasn't milk fever! I ran back inside to switch my meds. I gave her neomycin and a shot of banamine. Left her be over night. This morning she wasn't any better really so I grabbed my hoarded stash of "majic pills." They are actually sulfamethoxazole/trimpethoprim oblets that the vet gave me a long time ago for something. Anyway, I gave her 3 pills dissovled in some water in a syringe. She hated me of course but oh well. I also got her to guzzle about 1/4 gallon of warm resorb. Went back out this afternoon and she looked ssooo much better. Her eyes were brighter and she was alert. I didn't see water running out her butt like I did before. I offered her more warm resorb and she guzzled another 14 gallon. Then I gave them new hay and she went over and ripped out mouthfuls. Yay! I was so happy and relieved. Will keep up with the pills for a couple days but I feel like she will be fine now. I hate it when they are sick. Especially when they are so heavy bred.

[Minelson]

Yikes! Glad you caught it in time! I never heard of your method before. What did she have?

[trnubian]

I don't know exactly what she had. But for some reason every other year or so she gets this. Watery poo and goes downhill fast. We have tried coccidiostats on her and that didn't work. Vet gave us this medicine for kids with the poos a long time ago. (Back when were were using the wrong dosage for cocci prevention and wer at the end of our rope as far as stopping scours.) I have only used it twice since and it is the only thing that seems to clear her up. I have a friend who had the same thing run through her does every now and then and this is the only thing that worked for her as well.

[julieq]

So glad you had a good outcome and knew the right thing to do!

[dozedotz]

That is scary!! Will you be able to get those meds again? Do you think that some form of a sulfa drug would give the same results? I'm so glad you knew what to do!! She is a lovely doe and you need those kids!!

[trnubian]

I am not sure if I can get the same medicine again. I will have to call and ask. I still have quite a few pills. I tried just using the sulfas and it didn't work. This has a sulfa and is combined with trimthoprim. Don't know exactly what that does but??? It works.

I cleaned her butt udder and tail off just a little while ago. She chugged another half gallon of resorb and is eating well. Itms very strange but she will take a couple bites of hay and then go get a few licks of baking soda. back and forth back and forth. I guess it's making her tummy feel better. She also has had quite a bit of goop today. I am hoping she holds out for another couple days. It's a little too early for babies.

[Alice In TX/MO]

That is the vet form of Bactrim. A sulfa antibiotic and a coccidiostat.

[Backfourty,MI.]

So glad you had the meds & knew how to fix her. They like to make sure & keep us on our toes!

[trnubian]

Thanks!