Goat down. Help please

PrettyPaisley · #1 10/27/13, 11:24 AM

May I have a reminder? I've been so busy with going from summer to fall and this insane weather ... then a quick trip to Mississippi to see my grandpa ... everytime I leave town I come home to a sick goat.

He's so pail. I gave him the injectable Cydectin orally at 1cc per 44lbs and I've been giving him 15ccs of Red Cell and 5ccs of vitamin B for the past 2 days. He's eating, drinking when needed but spends most of his time lying in the pasture.

I know it will take time to rebuild the red blood cells but in the mean time what else can I do for this guy? He's my big boy Saanen buck, Roady and such a sweetie. I can't lose him!!!

CadesLilFarm · #2 10/27/13, 12:26 PM

Any symptoms? I don't know how to tell you what he might have if there's no symptoms. :-)

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dozedotz · #3 10/27/13, 12:40 PM

Oh, Shannon, I'm so sorry! I know you know what to do!!! In fact, since you have already treated for barber pole, I assume you mean his gums are pale? Poor guy. Hopefully, he just needs some time to absorb the B and let the Cydectin do its magic. Maybe someone else will have a different approach, but I think you are on it and just don't trust yourself due to the panic! Just takes time and if he is eating and drinking, then hopefully he will regain strength and beat the dern things. This world does not need worms or mosquitos and maybe hornets...sharks either (just an opinion). Hang in there!!!

PrettyPaisley · #4 10/27/13, 01:03 PM

Oh- scours, he's lying around, white lids, lethargic. What else? We lost a buck kid two springs ago ... same thing. He was down but wouldn't get up though still eating ... Thankfully Roady isn't totally down.

I want to work on the anemia. What can I give him for the light lids ??? Food wise ... something iron rich?

Clovers_Clan · #5 10/27/13, 02:14 PM

I'm so sorry! We've had a rough time with Barberpole here too. IMO his rumen shutting down is the biggest threat now. Red Cell can be harsh on their rumen, and he probably has damage from the die out irritating it as well. Probios and good greens will help get his rumen back in balance. If you are in North Carolina, you may have collards in your garden by now, they're a good source of iron and vitamins. (Be sure to give him baking powder free choice.)

It will take a while to correct the anemia. It is normal for him to be weak, his blood is not carrying oxygen as efficiently, so he will feel tired. If he is able to rest, its good he's conserving his energy. His body should be concentrating on healing, so he may be down for a while. If he's eating there's hope.

PrettyPaisley · #6 10/27/13, 02:52 PM

Thank you! I've got baking soda out with salt and minerals, free choice.

I've got kale but will buy fresh collards tomorrow. Sadly the only thing enjoying the kale now is the caterpillars! I've given him extra Replamin Plus-I will add Probios too.

Thanks for the help.

Backfourty,MI. · #7 10/27/13, 04:08 PM

Sounds like your doing all the right things right now. At least he's eating & drinking & still getting around a little so that's good.
Might want to take a sample in to the vet for a fecal then you'll know if that's your only problem, also I'd worm 3 times 10 days apart if he was that heavy with worms & give him as much browse, hay, etc. to keep him eating too.
It will take him some time if he's that anemic to get all his strength back but be vigilant.

anita_fc · #8 10/27/13, 04:09 PM

I had a really resistant case of cocci this summer and we lost our favorite wether due to it. Subsequently, I treated two other goats with similar "earlier" symptoms as per goat vet: Three cycles of 5-day Corid treatments at two-week intervals. The goat we lost was extremely "white", yet did not show up anemic on an initial blood test. We didn't treat the cocci quite aggressively enough on the first goat, and it went into pneumonia. Yes, the cocci was confirmed by fecals. Subsequent fecals on the two survivors have been clean.

I hate cocci.

Alice In TX/MO · #9 10/27/13, 05:35 PM

It is my understanding that anemia (if caused by parasites) is from blood sucking worms such as the barber pole. Coccidia shouldn't cause anemia.

If your dewormer isn't working, you may have to shift types.

Always check goat eyelid color monthly.

Frosted Mini's · #10 10/27/13, 06:24 PM

Coccidia, barber pole, external parasites, liver fluke, and copper or iron deficiency all can cause anemia.

Doug Hodges · #11 10/27/13, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

It is my understanding that anemia (if caused by parasites) is from blood sucking worms such as the barber pole. Coccidia shouldn't cause anemia.

If your dewormer isn't working, you may have to shift types.

Always check goat eyelid color monthly.

I have eyelids that are red, bright pink and pale pink. Do you have to know your goat? One of the biggest healthiest 2 year olds I have always has pale pink eyelids

Living the good life

PrettyPaisley · #12 10/27/13, 07:47 PM

He's munching on collards from the grocery store up the street. Yay!

Thanks so much ... I hope we can keep him going!

Alice In TX/MO · #13 10/27/13, 07:49 PM

I had one goat that had pale pink inner lids no matter what I did. Other than that, they've been responsive to deworming.

When I went to the small ruminants class in West Plains last year, they said to check:
1. Eyelids
2. Body condition
3. Fecal sample

If 1 and 2 cause concern, ABSOLUTELY fecal sample and treat accordingly.

southerngurl · #14 10/28/13, 11:07 AM

Watch out for pneumonia!

GoldenWood Farm · #15 10/28/13, 12:48 PM

Ditto on the the watching out for pneumonia! Also for his scours try giving him a half a cup of plain pumpkin puree from a can, I have used this with great success in my herd. Eating and drinking are great signs, keep an eye to see if he is bringing up cud as well. Keep an eye on his temp as well and depending on how cold it gets at night around your place I would think of putting something on him to help him keep his temp up without burning too many calories.

Justine

chamoisee · #16 10/28/13, 02:49 PM

Get a fecal run on him to determine which parasites are causing the problem. You can worm him to kingdom come and he'll still go downhill if he's strugglign with cocci rather than worms, because wormers do nothing for cocci.

Clovers_Clan · #17 10/28/13, 07:04 PM

Shannon-

How is your boy doing today? Hope he's hanging in there.

GoldenWood Farm · #18 11/01/13, 12:03 PM

Any updates?

southerngurl · #19 11/01/13, 12:09 PM

Doug, you might take a look at this thread re: the pale eyelids: http://www.dairygoatinfo.com/f19/eyelid-color-34146/

Doug Hodges · #20 11/03/13, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southerngurl

Doug, you might take a look at this thread re: the pale eyelids: http://www.dairygoatinfo.com/f19/eyelid-color-34146/

Interesting. I do have slugs around the house. The kids come up with them regularly. What do they have to do with goats?

Can you give pregnant does the Valbazen?

Living the good life