4 weeks old w/scours - UPDATE 2/18

[Squirrelgirl88]

OK, my 4 week old Nigerian doeling still has scours. For almost two weeks now.

Vet tested for Coccidia - one egg - one - she dosed with Albon anyway and told me to put her back on 100% fresh goat milk.
Still poopy

I ran out of goat milk, can't find any anywhere. Bought canned evaporated goat's milk. Mixed it with equal parts water as directed.
Still poopy

I spread out her bottles and took her back to 4.5 oz every 5-6 hours.
Still poopy

Canned goat's milk is expensive. She is now getting 50% cow's milk, 50% canned goats milk. 5 oz every 5-6 hours.
I also gave her the first CD&T vaccine last night.
Still poopy.

She's acting fine - energetic, playful etc.
Called the vet today she said to bring her another fecal, and to give her 1ml pepto bismol to stop the poop. The vet also suggested that this should stop as soon as she transitions to solid food...............................in four weeks. Are you serious?

What are we missing? Is she lactose intolerant? There has got to be a cause and a remedy. I don't think the pepto is a good idea. Wouldn't it be better to find the cause?

Please help - I'm so tired of poop.

 

[babsbag]

Has she been checked for any bacterial infections?

Maybe this will help you figure it out.

http://goat-link.com/content/view/50/92/

This list will give you a quick summary of what the scours may look like and the possible problem it could represent.. It gives you a place to start. There are other things that can cause scouring, but these are the most commonly seen.


*Dark, loose Feces, not quite scours-- Sometimes bloody, usually seen in well fed kids under 12 weeks old: It could be: Clostridium perfringens type D also called Enterotoxemia

*Black and tarry, yellow to greenish watery OR Grey foul smelling Scours-- Sometimes with blood or tissue- high fever accompanies. Babies to adults: It could be: Salmonellosis

*Bright Yellow profuse Scours-- Usually watery. In babies under a week old- no fever or sub normal temp: It could be:E Coli

*Watery or foamy; pasty, dark or bloody Scours-- Foul smell, looks as though contains unclotted blood and sometimes tissue and mucus. Effecting kids between 4 weeks and 5 months old with the highest incidence being between 4 & 7 weeks of age. : It could be: Coccidiosis

*Watery and yellowish Scours - With mucus or blood at times, low grade fever, caused by oocysts. Effects 1 to 4 week old kids usually (they are susceptible until they become functional ruminants): It could be:Cryptosporidiosis

*White or light yellow Scours--Acute. Sour odor, can look curdled. Usually affects newborns to 4 weeks old, but most commonly seen in babies younger than 2 weeks old. : Foul smell, looks as though it contains unclotted blood and sometimes tissue and mucus. Milk Scoursfrom too much milk or milk replacer.

*Pasty, gas bubbles-dark Scours- - Foul smelling with gas bubbles in it. Only goats over 18 months old.. It could be: Johnes Disease (Paratuberculosis)

*Bright green Scours-- Acid smell, watery to pasty. Too rich pasture or hay. Any age that eats hay or pasture. Feed Scours

 

[elevan]

I'd slowly switch her back to the whole cow's milk.

I'd also add Neomycin Oral Solution 1 ml/ 20# Continue treatment for 24-48 hrs beyond remission of disease symptoms, but not more than 14 consecutive days for bacterial scours (just add to the bottle)

Probably also add a little bit of unflavored gelatin powder to her bottle each time to slow down the scours.

 

[Squirrelgirl88]

I'd slowly switch her back to the whole cow's milk.

I'd also add Neomycin Oral Solution 1 ml/ 20# Continue treatment for 24-48 hrs beyond remission of disease symptoms, but not more than 14 consecutive days for bacterial scours (just add to the bottle)

Probably also add a little bit of unflavored gelatin powder to her bottle each time to slow down the scours.

Where do I get Neomycin Oral solution?
Is that 1ml to 20 pounds weight?

She's 6.5 pounds.

 

[elevan]

I'd slowly switch her back to the whole cow's milk.

I'd also add Neomycin Oral Solution 1 ml/ 20# Continue treatment for 24-48 hrs beyond remission of disease symptoms, but not more than 14 consecutive days for bacterial scours (just add to the bottle)

Probably also add a little bit of unflavored gelatin powder to her bottle each time to slow down the scours.

Where do I get Neomycin Oral solution?
Is that 1ml to 20 pounds weight?

She's 6.5 pounds.

TSC sells it.

Yeah, 1 ml per 20 pounds....I'd give her 1/2 ml daily personally for that weight. If you wanted to give a little less than 1/2 that would be fine.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

What about probiotics? You can add probios to her milk.

 

[Squirrelgirl88]

Yep, already adding probios to her bottles.

I'm worried that I'm giving her too much milk.

She'll be five weeks old on Tuesday and is taking 5 oz four times a day. She's such a piggy she would probably take much more if I let her.

 

[ksalvagno]

That really shouldn't be too much milk for her.

 

[babsbag]

Some one gave this to me last year and it worked really well to stop scours. Where it says "I" that is my friend, not me. I have never used scour halt, but I have used this mix, and so have other friends of mine.

1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp clove
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp slippery elm (health food stores or Hoeggers Goat Supply)
1 tsp garlic ( I use liquid)
2 cups of water

Bring to slow simmer on low heat while stirring.
I then place in jar and cover and allow to cool for about 20 minutes.
I have been using it for
the past few years with awesome results.
Give 6-12 cc's orally several times a day.
I have also mixed it with scour halt with very good results

Since I already had some of this mixed up I then added:
cayenne and thyme. I used a teaspoon of each because my babies are in the 50-70 pound range, well, most of them, Figured it wouldn't hurt the little babies.

 

[Squirrelgirl88]

Started Neomycin today.......thanks Elevan...........crossing my fingers that this works.