Baby goat has the runs

[punkgirrl]

I have a bottle baby. She is almost 5 weeks old. I woke up to runny poop. But not sure why. I have not changed her milk. But could it be she is still getting milk? I have her on the Pepto mix now till she gets back to normal. Should she got back on milk? She lives in a pen with her older BFF who has free hay and will not finish all her pellets when she eats. Could Vi be trying to eat the real food? I am not sure what to do

 

[ksalvagno]

I would say treat her for coccidia. She could have coccidia.

 

[Roll farms]

The only way to *know* is a fecal....but....

At 5 weeks, she's at the right age for coccidiosis.
Also, at 5 weeks, she SHOULD be nibbling hay and trying grain...that shouldn't be the 'problem'.

I would treat her for 7 days w/ DiMethox, 1cc per 5# day one, 1cc per 10# days 2-7, then repeat in 21 days.

You can order it from Jeffers Livestock Supply.

I would also give her a B shot to fortify her...some Probiotics...I personally wouldn't give her milk while she's scouring, I'd use something like "Revitalyte Gelling", which will give her nutrients and firm up her poo.

I don't use anything to stop the poops unless it's phenominally runny / explosive and / or I *know* it's a dietary reaction to something...it's nature's way of getting the 'funk' out, and stopping that process can be worse than letting it happen.

DO NOT wait to treat her, cocci can and will kill in a day or so's time if it's running rampant in her innards, and when it doesn't kill, it can scar the intestines for life and make a goat 'fail to thrive'.

Good luck.

 

[punkgirrl]

Thank you for the info. I have DiMethox. Do I give that orally?


As for the B vitamin I have Kaeco Equine Vitamin B12 is this what it is for?

Also the Probiotics... What do you mean. I have this stuff called goataid it is some kind of vitamin. Is that what you mean or do you mean the baby people stuff that says Probiotics?

 

[punkgirrl]

I was reading up on the coccidia and that is can go to other goats. I have a herd of two goats. Do I need to treat the other goats water? She is older and not on the bottle.

 

[jodief100]

Most goats carry some level of Cocci all the time. Older goats have just adapted to it and usually are not affected by it.

How old is the other one? If she is over a year I wouldnt worry about her unless she is showing signs. Under that I would treat her preventively.

 

[cmjust0]

Could be bacterial (dysentary), coccidia, or dietary.. Pepto is good, but if it's bacterial or coccidia, she's going to need meds. Oral antibiotics -- spectinomycin (scour halt; scour-chek) or oral neomycin if it's bacterial, or some type of sulfa (dimethox or sulmet) if it's coccidia.

What I'd do, personally, is give SMZ-TMP, which is sulfamethoxazole & trimethoprim.. The sulfa would be for coccidia, and the trimethoprim is an oral antibiotic in case it's bacterial.

That's just me, though.

Also, make sure she's staying hydrated.. Pinch her upper eyelid...if it stays tented, she's dehydrated and needs electrolytes.

I'd also keep her off the bottle for a day in case it's just a little dietary upset or overload of some kind, but some folks strongly disagree with that advice. Your call.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

 

[punkgirrl]

The Older goat Winnie is around 6 months. She is not showing any signs at all. So I should treat the bucket of water or try to get the stuff in her mouth?

 

[ksalvagno]

Very cute little goats. I would not treat the older one if she doesn't seem to have any problems. As far as preventative for that age, I'm not sure and defer to those who have had goats longer.

 

[cmjust0]

Don't treat the water -- give it orally. She'll hate it and act like she's about to choke to death, but oh well...it's for her own good. I figure that's why "compassion" and "sympathy" are seperate words.

The dosage for sulfa is 25mg/lb, be it dimethox or sulmet. If you have the 40% injectable dimethox, it's formulated at 400mg/ml, so 1ml treats about 16lbs. If you have the 12.5% drinking water solution of either sulmet or dimethox, they're formulated at 125mg/ml so 1ml -- straight from the bottle -- treats 5lbs. Whatever form you have, figure your dosage based on 25mg/lb of bodyweight.

Some folks cut the dosage in half on days 2-5, but I don't.

I'm evil, though.