Cocci Prevention / Treatment Thread

[gigiintheforest]

I have a baby pygmy wether who is 8 wks old and only 8#s. We just picked him up from the breeder who I believe never treats for coccidiosis. He is very thin - you can feel his ribs - but he eats like a champ so I started giving him a little calf manna to pick up the weight just a bit. I wormed him orally yesterday with Ivermectin and was wondering if I should treat him with Demethox for coccidiosis. I don't think he's ever been treated and his eyelids and gums are a very pale pink. He also has a "belly". Any thoughts?

It could be cocci or a cocci / worm combo. Rather than wait (and risk the damage cocci can do to the intestinal lining), why not have a fecal float done looking for coccidia and then treat if needed. Fecals are relatively cheap (20$ or so). Me, I'd treat him ASAP w/ DiMethox and then repeat in 21 days, but a fecal would def. answer your question.

8# at 8wks is WAY under weight. I would suspect cocci and possibly other parasites. Have you checked him over for lice / mites? Sometimes external parasites will cause anemia as well, and with the mild winters had by some, the creepy crawlies are thriving.

We just treated him with Dimethox. I'm almost sure that's what's causing his bony sides and sway belly. He hated the stuff and is now pouting but as my grandmother would say "it's for your own good". I didn't see any lice on him but will treat for that also as his sibling who we had to take back to the breeder because he was too young and not weaned properly had lice so I'm sure they are there. I don't think we will ever get any animals from this breeder again. But we already love this little guy so I'm doing anything at all to help pull him through. We have NO vets nearby that treat goats - the nearest is at the OSU Stillwater school of veterinary 2 hours north of us. I need to learn how to do my own fecals.

 

[gigiintheforest]

I just wanted to thank you all for this thread. It was such a help on dosing amounts.

 

[SassyKat6181]

I need to learn how to do my own fecals

Fiasco Farms has a great page for this http://fiascofarm.com/goats/fecals.htm

 

[gigiintheforest]

I need to learn how to do my own fecals

Fiasco Farms has a great page for this http://fiascofarm.com/goats/fecals.htm

Thanks, this looks like exactly what I need.

 

[Bowser Farm]

Okay...I read all the posts on the first 5 pages and 'skimmed' the rest of them. I don't think I saw the answer to my question there but if it is, please excuse my overlooking.

I have read many websites including this one and I'm still confused. With all the talk about the different meds, my question is: since coccidia is SPECIES SPECIFIC...are the meds themselves as restricted in their application? For example:

I'm looking for coccidiostats for GOATS...but my vet directed me to Corid available at T.S....but when I read the label, it named two species of coccidia that are specific to cattle.

Someone at a website (here?) posted a link to Di-Methox for sale at Jeffers...but when I read the lable, although it does not specify which species of coccidia, it does refer to ONLY cattle and poultry (in the case of drinking water solutions and soluble powder) or even just cattle (in the case of injectable).

I've googled for 'goat specific' doses of both Corid and Di-Methox...but don't seem to be finding any identified as such. Comments?

Thanks!

 

[elevan]

The type of coccidia is specific to the animal species that is it's host. But they all have the same "weakness" which is what a coccidistat attacks, and so all coccidistats can be used.

CoRid imo is more of a prevention than a treatment.

The very first post of this thread contains "goat specific" dosages that you can work off of. Just know that the level of resistance in your area may require you to adjust them which is where you need to consult with your vet.

 

[Roll farms]

To my knowledge, none of the coccidiosis meds are labeled 'for goats' specifically, with manufacturer's dosages instructions, aside from the feed additives rumensin and deccox.

Those won't treat cocci, but if fed at high enough levels will help prevent it until the goats build immunity to it.

A goat who actually is sick from coccidiosis needs treatment (DiMethox is what we use here) before counting on the feed to 'work', and in our experience here, the feed alone is not enough to keep it in check. We give DiMethox every 21 days for at least 6 mos.

 

[gigiintheforest]

To my knowledge, none of the coccidiosis meds are labeled 'for goats' specifically, with manufacturer's dosages instructions, aside from the feed additives rumensin and deccox.

Those won't treat cocci, but if fed at high enough levels will help prevent it until the goats build immunity to it.

A goat who actually is sick from coccidiosis needs treatment (DiMethox is what we use here) before counting on the feed to 'work', and in our experience here, the feed alone is not enough to keep it in check. We give DiMethox every 21 days for at least 6 mos.

Do you do a five day course of treatment or is it just a single dose of DiMethox every 21 days?

 

[Roll farms]

5 days. If I suspect one actually *has* cocci, I'll give it for 7 days.

 

[gigiintheforest]

So let me see if I've got this. You treat for 5 days (7 if you suspect cocci) and then wait for 21 days and then treat another 5 days. This treatment goes on until they are how old?