Coughing... Lung worms OR Virus?

[Sara1226]

Ok, understood. I won't use this wormer. I too am still skeptical that it's worms. I don't know much about the life cycle of the lungworms, I will try to research it tonight. I assumed that my other two kids got it from exposure to the little guys droppings, as much as I try to clean 3 times a day I can't get all the "capers" as my husband calls them. But again, I don't know if lungworms can spread via droppings. I did read tonight that lungworms can not only be carried by snails but also slugs. As mentioned previously, my whole area has had above average rainfall this year. Are my goats on wet pasture? No, but there are slugs everywhere! Nasty little creatures... They can be seen crawling up the sides of my chicken coop, shed, there are so many this year. I even said to my husband during the summer that the amount of slugs was ridiculous. Yuck! Plans in the morning:

Weight check them all.
Take temps.
Check in with vet to ask about antibiotic that is NOT a pill form.

Somehow I have to get them all healthy. Winter is coming soon here.

 

[Southern by choice]

I have posted this info for you already. Explaining both with links to videos to help you understand. @babsbag has as well...

http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/coughing-lung-worms-or-virus.34679/#post-452305

 

[babsbag]

I don't know much about lungworm either but I am pretty sure that they wouldn't develop a cough from them that quickly. The prepatent period (time between infection and first larvae shed in the feces) is about 1 month and then the snail or slug has to get infected and that takes a few weeks to months and then the goat has to ingest the slug, it isn't quick. If it is lung worm I would venture a guess that is Dictyocaulus filaria, which does not require a slug or snail.

http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2640&Itemid=2918

http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2639&Itemid=2917

Don't your chickens eat the slugs?

I would specifically ask the vet for some injectable Oxcytetracycline, it comes under many brand names.

 

[Sara1226]

I have posted this info for you already. Explaining both with links to videos to help you understand. @babsbag has as well...

http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/coughing-lung-worms-or-virus.34679/#post-452305

Yes, there is a lot of information here. My life is very hectic right now, very busy with doctors appointments and such... so I apologize for missing something in the thread. I've TRIED to read everything completely.

It's very difficult to be new at this and get conflicting information from not only the two goat breeders I'm dealing with but also two vets as well. According to them I need to keep worming,but from what I read on here I should be doing an injectable antibiotic. For the record I agree, and I'm willing to do that. I need to communicate with my vet even though he hasn't been much help. I worry though that if I don't follow his instructions, and something goes wrong he will be like.. Well why didn't you listen to me? Then maybe refuse to help me in the future. This is such a tricky situation.

* Going out to take weights and temps now.

 

[Southern by choice]

Well at this point you have followed your vet's protocol which is good and therefore it gives you a greater ability to start working with your vet. When you return you have the better chance of moving in another direction because you have done what was prescribed, so now the vet may be more inclined to look at other possibilities.

Definitely inform the vet of the ages and the transport issues you had as well as the fact that now he has come in your other goats are coughing as well ... in a respectful way you can say this is why I am wondering if it is possibly viral or bacterial because it appears to be contagious.

What were the temps?

 

[babsbag]

I believe that I read that worming for one of the worms (not sure which one) should be repeated in 2 weeks.

 

[Sara1226]

I am not at home where the temps were written down, but I recall as follows:

Little guy. 100.8. Weight was 16.5
He only weighed 14 when I had him to the vet early last week, so I'm glad he gained some weight.

The other two temps were 102.4 And 101.6.
One weighed 22 pounds and the other 23 pounds.

 

[Sara1226]

I just wanted to thank everyone again for the advice and post an update. I haven't heard any of my wethers coughing since last week, and I think things are finally improving. I did end up deworming again and using an antibiotic, but now I have a new problem.

My little guy is seriously under weight. I know in my last post I said he weighed 16 pounds, but after the last deworming and a recent drop in (weather) temperature outside he went back down to 14 pounds. He is very boney, and I'm running out of time to get more weight on him before my awful winter sets in. He is 13 weeks old, what SHOULD he weigh, and how can I get him to gain weight quickly??

Ps.. Still giving him probiotics, goat mineral, baking soda, and nutri drench for goats. And good quality clean hay of course.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

I just wanted to thank everyone again for the advice and post an update. I haven't heard any of my wethers coughing since last week, and I think things are finally improving. I did end up deworming again and using an antibiotic, but now I have a new problem.

My little guy is seriously under weight. I know in my last post I said he weighed 16 pounds, but after the last deworming and a recent drop in (weather) temperature outside he went back down to 14 pounds. He is very boney, and I'm running out of time to get more weight on him before my awful winter sets in. He is 13 weeks old, what SHOULD he weigh, and how can I get him to gain weight quickly??

Ps.. Still giving him probiotics, goat mineral, baking soda, and nutri drench for goats. And good quality clean hay of course.

Did you ever get a fecal at the vet? Was there any cocci? Deworming does not effect cocci as they are protozoans, not worms.

Drop the baking soda. Urinaru Calculi is a common problem in wethers. You want their urine to be slightly acidic to prevent crystals from forming.

Feed is important for growing kids. TSC has good feed brand called Noble Goat. A little bit would help him put on weight. If cocci is a problem for you, the Noble Goat feed with the red strip on the tag has a coccidiostat to PREVENT cocci. Keep in mind it will not treat it. Oh, and medicated feed won't be available next year, at least where I am by the way.

A little bit of alfalfa pellets or alfalfa hay might be good, too. You could ask your vet what type of urinary calculi he usually sees. The vet in my area almost always sees calcium crystals, so he does not reccomend feeding extra calcium rich hay. If your vet sees a lot of phosphorus, a little added alfalfa would be a good idea. You want to try to keep the Calcium/ phosphorus ratio at 2:1.

You probably already said this, but what brand mineral are you using? TSC has a loose goat mineral with added ammonium chloride to prevent urinary calculi.

 

[Southern by choice]

I think we have all already shared with you steps you need to take.
Did you have a fecal yet?
If not and he has cocci then he will get worse and just die.

Already recommended a dairy goat feed.
Already explained about the baking soda.
Already explained about the 2:1 up to 4:1 Ca/P

With all the drugs you have given him it greatly affects the rumin.
Definitely pull off leaves and feed them as well.
Stop giving him Nutri-drench. It is only for when they need an immediate "jump-start", NOT for constant use! It is adding nothing but sugars at this point.

If he is having an issue with appetite then he should get a B-12 injection. It stimulates appetite.