Goat off feed, weak, poops and pees normal?

[dianneS]

I'm taking a fecal to the vet this morning. Will wait in the office for the results and discuss with them etc. Will have the vet out possibly today if needed.

I felt no masses in his throat, couldn't see or feel any blockages. I can get liquids down his throat just fine. He has been drinking A LOT of water! If he eats anything at all, even the tiniest bit, he immediately goes for the water afterwards???

Still pooping large clumps.

 

[dianneS]

Back from the vet.

Barber pole worms and slightly elevated coccidia count!

Albon and injectable Dectomax.

I'm thinking this guy may not have gotten his copper bolus last year. He's tough to catch and/or he may have spit it out.

Any advice on treating/preventing this in the rest of the herd?

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Some animals are more resistant than others, so might not need to treat them all. But, Albon is much more effective than Corid for treating the coccidia. Did he give you enough for the whole herd or just your buck? If you need more, you can order the same thing for much cheaper on Jeffers.com (liquid or powdered DiMethox).

Copper bolusing is tricky with a feisty goat. When we do it, one person holds the goat, one person pries their mouth open, and a third pops the capsule to the back of their throat and squirts water in at the pill using a syringe. They always swallow once that water hits their throat.

 

[dianneS]

I don't have enough albon to treat the whole herd, just this guy. I will order more. Everyone else is healthy, but I will treat to be on the safe side.

Thanks for the tip on the bolusing. It is tough! I tried using a cattle sized balling gun. Did not work! Does anyone make a balling gun for goats?

I gave this goat his injection of dectomax and I gave him some b-complex, and a shot of iron. His eyelids are pretty pale.

He's much better today. Eating hay and still drinking lots of water. He was very eager when I entered his stall this morning to collect his fecal sample. He thought the baggie I had in my hand was food and was excited for a treat, so I think he's feeling better.

I'm so grateful for my vet. No more guessing games! What a relief. I'm sure this guy is on the mend now.

Thanks everyone for the advice!

 

[dianneS]

Since treating him with the Albon and dectomax, he pooped one big cow flopper soft, but not runny poo. This is the loosest stool I have observed yet. Could it be a side effect of the meds?

 

[Pearce Pastures]

I would not think so. The meds should kill off parasites which are causing the loose stools. Since he was only treated this morning, he will probably need more time to see improvement. Maybe by tomorrow evening things will "firm up".

 

[dianneS]

I hope so. He is eating his hay, and that's a relief! He looks brighter all around.

 

[Hens and Roos]

for both of you that he gets better soon!

 

[dianneS]

Poos firming up. Actually had some pellets tonight! Still just nibbling hay, not eating a whole lot yet.

I'm really hoping this is just parasites we're dealing with and not something else...

 

[dianneS]

Well my goatie is doing better, but just slightly. His appetite is improving but he's far from eating like a normal goat. Still giving Albon daily. Poos range from clumps to pellets and back again. Eyelids still pale but some pink is returning. Still not chewing a cud, but his belly is less sunken now.

He nibbles his hay, throughout the day and I replenish his supply even if he hasn't eaten what I've given him, just to keep it palatable to him. I am giving him his choice of Noble Goat pellets and calf manna. He ate nearly all I gave him yesterday throughout the course of the day/night, which is improvement. But it still wasn't a great deal of food. Today I gave him some alfalfa pellets in addition to the other stuff today. He ate some of everything this morning, better than I've seen him eat yet, and then he was done. No interest in any pellets anymore and he went for the hay instead.

I gave him a big dose of red cell this morning too and he has very good quality loose minerals in front of him right now. I want to give him another shot of B-complex soon but have to pick up some more goat sized needles.

I was going to give him some lamb and kid paste, but my local TSC was sold out. Maybe probios or something else?

I'm considering letting him out on grass today to see if that entices him to eat. I know it could cause more runny poos, but he would at least be getting some nutrition into him?