High Fever in Week Old Buckling

[rescueblonde]

Vet called back and was happy with the temperature drop. She said to take his temp again in another few hours and make sure it keeps going down. She said she'd like to see it below 102.5. She wants to keep him on Nuflor.

I'm not sure how happy I am with that response given the replies I've been getting on here and the fact she hasn't seen him.

 

[rescueblonde]

I have never had scouts with pneumonia but I will say that pneumonia is certainly common in kids. But that being said there are other bacteria that can cause scours and the fever, just not sure that Nuflor would be the drug to treat it. I am vet surprised that the vet instructed you to do one dose, that is very unusual.

Glad you are working with a vet though. These little guys go downhill fast.

I would be thinking perhaps e- Coli or a bacterial gut infection and my drug of choice would be Scour-halt


Just another idea

The scours have been cleared up for several days. He's having normal stools now.

 

[rescueblonde]

The breeder told me when I picked him up that I shouldn't be surprised if he had scours because he was so young and endured a lot of stress in that one day. The scours are gone. The vet doesn't believe they're related to the fever. She's thinking he's developing an upper respiratory infection.

 

[ldawntaylor]

Just a thought on what caused the scours. In my experience, since you are bottle feeding it is possible the milk wasn't the same temperature as what he was given before.

It is also possible that his bottle was held at the wrong angle at some point and he got milk into his lungs. That can cause pneumonia. In people, and I assume in animals, that situation is refered to as "respirition pneumonia". Sorry if my spelling isn't right.

 

[rescueblonde]

Just a thought on what caused the scours. In my experience, since you are bottle feeding it is possible the milk wasn't the same temperature as what he was given before.

It is also possible that his bottle was held at the wrong angle at some point and he got milk into his lungs. That can cause pneumonia. In people, and I assume in animals, that situation is refered to as "respirition pneumonia". Sorry if my spelling isn't right.

I'm very careful about the angle of their necks while they're taking their bottles. The temperature idea might be along the right track? The breeder follows the rule of placing the bottle against her wrist and if she can't feel warm or cold, then it's the right temp. I've been doing the same. Maybe though. I'm not sure how sensitive they are to temperature change considering using that method we would've been in the same temperature range.

What's your opinion on Nuflor if he's potentially developing pneumonia? I'm going to call back tonight once I've checked his temp if it hasn't improved or if it has, I'm definitely calling back tomorrow in hopes of getting a different vet. The one I spoke to today must be new to the clinic because we've been with them for a while but I've never dealt with her before. I usually have a man who I know for sure has extensive goat experience because he raises them.

 

[rescueblonde]

He's down to 103 now. On the phone with the vet again.

 

[rescueblonde]

Vet was happy that his temp is still dropping, even though it wasn't a significant drop. I'm going to keep an eye on him overnight and call again in the morning to see where we're at then. If anything happens, I can call the emergency vet there. It's looking good so far!

 

[ldawntaylor]

i don't have any experience with nuflor. The vet who deals with my animals has never prescribed it.

At least talking things through can help rule out what might be going on.

I'm glad your buckling seems to be doing better.

 

[rescueblonde]

Gave him his bottle then checked again. Back up to 103.5. I'm going to wait a bit then give him some more electrolytes. Then I'll check his temp again and call the vet.

 

[babsbag]

See if you can get some Banamine. It will bring the temp down and make him feel better. It also helps with the lung remodeling if he has pneumonia.

Your vet may absolutely right about pneumonia and Nuflor is the gold standard for treating respiratory issues. Glad the scours are gone...I missed that part. Whenever a kid gets sick pneumonia is first in my mind and I am usually right. I have always had them respond to Oxcytetracycline and have never had to resort to Nuflor.

Has anyone listened to his lungs? But that being said, there is a pneumonia that presents no symptoms other than fever but it would still be nice to have a listen.