Im at a loss, please help.

[kerrihornenc]

I have 9 goats. We have an acre that they rotate through on grazing. We feed sweetlix loose minerals, a purina natural goat chow, horse quality alfalfa hay, and lots of love and goat treats. In april, one of my favorite does kidded a dead baby and simultaneously seemed weak. She seemed to be stumbling, but then was fine, eating and drinking totally normally, with only slightly loose stools. I did a fecal on her and saw a very low number of hookworms. I dewormed her with Valbazen. No improvement. Large animal vet had me rotate through ivermectin dewormer (sq and orally) for 4 weeks, then give Quest. I did this (on her and another "weak" doe) and she lived until last week. Suddenly dead. Up and moving, normal stools, eating and drinking normally. Now, the 2nd doe is down, unable to stand, wobbly and weak, yet eating and drinking normally. Her membranes are white. I dosed her again with quest last week when the other doe died. Im sure Im screwing this all up, but I have no idea what to do and neither does the Large animal vet. Im scared all my goats are going to die. One of my yearling does looks pale to me today and seems to have some edema on the jaw. Help! I cant watch them all die!!!

 

[ksalvagno]

Have they checked for coccidia and barberpole? Does the vet do a fecal float or use a centrifuge when doing fecal tests? Does the weakness start at the back end?

 

[Roll farms]

Liver fluke?
Or, like KSal asked, any weakness in the back end? That could be meningeal worm, esp. if you're in a wet / snail-infested area....
Liver flukes can cause anemia / kill...Meningeal will cause paralysis and kill.
A truly accurate fecal is needed, checking for all parasites....protozoa and worms.

 

[Goatmasta]

Liver fluke?
Or, like KSal asked, any weakness in the back end? That could be meningeal worm, esp. if you're in a wet / snail-infested area....
Liver flukes can cause anemia / kill...Meningeal will cause paralysis and kill.
A truly accurate fecal is needed, checking for all parasites....protozoa and worms.

Meningeal would be my guess too... And at what dosage was the vet having you dose the ivermec? I would suspect it was too low of a dosage..

 

[rockdoveranch]

I am sorry for your loss and what you are now experiencing with your second doe.

None of the vets in our county or the surrounding counties have experience with goats and sheep with the exception of a new one that I understand does have the necessary experience.

If you have a veterinary school at a university in your state, or a neighboring state, I would bring your doe to them for help. Should you also loose her, bring her to the university for a necropsy.

To me, it sounds like you may have a couple of things going on with your girls.

Please keep us updated.

 

[terrilhb]

i don't know the answer but I am so sorry for your loss. Sending hugs.

 

[elevan]

I would have the fecal redone (fully) as Roll Farms suggested. I would also dose her with Red Cell 6ml / 20-30# every 6-8 hours for 24-48 hours to help combat the anemia while you find out what you're dealing with and get started fighting it.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

So sorry for you and wish there was something i could offer other than my condolences.

 

[20kidsonhill]

I would have the fecal redone (fully) as Roll Farms suggested. I would also dose her with Red Cell 6ml / 20-30# every 6-8 hours for 24-48 hours to help combat the anemia while you find out what you're dealing with and get started fighting it.

I have been really happy with the suggestions on here to use red cell and copper bolusing. some of my wormy goats seem to be doing a better job fighting off worms.


You stated they are yearling does. Can you share more with us on the ages and breed of your goats, weights?/

can you give us the dosages you used when treating.

I suspect #1 meningial worms, #2 barber pole worms, #3 coccidiosis. If the fecal test is accurate and all they have is a few hook worms after and/or before the worming, then I am leaning towards the sneaky parasites, that don't show up in fecals. Like the liver flukes and meningial..

most certainly a parasite problem with the anemia.

You said you did the iverectin and quest and then she lived until this week. What kind of time frame are we talking about, Just a week after you gave her the quest or 2 or 3 months later????

 

[kerrihornenc]

I would have the fecal redone (fully) as Roll Farms suggested. I would also dose her with Red Cell 6ml / 20-30# every 6-8 hours for 24-48 hours to help combat the anemia while you find out what you're dealing with and get started fighting it.

I have been really happy with the suggestions on here to use red cell and copper bolusing. some of my wormy goats seem to be doing a better job fighting off worms.


You said you did the iverectin and quest and then she lived until this week. What kind of time frame are we talking about, Just a week after you gave her the quest or 2 or 3 months later????

First, this was going to my spam folder, so Ive missed all your responses. Luckily, my brain was firing this morning and I thought to check it. Sorry for the delay.

2nd, the doe that passed was 3 and the doe that is sick now is 2. I have a yearling doe that has slight edema under her chin that I think is starting the process. I hit her with Ivermectin this morning and dusted her in case lice are back.

For the doe that died, she was pregnant, so I was using Safeguard at 1ml/10lbs for 5 days. I also did Ivermection orally at 1ml/75lbs and for the others, I also used Valbazen at 4mls/100lbs over 3 days. The time frame was from April 15th til 6/21. She was SEVERELY anemic (PCV 8% initially, but increased to 12%). We found lice on her, too, so I dusted her, the bedding, and everyone else with 7dust. The doe that is currently sick is definitely weak in the rear. Definitely. We made slings this morning and tried to exercise her and she is using the front but knuckling over in the rear. Stools are normal consistency. My vet said to give her a Vit B complex injection to try and give her a boost, and I gave her the quest (1ml/100lbs was the dose I was able to find) about 5 days ago. She is eating and drinking still. She is grazing in the grass when we put her out in the pasture. Its insane and frustrating. Im scared to death they are all going to die.

Regarding the red cell, my large animal vet that I consulted said that with severe anemia, there isnt much point in the red cell since its utilizing iron, and iron is carried on the red blood cells. Without red blood cells, the iron is useless. Have you guys had severe anemia show results? Today I noticed that she has a snotty nose on one side.

I work in an ER vet hosp, Im a registered vet tech... except I work with small animals. I apologize if this is a choppy delivery of answers but I just got home and havent had any sleep.

Tell me what kind of fecal to do and I can do it. I work at 6 tonight, so Im all ears beforehand Thanks guys for all your condolences and advice. Im really trying to do the best thing for them! - Kerri