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Specializing in Nigerian Dwarf Goats

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Common Goat Diseases and Remedies

Goat Polio also called Listeria: Goat Polio or listeria can happen at anytime, even if you are careful. It is usually caused by mold either in hay or feed but can be caused by certain Thiamine inhibiting medications. The first signs are star gazing. It looks like the goat is just looking around at nothing, or staring up at the sky. They are listless and very "out of it". The next stages include diarrhea and "screaming". The goat by then is usually lying paralyzed on its side and unable to stand on its own. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. It is important because once the goat reaches this stage, it can die very quickly. Orally give 2-3 cc of Thiamine EVERY 4 HOURS for 3-4 days. You should see some improvement within the first two doses. Then gradually decrease the dose down to 2-3 cc twice a day for the next two days. A good probiotic, lots of fluids and fresh dry hay is very important during this time. Don't worry about the grain during the treatment period, some have found it helpful to offer orange Gatorade (never strawberry) or another form of electrolytes made for goats. Please read your bottle carefully...the above dosage is for the 200 mg/ml Thiamine. It also comes in 500 ml/mg...the dosage for this is .8 cc instead of 2-3 cc.

Coccidiosis and parasites: Parasites are a common problem with all goats. Worming frequently is important. Cleanliness is also important. Older goats are more resistant to parasites and coccidiosis, but babies can be attacked at any time can die without any symptoms. If there are symptoms it may be too late. Common parasites are treated with common wormers, but it is important to alternate different types of wormers so that the parasites do not build up an immunity to any one wormer. Pastes and liquids are the easiest to use and measure. When you use pastes or liquids you know how much each goat is getting, unless you just have one or two goats. Two of the best wormers are Cydectin pour on (for cattle) (given orally with a syringe), Valbazene (given orally with a syringe). Typically 1 cc is given to each baby under 3 months of age (if parasites are suspected). Older and bigger goats can be given from 3-6 cc depending on their weight. Signs of parasites that have been seen are dull coat, diarrhea, and off feed (not eating).

Coccidiosis is a parasite that is not affected by standard wormers. This is what Chrisi Bell with Chrisi's Critters said about treating Coccidiosis:

"In all my years of raising goats, I have never had to deal with cocci, so I've been truly blessed.  However since it has come up for our club members, I've been hitting my research pretty hard.  Between all of the sources that I truly trust, without exception they are saying not to use CoRid.  First and foremost, it does COMPLETELY inhibit the absorption of Thiamine for as long as it is in the body, which is generally 72 hours after each dosing, and can accumulate for longer with a five day treatment program.  I can't even begin to tell you all the benefits of Thiamine, and the fear that I would have in blocking it, especially in babies.

The general opinion is that cocci has become immune to the medicine in CoRid, but I find that hard to believe, in an area that has not seen it's introduction before...just my opinion.  In your case, it was probably introduced into your herd from the goats coming out of AZ, and they may very well be immune, I would have no way of knowing.  However it is rather logical, since AZ has had almost pandemic Cocci conditions for close to 12 years now...when I do my homework, I DO my homework!

Cocci is rated along with the most highly contagious problems a goat can face.  It is estimated that one goat introducing it into a herd can cause the entire herd to become infected within 12 hours, starting with babies and the elderly, and it can live within a goat for up to a year, in some cases, before activating.  Because a grown goat is not exhibiting symptoms, that doesn't mean it isn't affected.  Albon 5% Oral Suspension is the drug of choice, or the generic, Sulfadimethoxine 12.5% Solution.  If using the generic, Di-Methox 12.5% which is available through Jeffers,or Hoeggers and I don't know about Tractor Supply or someplace like that, you have to give it full strength to each goat orally, and at the diluted strength in the water as recommended.  Better yet is Albon, as it takes effect faster, is longer lasting, and more effective.  I ordered some yesterday, through my vet, and it will be here Monday or Tuesday.   Back to your question about should you use the CoRid...If we were talking about my goats, no, I would not administer it...period.  I would be in Tractor Supply or one of those within an hour after reading this, to see about the Sulfadimethoxine at the very least...I believe the name of the product is Di-Methox, and Sulfadimethoxine is the active ingredient, and I would only consider the liquid, NOT the powder.  If you have cattle, CoRid is the drug of choice (not for goats)...the vet is not going to take kindly to you wanting to return it and question his judgement.  If this strain of Cocci is indeed immune to CoRid, you would be putting your goats at risk, with absolutely no curative power possible.

When I spoke to my own vet about it, she said that Albon is the most effective possible for dogs, cats and most especially baby goats.  While your domestic animals cannot get this from the goats, as it is zoonotic (not contagious from species to species) if they get it from other sources, the same Albon medicine is essential for them as well.  She, personally, does not hold as much faith in the Di-Methox, but would certainly recommend that before ever suggesting CoRid.  This stupid weather, with such wet storms sweeping so frequently from west to east this year is apparently bringing the Cocci strains with it, and she's already seen an increase in dog and cat cases, and feels that the goats will naturally follow, with strains of their own.  Unfortunately, you just got an earlier start on it.

One way to help treat and prevent Coccidiosis is to feed medicated goat feed. Again Chrisi says " I'm assuming you're interested, if not, just click off now...I'm basically quoting, just leaving out some of the longer descriptions.  IMPORTANT THAT YOU FIND OUT WHICH OF THESE MEDICATIONS IS IN YOUR FEED, because the length of feed times are exact opposites.

There are two medicines approved as legal in the U.S. as feed additives for control of Coccidiosis in goats.  Neither is approved for use in animals whose milk is to be used for human consumption...so don't drink the milk while they are on medicated feed, or for 28 to 35 days following, depending on which medication you're using..and you have no idea how hard I had to research to find out the withdrawal times!

Monensin is the main one used for goats.  (If you have one with lasalocid, it is only effective on sheep, not goats.)  When feeding use for 28 days on and 28 days off.  The ideal time to feed it is for a month before kidding, as it reduces the shedding of infective oocysts (cocci parasites) and may reduce pasture contamination and infection in young kids...something to know for next time!  It also helps prevent pregnancy toxemia in late-term does, and decreases the incidence of free-gas bloat in animals on high grain-low forage diets.

Decoquinate is the other anti-coccidial feed additive that is licensed in the U.S.  Here again, it is not for use in animals whose milk is to be used for human consumption during usage or for 28 days following.  Decoquinate acts early in the life cycle of coccidia, before they can cause gastrointestinal damage, therefore preventing some of the more serious consequences of infection.  It is very safe and can be added to feed, mineral mixtures, and milk or milk replacers.  Kids at risk of developing coccidiosis because of stress or environmental contamination and does in late gestation are likely candidates for the use of this feed additive.  To maximize their effectiveness, decoquinate-containing feeds should be fed continually for a minimum of 28 days.

"I wrote down everything this vet manual said.  It's a wonderful reference, from the world's most recognized authority on sheep and goat medicines and diseases.  Some of it gets pretty technical, and parts of it are in Latin, but I actually do understand it.  Thank God I bought it when I did, because I could never manage it now!  From memory of previous research I want to say not longer than 3 times for the 28 on and 28 off, and not longer than 3 months on the one that is 28 days minimum.  Those are maximum times.  If they are looking healthy and perky and eating well, 1 month should actually do it, but I would say to assess their condition at the end of four weeks before deciding."

Dosage for Di-Methox 12.5% is as follows: 

For infected animals it's 3 to 5 cc undiluted, orally, per day for 5 days for babies.  For infected adults, it's 8 to 10 cc per day for 5 days, again orally. For uninfected animals, on a prevention basis it's half of the above doses.  Plus, add to any water source they have access to following package directions.  Be sure to turn off any automatic waterers, so it will maintain the right dosage.

One more tip:  Also the thing about every family member walking through a shallow pan of bleach water before even going to somebody else's yard...not just their pasture.  They walk through their yard before going to their pasture, so it still transfers dirt from one farm to another.  Sometimes the simple precautions are harder to remember than the ones that tagged your heart as part of the lesson.

CAE and CL

Original Email:

"Was just at the feed store and overheard a conversation between the owner and a patron.  They were saying that CL is running rampant in the meat goats right now.  I am not that familiar with meat goats so I'm not sure if this is old or new news. Many of us have tested our herds with negative results.  I'm not sure exactly how it is spread, but something we should be aware of when housing our animals in show barns.  I have always been told to spray the pens down with bleach water prior to use.  Some people spray down equipment, shoes and bath their animals with a disinfecting shampoo when they return home from a show. Anyone have any additional advice/info in this area that may be helpful ?"

If it helps any, this is old news.  CL has been rampant in meat goats for as long or longer than I've been in goats.  They don't care if it runs through their herds, as the lesions are simply cut out of the carcass when they dress them out.  CL affects the Lymph Nodes, and they have Lymph Nodes in 29 different parts of the body, same as people.  Lymph Nodes are designed to pull the poisons out of bodies, and when they get to the point of overload, they rupture, spraying the toxins as far as 8' away.  If the goat should be running when this rupture occurs, they can cover quite a distance with this poison, as you can imagine. Worse yet, CL can live in dirt for as long as 12 years!  It can live on hard surfaces, such as pens and barn walls, and shoes for as long as 4 to 5 months.  It is spread primarily through contact with soft surfaces, such as the inside of the nose, the inside of the mouth, eyes and eyelids, any existing sore, walking on it and then scratching either apperature on their backsides, etc. It can be picked up on a very warm body, which opens the pores, and spread by contact without having to reach soft surfaces if the outside temperature is hot enough.  A doe that has just nursed, leaving the teat damp from the baby's mouth, that lies down on an infected area can get it on the teat, as well as having it travel up the milk tube, and into the udder.   It can be picked up by hooves, or shoes, and transferred that way to new areas.  CL is not fatal, but it is highly contagious, and once in the body it NEVER goes away.  That's why we test for it, and are so careful NOT to let it into our herds.  Also, a Lymph Node that is busy with the CL infection is no longer efficient at pulling other toxins from the body, which often leads to other problems. 

I have always been told to spray the pens down with bleach water prior to use.  Some people spray down equipment, shoes and bath their animals with a disinfecting shampoo when they return home from a show. True.  A 10% or stronger solution of bleach water will kill the CL virus, but only if it comes into direct contact, and remember it only works while the bleach solution is wet, so dampen all surfaces!  Stir the dirt with a stick or something, and spray again at least a few times, if it's soft dirt.  As far as using a disinfecting shampoo, I would have to disagree with that.  It is easier to mist them down with bleach water, which will not disturb their natural oils, like a disinfecting shampoo would.  When I shampoo my goats, I use a specific dog shampoo, but not a disinfecting one.

When you spray their hooves, take a brush and get the dirt off first and then spray, before returning them to their own pastures/pens at home...don't forget the area between the toes when spraying.   When doing your own shoes, wash all the dirt off of the soles before contacting your own property, and spray with bleach water, THEN go home.  Don't walk in areas that you're going to walk over on your way to the barn later, before cleaning and spraying your shoes.

Hope that is helpful,

Chrisi

Ok, it is terribly common to confuse CL with CAE, especially when you are starting out.

CAE is spread through contact with bodily fluids.  It is a viral form of Encephalitis and it eventually affects the brain synapsis, and it is eventually fatal.  It is manifested first in the joints, particularly the knees as one of the first visible symptoms.  Never buy a goat that does not have a bald patch on the knee or knees, as that usually shows that the knee is no longer able to bend properly.  The next symptom is a swelling of the knee or knees, although CAE is not the only thing that can cause swollen knees.  Please be aware, inspite of the cleverly worded advertisements for goats, that there is no such thing as raising a baby with CAE prevention!  If the dam is infected, taking the baby away at birth and not letting her lick or nurse the baby WILL NOT HELP.  Amniotic fluid (the liquid contained in the sack the baby is in, in the womb) is a bodily fluid, and an infected dam will deliver an infected kid!  As far as I am concerned, seeing an ad that says that all their babies are raised with CAE prevention, is a red flag, telling me that they know they have a problem.  I don't go there!!!

The CAE virus will not live in the dirt for more than 8 to 10 hours, so walking on an area where a goat might have sneezed or peed yesterday, is not going to transfer the disease.  The head of the large animal division of the Vet College at LSU (and all goats fall under the large animal division, even our miniatures) has stated repeatedly that a 12' span between your goats and CAE infected goats is more than sufficient to stop any chance spread.  Sandi, you do not need to abandon your pasture, just put an inner fence up, leaving a no-man's-land, and you can still have full use of the rest of the pasture.  It is not an airborne disease, beyond sneezing distance.  Contracting CAE through sneezing is extremely rare in any case...rubbing noses is much more suspect.

I actually teach seminars at the Vet College, and to the Vet students at Tech, on goats, to up-and-coming vets and occasionally to established vets who want to come back to pick up the lessons on goats that weren't taught when they were going through school.  Goats weren't profitable for vets up until a dozen or so years ago.  Most people just ate their mistakes, so to speak.  With the onset of the purebred Boer Goat, costing large amounts of money, and then the goats that are now being shown, people started taking sick goats to their vets, who were not specifically educated to handle the problem.  Both established vets, who are actually interested enough to bother, and the Vet Colleges are scrambling to try to catch up.

Chrisi Bell - Chrisi's Critters

This page was last updated: May 21, 2009