[McRennet]

Another day, another problem!

We have a goat who is suddenly today scouring. She is one of only 3 of our goats who we didn't catch in the act with our billy. We know that she is in kid, We just don;t exactly when she will pop one (or two, or three, or four!) out.

She has no loss of appetite and is drinking too. she has been with the herd all day, mixing in with all that the herd do except for a moment this morning when I was strawing down the barn, all the others came in to see what I was doing and have a munch but she stayed lying down just outside the barn. She could see from where she was and seemed interested but didn't get up. I pointed this out to the OH and when we walked out to her she did then get up and amble in. This is the only thing that she has done which was of any note. That and her shitty arse.

She hasn't had anything different to her normal ration and was wormed recently.

Hints, tips, advice and remedies much appreciated!

 

[jaykay]

Pregnancy in any mammal is accompanied by reduced immune function in the mum, so as not to reject the baby, which is genetically 'foreign'.

So I think that she might be being bothered by worms, which may have multiplied more than usual, even though you will have reduced the burden when you wormed her.

What did you use? What about worming her again with something mild like Panacur?

[McRennet]

We used an injectable wormer called Panomec as we used  Panacur the time before last.

I have managed to scare myself silly going through all the worst case situations, hypocalcaemia, pregnancy toxaemia blah bah blah! But, they seem unlikely.

would it do any harm to worm again?

 

[jaykay]

The info. says it's safe for pregnant animals, you must just use Panacur alone and not with any fluke medicine.

Those worse conditions you mention don't cause scour but do cause the animal to be completely collapsed. So you'd know about it! Incidentally, the hypocalcaemia is very easily treated with Calciject, if caught quickly.

If she's eating, drinking and hanging out with the rest she sounds fine - try treating for worms again and see if it helps 

[wytsend]

99% of goats in UK  have a problem with  Panacur.... it simply does not work......  the worms are resistant to it.

Stop all hard feed for twenty four hours.... hay only and warm water.

Re worm with an Ivomectin wormer.... this shoudl solve any worm issues.     A worm burden is the most likely problem  but an antibiotic would not go amiss as well.

Scour can usually be controlled with Kaolin/Morphine  which you can get from any chemist.

[jaykay]

Hi Wytsend, do you have any references re the resistance of worms in goats and which wormers still work where please?

I found this, which I thought explained the issue well but didn't have anything specific about UK goats.

good article explaining worm resistance and use of wormers

[wytsend]

Panacur is the one to avoid at all costs... it is useful in most cases.   Any Ivermectin based wormer is fine.

I worm 3 times a year only...... autmn  with Ivermectin,   then after kidding & going out I use a cattle pour on type to get any lice (shouldn't be there !) and biting flies,  then back to Autumn again with Ivermectin.

So far have had no resistance on this regime.

You can worm too often.... the recommendation in older books of every 6 weeks  really does not apply these days with the better drugs.

Vermx may or may not work in goats..... nice idea but not convinced of its efficacy.

[Brucklay]

Wytsend - what is the dosage for Ivermectin is it more than the sheep dosage? thanks

[wytsend]

The Vets all say use the cattle calculations  not sheep.   I always use the cattle type anyway   so the figures on the bottle would be right.

Most females are around 50kg   but some are as heavy as 70-90kg.    Males should start at 100kg.

[Skirza]

Scour can usually be controlled with Kaolin/Morphine  which you can get from any chemist.

OMG...blast from the past, my mother used to give me that...it's like poison 

[wytsend]

But it does work  if the goat is scouring from pigging out on food.!!!!!!!

[colliewoman]

Another tip for the list! Thanks Wytsend

[McRennet]

Thanks folks! I wasn't able to read all the responses before I went to the goats this morning so as I had some Panacur left I gave her a dose of that plus a shot of Tribrissin (sp?) She has hay and sugar beet water but nowt else. she is chomping all her hay down and apart form looking bored seems fine in herself, just this squitty bum! I penned her up first thing this morning and her arse is still bad having checked on her just now.

The thing is that it's quite messy and does have a smell, not horrific but it smells more like dog poo. I'm also worried that she will be using up energy that I'd rather she kept hold of as she is yet to kid.

Wytsend, I shall have a look at Kaolin and see what we can do otherwise it's going to be yet another call to the vet. Eurgh.

Thanks folks, I shall keep you posted of any progress.

On a happier point, one of the youngsters gave birth today to a stonking little boy. She did very well considering it was her first time. And she's passed the after birth which is nice 

[wytsend]

At least one goat got it right !!!!!

The kaolin/morphine will work if it is only feed upset.        Very useful to keep extra in the medecine cabinet  and so cheap.

[McRennet]

Thanks for the info Wytsend, out of interest what is your dosage for the Kaolin?