diseases in goat

7/28/2019 Diseases in Goat

1/13

Disease / Condition Symptom Treatment

Abortions See details

Acidosis occurs afteraccidentally taking in largequantities of concentratefoodstuffs

Depressed, hangs its head,drunken behavior, muscletwitching, bloat tends to occur,swelling on left flank, may grindteeth

Stop access to food. Drench goat with something alkaline such as bicarbonateof soda. 2-3 ounces will help neutralize acid. Walking goat has some value.Contact veterinary as needed.

Anemic -
http://www.jackmauldin.com/abortion.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/abortion.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/acidosis.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/abortion.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/abortion.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/acidosis.htm


2/13

Blackleg (Clostridial Myositis)- caused by the soil-bornebacterium, Clostridiumchauvei. The disease develops

rapidly in affected animals andoften deaths occur before theowner has noticed anysickness in the herd.

Often no symptoms areobserved; At othertimes, high fever, lack of appetite,depression, lameness, swelled

head, and swellings that appearin the muscles on various parts ofthe body. Sometimes the legmuscles are involved, or themuscles in theregion of the back, hip, flank,chest or shoulder. In the latterstage of the disease, theseswellings spread and becomequitemushy, producing a characteristiccrackling sound when pressedwith the hand.

May respond to immediate treatment with penicillin or other antibiotics in largedoses. In swelled head, need to have vet aid in draining of affected area.

Bloat gorging on anythingunsuitable such as wet grasspastures or after raiding foodbin

Tightly inflated flanks, misery,collapse

Drench with Mineral oil (6-8 fl oz) for an adult, (2+ fl oz) for kids. Walk goatabout, massage flanks.

"Giving mineral oil is very effective in getting a goat that has over eaten grain tospeed that grain on it's way.Vegetable oil will add to the digestive load, and cancause more harm than good. Mineral oil is not digestible, and I have used it withno problems at all. Feed that is overeaten ferments, causes gas, and acidosisto occur, which can lead to death. The object is to speed it out of there withoutadding to the digestive load." by Coni Ross.


3/13

Treatment: Act right away. Bloat can kill very quickly.

Free gas bloatcan be relieved by passing a stomach tube.Frothy bloat: you must break the froth down first and then pass the stomachtube. Break down foam by giving cooking oil or mineral oil (100 cc. adult and8 cc. to a young kid), or Bloat Guard. Pass the feeding tube oruse a calf bagand put the tip down the esophagus. For the calf feeding bag: If you are inthe right place, you will not be able to see the tube on the outside of the throat.If the calf feeder bag tube is in the wrong place (may be in the trachea orwindpipe by mistake), you will hear air movement and you can see the tubebulge out on the outside of the neck. If you are in the wrong place, remove itand try again. With the regular feeding tube, you should hear gurgling soundsif you are in the stomach, and breathing (air) movements if you are in the lung.If you are in the lung, remove the tube and reinsert it. make sure you are in thestomach before releasing the liquid. If liquid is released into the lung, it maycause pneumonia or drowning.. (See tube feeding instructions in the Medical

section) Whatever tube you use, when the tube enters the stomach area, youshould hear a big release of gas.

If the goat is not better in twenty minutes, put the oil directly into the rumenby introducing an 18 gauge needle into the left paralumbar fossa. (see diagramon the left.) Place your fingertips on the goat's left side (Note: if you are facingher, it is yourright side), halfway between the ribs and hips, and about 1/4 ofthe way down from the top line. This soft, hollow area high on either side belowthe loin is the paralumbar fossa. You should feel a hard mass. This is therumen contents. (Kinne ] Note: this procedure may cause peritonitis and rumen
http://goatdairylibrary.org/Pages/Medical%20S-Z.htm#Tube%20feedinghttp://goatdairylibrary.org/Pages/Medical%20A-D.htm#Drenching,%20using%20an%20oral%20calf%20feeder%20baghttp://goatdairylibrary.org/Pages/Medical%20S-Z.htm#Tube%20feedinghttp://goatdairylibrary.org/Pages/Medical%20A-D.htm#Drenching,%20using%20an%20oral%20calf%20feeder%20bag


4/13

dysfunction so try everything else first. If you must do it, then give 3-5 days ofbroad spectrum antibiotics afterward.

Alternative treatment from Emma Ewing, DVM:

(Kid) 2T baking soda in the same amount of warm water they are getting intheir bottle, and a dash of dish soap.(Adult) 1/4 c. backing soda, 2 cups water and a squirt of dish soap.If no relief in 20 minutes. then puncture as directed above with 18 gaugeneedles and inject 8cc, of cooking oil or mineral oil for a kid, or 100 cc. for anadult..Prevention:1) Control intake of legume pasture and cereal crops in spring, by feeding hayfirst, then putting on pasture, and gradually increasing time on pasture.2) Make sure goats cant get into feed bin.3) Feed all grains whole, halved or quartered. No finer than that.

Contagious To Humans: No

Contagious to Other Goats: No

Suggestion from visitor to web site.

Mix some baking soda in with the goat's feed they really enjoy it and it takesaway bloat.

Second Suggestion

15cc Pepto-Bismol

5cc Penicillin orally

5cc SQ Penicillin

5-7cc CD antitoxin SQ


5/13

Then give another shot of CD ANTITOXIN and Pepto later that day as well tomake sure all is okay...12-24 hours later make sure you give the goat aprobiotic to put the live bacteria back into the rumen...You will need to

repopulate the gut once you clean it out

Bottle Jaw - Caused by animalbeing infected with blood-sucking worms. Fluids areleaking from blood vessels andflow to the lower parts of thebody. As the animal grazes duringthe day, the fluids build up in thehead. Over night the fluids maypartially drain away from thehead.

Lower face and jaw willdramatically swell especiallyduring the evening. Gums maynot have the normal colorbecause of being anemic.

Your worming medicine may not be effective or you may not have wormedrecently. The animal needs to be wormed with a strong medication every 11days for three times. It may also be anemic and need iron and vitamins given.Their system will have difficulty fighting off problems so you should use anantibiotic for several days to help.

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis

(CAE) Virus. Infectious toothers.

Knees becomes enlarges,

lameness, weight wasting, hardudder. Pneumonia, chroniccough.

Isolate and remove animal from herd.

Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL)Infectious. Bacteria entersanimal through break in skin ormucous membranes andlocalizes in lymph node

Abscesses of the lymph glands.NOT ALL abscesses are CL.Your vet can test the animals tosee if the abscess is CL or not.

Isolate and remove animal from herd. Many breeders will get rid of animals withCL. Some breeders treat and manage animals with CL. Abscesses can belanced, remove discharge, and treated with iodine for several times. Wearrubber gloves and destroy all discharge. Spread through the eruption ofabscess and discharge being exposed to other animals. Vaccine available atPHL Associates, Inc.

Coccidiosis coccidiaparasites. A disease of youngor stressed animals.

Off food, diarrhea, blood indiarrhea, rapid weight loss,dehydration, may show straining

in attempts to pass feces,dehydration and fever

You can treat easily with Biosol. Depending on weight. Give 2-5cc to kids, and7-10 cc to adults orally once a day for 5-7 days. Another treatment is with Coridliquid. We mix half Corid and half water and drench with 1cc per 4 lbs for 5

days. Do not mix more than you will use in 3 days.

Copper Deficiency & Toxicity

CYSTIC OVARIES: Continues to come into heatevery 4-5 days. She will fail tocome into a true, standing heat,

treat cystic ovaries quite successfully with an injection of HCG (HumanChorionic Gonadotropin, an Rx) to correct the hormonal imbalance. That isfollowed about 9-10 days later by an injection of Lutalyse
http://www.jackmauldin.com/health/cl.htmhttp://www.phlassociates.com/phl_-_autogenous_cl.htmhttp://www.phlassociates.com/phl_-_autogenous_cl.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/coccidiosis.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/coccidiosis.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/copper_deficiency.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/copper_deficiency.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/cl.htmhttp://www.phlassociates.com/phl_-_autogenous_cl.htmhttp://www.phlassociates.com/phl_-_autogenous_cl.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/coccidiosis.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/copper_deficiency.htm


6/13

and she will act bucky

Diarrhea(see article)

Enterotoxaemia(overeaters

disease) Clostridiumperfringens type D bacteriaproduce the poisonsresponsible, when conditionsin the digestive tract deprivethem of oxygen.

Sudden loss of appetite.

Depression and a drunkenappearance. As it progresses theanimal becomes unable to standand lies on side making paddlingmovements. High temperature.Very watery diarrhea

The prognosis for recovery is guarded in caprine enterotoxemia, even with

treatment. Fluid therapyproviding mixed electrolyte solution with bicarbonate are indicate in acute casesto counter shock, dehydration an acidosis.Commercially available type C and D antitoxins should be administered.Antibiotic therapy may be helpful in reducing bacterialproliferation. Oral sulfas have been used successfully

(see personal recommendation for treatment)

Floppy Kid Syndrome -Somepeople believe it is caused bytoo much rich milk and othersbelieve that it is associated

with e-coli.

Newborn kids seem to do well fora few days after birth then start toshow depression and weaknessof limbs that progress to f laccid

paralysis. Drunken appearance.No signs of diarrhea or elevatedtemperature. Possible distensionof the abdomen.

Remove kid from source of Milk immediatelyfor 24 to 36 hours. Dissolve ateaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in a glass of water. With a syringe administerbetween 20 and 50 cc of the solution orally. Do it slowly so the kid has time toswallow. Repeat the treatment at 1, 3, 6, 12 hours from initial treatment. Feed

electrolytes as alternative until returned to milk. Also administer a widespectrum antibiotic to prevent secondary bacterial infections.

ANOTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTION Treatment is one-half tsp baking soda,mixed with electrolytes and one-half teaspoon Pepto-Bismol.Repeat in 6-12 hours. Not required to pull from mother's milk from thissolution's perspective

Third Solution- If the kid can still walk but is wobbly then give 2cc long-actingpenicillin orally and 500MG thiamin. The Thiamin is mixed with the penicillin,and is imperative to recovery This should work in 6 hours. If the kid iscomatose, give 5CC %50 dextrose orally and keep warm. Give the pen andthiamin for 3 days once a day.

Foot & Mouth Disease- viraldisease of cloven-hoofedanimals.

Blisters or vesicles form in any ofthe following places: lips, tongue,teats, or the coronary band of thehoof. Tend to become lame andpossibly salivate excessively.

Must be controlled from occurring. Animals exposed to the disease aredestroyed.

Foot Rot Fusiformis nodosusinfection enters the hoof andcauses inflammation of thesensitive laminae.

Lameness, mild to severe. Thereis a foul smell associated with it.Animals are reluctant to walk.

Hoof paring in order to remove the underrun hoof. Apply antiseptic agents inorder to remove any infection.
http://www.jackmauldin.com/health/diarrhea.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/diarrhea.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/enterotoxaemia.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/enterotoxaemia.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/enterotoxaemia.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/foot_&_mouth.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/foot_&_mouth.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/diarrhea.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/enterotoxaemia.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/enterotoxaemia.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/foot_&_mouth.htm


7/13

Gastro-intestinal roundworms infest stomach and intestinessucking blood or reducing theabsorption of digested food

materials from the gut

Diarrhea and weight loss,anaemia

Drench with dewormer medicine such as Ivomec, Cydectin. Make sure theworms are not resistant to your wormer.

(Goat Polio) - a Thiamine(Vitamin B 1) deficiency. Fromimproper feeding, particularlyfeeding too much grain and toolittle roughage.

Excitability, "stargazing", musclerigidity, uncoordinated staggeringand/or weaving, drunkenness,circling, diarrhea, muscle tremor,head against wall, and apparentblindness. A rapid, involuntary,oscillatory motion of the eyeball.As it progresses, convulsions andhigh fever may occur, and ifuntreated, the animal generallydies within 24-72 hours.

Thiamine is the only effective therapy, and treatment can result in improvementin as little as two hours, if the disease is caught early enough. Dosage is relatedto body weight:

Use 500mg/ml Thiamin. Start with a gram (1,000 mg) IM the first dose, then atleast 500mg per day for as long as it takes for complete recovery. Give 10ccPenicillin orally, and 10cc SQ at first treatment. Polio can be caused by plantthiaminase, or bacteria that either inhibit production of thiamin in the goat's gut,or consume the thiamin. Since we don't know what the origin is, It is preferred tosterilize the gut, and start over. So, the oral penicillin will kill the bacteria if thatis the cause. On the morning of day 2, calf pac the goat, and give 500mgThiamin orally, and 500mg SQ. Do not repeat any of the penicillin. If the goat

will eat, feed her. If she can't eat, tube her or drench her with 100cc of Revive,100cc of water several times a day until she can eat.

Indigestion - - failure of normalrumenal movement. Associatedwith high intake of concentratefoodstuffs.

Off of food, slightly dull Generally recovers within two days. Sodium bicarbonate given by mouth maybe of some use if there is a tendency to acid conditions in the rumen. Offeranimal a quart of salt water with 25 g of sodium bicarbonate dissolved in it.

Johnes Disease chronicincurable infection of theintestines by Mycobacteriumjohnei bacterium. Causes athickening of the intestine

Loss of condition, occasionalscouring, becoming morefrequent with bubbles of gas inthe droppings. Weakness. Thirstmay increase.

None. Slaughter animal as soon as possible to prevent spread to other animals.

Ketosis Lactating doe isunable to obtain large amountsof energy feed and Ketonesaccumulate in the blood

Goes off food. Milk yield falls.Sweet smell in the goats breath

A glucose or treacle drench may be given. Corticosteroid drug and oralpropylene glycol.

Lice parasite Intense irritation, rubbing, baldpatches and itching, usuallyduring the winter months

Louse powder will normally control the problem. Insecticides for spray or diprepeated.

Laminitis - inflammation of theskin layers around the hoof.

Lameness and warm feet. Moveswith a stiff gait, prefers to lay

Place on a reduced protein/energy diet such as hay with a very reduced or notconcentrate ration and soft bed for lying down. Pain relief with a Non-steroidal
http://www.jackmauldin.com/health/goat_polio.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/goat_polio.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/goat_polio.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/ketosis.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/goat_polio.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/ketosis.htm


8/13

Often caused by consumptionof a highly concentrated orlush forage diet. It may also beassociated with sicknesses

such as pneumonia, mastitis,and metritis.

down or stay on knees. May alsoshow signs of bloat, diarrhea andtoxemia

anti-inflammatory drug such as Phenylbutazone is essential. Chronis casesneed careful foot trimming to relieve pain by reducing pressure on the sensitiveareas.

Listeriosis - caused by thebacteria Listeriamonocytogenes, found in soil,water, plant litter, silage andgoat's digestive tract. Broughton by feeding silage, suddenchanges in kind of feed,parasitism, dramatic weatherchanges and advanced stagesof pregnancy.

Depression, decreased appetite,fever, leaning or stumbling ormoving in one direction only,head pulled to flank with rigidneck, facial paralysis on one side,slack jaw, and drooling, abortions.

Administration of Procaine penicillin every six hours for three to five days, thendaily for an additional seven days.

Lungworms worms inhabitthe air passages and causeinflammation (parasitepneumonia)

Chronic cough Drench with dewormer such as Ivomec

Mange, Chorioptic Chorioptes caprae infest theskin of the lower leg

Itchiness may be noticed andthere may be small crusty scabs.

Mange, Demodectic Demodexcaprae invade the hair folliclesand sebaceous glands of theskin

Small lumps are noticed in theskin. They may be like a cyst orbag of fluid.

Response to treatment is generally poor. Discuss with your veterinary.

Mange, Psoroptic Psoroptes

caprae which infests the ears

May cause head-shaking and

scratching.

Gamma benzene hexachloride and gammexane can be used

Mange, Sarcoptic Saroptesscabei burrow in the skin andlay their eggs in tunnels

Terrible itching, Skin becomesraised, red and hairless round theeyes, ears and nose.

Infestation can be passed to other goats. Veterinary treatment is required.

Mastitis - inflammation of theudder, almost alwaysassociated with germs

Misery, udder hot, hard and verytender, appetite lost, pupils ofeyes narrowed to slits

Antibiotics, and supportive therapy

Mastitis (gangrene)- bruised looking udder. Doe show CD antitoxin -7cc SQ
http://www.jackmauldin.com/health/goat_polio.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/goat_polio.htm


9/13

inflammation of the udder, almostalways associated with germs

signs of generalized illness:depression, fever or loss ofappetite. Gangrene mastitisshould be suspect if the udder is

cold, swollen with an excessiveaccumulation of fluid and themilk is watery or bloody.

Poly Serum - 10cc SQ

10cc Penicillin SQ & 5cc IM,

Banamine - 1cc/100lbs IM

follow with 10cc Penicillin SQ per day for 5 more days. If you have Nuflor, give her 6cc/100lbs SQ first day, and 3cc/100 for at

least 5 days more

. I know thisseems excessive, but this type of Mastitis is a true emergency. Youcan spray the udder with Scarlet oil as it sloughs, and it will clean up all by it'sself. I have had does loose half of the udder, and never stop eating with thistreatment. If you catch it fast enough, you may actually save the udder.

Mycotoxin - "Myco meansfungus and toxin means poison" -a poisoning of an animal from afungus growth normally in old hay

or feed.

Excessive salavation, depression,anorexia, convulsions, archedback

Varies according to the source of problem. Remove the "bad" feed or hay fromthe animals immediately. Administration of activated charcoal may inhibitadditional uptake of toxin from the gut. Mineral oil may help.

Navel Ill dirty environmentsinfecting the navel cord afterbirth

Young kid with swollen, painfulnavel which may look red

Antibiotic injections. Area around the navel should be cleaned with antisepticiodine, crusty scabs removed by soaking and any pockets of pus drained.

Pinkeye infection of the eyespread by agents such as flies,dust and long grass

A watery eye with excess tearsspilling over on to the skin. Maybe reddening and corneabecomes cloudy. Animal sensitiveto the light.

Flush eyes with 1 cc of penicillin or Oxytetracycline for several days. Isolateanimal from others to keep it from spreading.

Pneumonia infection of thelung

Refuses food, stands aroundhanging head down, soundscongested, elevated temperature,

and coughs and breathes rapidlyor with difficulty.

Antibacterial drugs such as Oxytetracycline. May require veterinary-only drugs ifsevere.

Pregnancy Toxemia - ametabolic disease of does inlate pregnancy. Most of thenutrition is going to the kids.Similar to Ketosis. Ketosis isafter birthing.

Lethargy and losses of appetiteover one to two weeks, generallyin very late pregnancy. Limping orswelling of feet. Laying aroundnot wanting to get up. Sweet-smelling (ketotic) breath. Ketosisstrips can be used to identify if

Give doe propylene glycol twice a day. We give 60cc drench in am and pm. Wealso create a mixture of sodium bicarbonate with water and give 30cc drencham and pm. Help get the doe up and moving around during the day and offeringfood.

Another Solution Give her 3 Tbs Calf Pac mixed with 100cc Revive and100cc water. Give the doe 200cc of Revive every 2 hours, with Calf Pac in it.
http://www.jackmauldin.com/user_medical_recipes.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/user_medical_recipes.htm


10/13

the doe is ketotic

Also, once you get the doe awake, always give alfalfa, and corn with the sweetfeed. Give her at least 6-8 oz. Magic at night to hold them.

Ringworms Fungal condition Grey-white crusty appearance onsmall areas of skin. Skin isusually thickened and the hairsthin or absent. Generally noitching or evidence of irritation.Enlargement of affected areasoccurs.

Fungicidal preparations applied as a liquid dressing. Any of the following dailyfor five days and then weekly:

0.5% Lime sulphur

1:10 bleach

1:300 Captan

1% Betadine

(Sore Mouth) - Highlyinfectious viral disease toanimals and humans. ORF is

the name for this in humans.

Pimples about the nose, mouth,eyes, anus and hoofs. Turning towatery blisters, then to sticky and

encrusted scabs. Swelling ofmouth and gums. Will run acourse of around three weeks.Animals can die if they are unableto eat or nurse because of thesore mouth.

Difficult. Dress with antibiotic spray or ointment. Isolate infected animals. Thereis a Ovine Ecthyma Vaccine against sore mouth infection to all animals. Vaccineto infected animals may reduce the time to recover. We do not recommend

vaccinating. We let the soremouth run its course of 3 weeks and doctorsevere cases. We use medication with Cephapirin Benzathine in it. Two brandsare Cefa-Dri and Tomorrow. CHX-Guard LA gel antibacterial agent adheres tothe gums of infected animals.

Tapeworms inhabit the smallintestine

Examination of the goatsdroppings. Young goats will passtapeworm segments in their fecesduring the summer months.

An anthelmintic such as albendazole can be used. Oral niclosamide is highlyeffective.

Tetanus - Infection of openwounds by the bacterium

Clostridium tetani results intetanus (lockjaw)

A general increase in musclestiffness is seen, causing an

unsteady gait. Eyelid begins toextend over the eye and animallooks "anxious". The symptomsget progressively worse andconvulsions may occur. The goatdies because it is unable tobreathe.

Goats can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin and antisera, butresponse is poor. The site of bacterial proliferation should be searched for and

whenever possible, the wound or infection site should be opened to the air,debrided, flushed with hydrogen peroxide and infiltrated with penicillin. The areabe infiltrated with tetanus antitoxin before the wound cleaning process is begunto reduce the chance that more pre-existing toxin will b absorbed during tissuemanipulations.

Urinary Calculi - A hard massof mineral salts in the urinarytract caused by a dietary

Restlessness, straining to urinate,pawing the ground, recurrentlooking at its own abdomen, vocal

Most treatment must be done by veterinarians. Often requiring the removal ofthe tip of the penis. Look at the details in the article onUrinary Calculi
http://www.jackmauldin.com/user_medical_recipes.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/soremouth.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/urinary%20calculi.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/urinary%20calculi.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/urinary%20calculi.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/urinary%20calculi.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/urinary%20calculi.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/urinary%20calculi.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/user_medical_recipes.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/soremouth.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/urinary%20calculi.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/urinary%20calculi.htmhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/urinary%20calculi.htm


11/13

mineral imbalance, usually inbucks

signs of pain

White Muscle Disease -deficiency of Vitamin E andSelenium

Stiffness, weakness andtrembling. Back legs become stiffand unable to use. Can result indeath

Administration of selenium, together with vitamin E.

Link to a map showing counties Selenium levels

http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/averages/se/usa.html

Abortions

Abortions are most commonly seen during the final 2 months of pregnancy. Does are normally very fertile animals but may have a higher incidence of abortioncompared to other farm animals. Abortion rates of 5% are common and rates below that are considered good. Many infectious agents, events causing stress,drugs, nutritional deficiencies and toxic plants may be the cause of a Doe aborting. Infectious causes may be the common reason for a Doe aborting and shouldbe considered the most likely cause if a herd has an abortion outbreak. In an infectious abortion, it is most often a placental disease.

Chlamydia

Chlamydial abortion is one of the most common causes of infectious abortion in goats. Pigeons and sparrows may be the carrier of the organism thatcauses Chlamydia and ticks or insects may play a role in the transmission. Non-pregnant Does may become infected but the organism can stay

dormant creating little or no immune response. The organism may stay dormant until the Doe becomes pregnant resulting in both an abortion and theimmune response. Inflammations of the placenta caused by the infection prevent the normal transfer of nutrients across the placenta and that resultsin the fetal death and it's abortion. After a Doe aborts, she will normally develop a good immune response that eliminates the Chlamydia from heruterus normally within 3 months of the abortion. The infectious organism does not proliferate and attack the placenta until around 90 days afterbreeding. Chlamydia has been found in a buck's semen 29 days after being experimentally infected however the primary modes of transmission arefrom vaginal or uterine secretions of aborting Does and Does shedding the organism the following year. During future breeding seasons, the Doesnormally show no signs of infertility and the natural immunity following an abortion lasts around 3 years.

In newly infected herds, 25% to 60% of the Does may abort. In herds that have been exposed to the infection, abortion rates drop to between 1% to15% and the new abortions generally are in new animals to the herd. The abortions generally occur in the last month of the pregnancy but may happen
http://www.jackmauldin.com/health/white_muscle_disease.htmhttp://tin.er.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/averages/se/usa.htmlhttp://www.jackmauldin.com/health/white_muscle_disease.htmhttp://tin.er.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/averages/se/usa.html


12/13

as early as day 100 of pregnancy. Does may show loss of appetite, run fever and show a bloody vaginal discharge 2-3 days before aborting.

Treatment

If chlamydial is confirmed or highly likely to be present, it is common to treat all Does remaining at risk of aborting.Treat with long-acting oxytetracycline(20 mg/kg IM or SC). Bio Mycin 200 is one antibiotic that can be used. Some have given the drug twice a week during the final 4-6 weeks ofpregnancy. However because of the management difficulties, the most effective process seems to be one injection every three days for three timesbefore kidding followed by an injection 3 weeks after kidding. Aborting females should be removed from the herd for at least 3 weeks, and fetuses andplacentas should be burned or buried.

Toxoplasmosis - One of the most common parasitic infections in goats. This is associated with a coccidium of cats. Cats become infected byconsuming uncooked meat scraps, placentas, and small rodents. Goats become infected by eating grass, hay or garin contaminated by cat feces.Itcan result in abortion, stillbirths and weak kids. However, reducing exposure to cat may help but in may lead to an increase in rats that carry otherdiseases. Animals remain infected for life and may abort in future pregnancies so you may want to cull infected Does. Feeding decoquinate ormonensin throughout pregnancy may reduce the incidence of abortion. These are often used in goat medicated feed.

Q Fever- a bacterial disease capable of being transmitted from animals to people caused by Coxiella burnetii, a rickettsial organism. C. burnetii may

be found in sheep, cattle, goats, cats, dogs, some wild animals (including many wild rodents), birds, and ticks. Animals shed the organism in theirurine, feces, milk, and especially in their birth products. Abortion or stillbirths occur in late pregnancy, but only when the placenta has been severelydamaged.

Treatment

Treat with long-acting oxytetracycline (20 mg/kg IM or SC). Bio Mycin 200 is one antibiotic that can be used. One injection every three days for threetimes before kidding followed by an injection 3 weeks after kidding. Placentas and aborted fetuses shoud be destroyed by burning. After a Doe isinfected, she can carry the organism indefinitely, shedding it in milk and at kidding.

Listeriosis - caused by listeria monocytogenes an ubiquitous organism that may be found in soil, water, plant litter and digestive tract of ruminants.Abortions occur in the last 2 months. Abortions have been attributed to the feeding of contaminated silage. Grazing on boggy, high-pH soils can alsocause the infection.

Treatment

Bio Mycin 200 is one antibiotic that can be used. One injection every three days for three times before kidding followed by an injection 3 weeks afterkidding. The addition of chlortetracycline to the feed has been reported to stop abortions during a listeriosis outbreak.

Acidosis

Introduction


13/13

The rumen microflora can only handle gradual changes in forage:grain ratio. If the proportion, absolute amount or type of grain changes too quickly, then lacticacidosis will develop. Feeding order (i.e. grain before forage) also can cause lactic acidosis. The type of rumen bacteria change to gram positive from gramnegative and lactic acid is produced. This lowers the pH of the rumen. Once below 5.5, protozoa and bacteria start to die. The acid gets absorbed into the bodycreating general acidosis. If the pH is low enough, the rumen gets "burned" and, if the goat survives, it often gets secondary rumen and liver infections frombacteria or fungi. Fibre (e.g. hay or silage) is important in the diet as well as it stimulates the goat to chew, thus producing alkaline saliva which serves to buffer the

rumen. Diets with little fibre or chopped too finely are more at risk of lactic acidosis.

Clinical Picture:

Simple indigestion may be the first indication of a feeding problem. The goat backs off her feed, usually only for one feeding. If longer than 24 hrs then somethingelse is wrong. Chronic feeding problems will manifest as variable appetite, depressed milk fat and chronic laminitis. Acute laminitis shows up as painful feet. Whatis more common is the chronic form in which the toes grow abnormally fast with "rings". The quality of the horn is poor and flaky. Goats may be lame and prone tofoot abscesses. Milk fat is depressed because fibre is necessary for the rumen flora to produce the correct volatile fatty acid to make milk fat (acetate). With moresevere lactic acidosis, the protozoa die, the rumen becomes static and the goat becomes depressed and dehydrated. The rumen is fluid filled and "sloshy".Diarrhea smells acidic and is yellow in colour. In very severe cases, there is no diarrhea because of total gut stasis. The goat may appear "drunk" and ataxic. Shewill go down and will look very similar to milk fever, i.e. cold with dilated pupils. Rumen examination (pH and examination of flora) need to be done to confirm adiagnosis.

Treatment:

In severe cases, treatment is heroic and may involve a rumenotomy in which the rumen is surgically emptied out. Supportive therapy includes iv fluids, rumentransfaunation (rumen juice from a healthy animal), alkalinizing solutions for the rumen (only done with caution), antibiotics and nursing care.

Prevention:

Rations should be formulated and balanced correctly for the correct production group. Forage should be fed before grain and the daily amount divided into at least3 separate feedings. A total mixed ration (TMR) helps keep the rumen flora happy by not overwhelming them with carbohydrate at any one time. Feed changes allneed to be made gradually over several days so the flora have time to adapt. For small holders with a few goats, grain security is an important issue.

diseases in goat

Documents