Posted by Amy on September 21, 2013 at 10:12pm in Health
Hi there,
I am new to this board and also new to owning two Nigerian Dwarf goat sisters who were born in July. I got them two weeks ago and am bottle feeding them twice a day. Two days ago the smaller one started having diaherra and then the next day (yesterday) the other one had it. They still have it but the bigger one MIGHT be getting better. They had been out a few days in the evening eating leaves that had fallen to the ground. We live in central Minnesota. I called the people we bought them from and he said to keep them away from the leaves and it should clear up in a couple days. If it doesnt, I am to call him back. I also tried to find a vet around the area to call to get some advice but we really don't have one. I did get a hold of two vet places and said they could take my name and number and someone would maybe call me back, but I haven't heard back from them yet. So, I am just writing to see if there are suggestions on what to do, how long to wait, etc. They eat Goat power and oats and hay ( what they were eating before we got them), they have energy and were dewormed the end of August.
Thank you for listening.
Amy
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Great Amy! I think goat vets are far and few between ^^ The vet I use is primarily cattle - but he is the only one in the office that will take care of goats -
Amy said:
Like I said before, thank you all for the great advice!! I love hearing what everyone has to say and what you have experienced. I did finally find a vet in the area that does take care of goats. I took them in yesterday and yes, they have Coccidia!!! So they are on medicine for a week, and I am soooooo relieved that I now know and can relax and start enjoying them and not worrying Thank you again for all the advice. I also asked the vet a few questions and between all of you and her, I am learning so much about my new friends!!!
LOL!! Thank you Glenna! I am glad you speak my language. And Absolutely I mean weaning them from a bottle! LOL
Glenna Rose said:
I am sure that when Melissa said, "They should drink water from a bucket in between feedings - however, at 12 weeks I would think you could start weaning them from that. I am no expert on bottle feeding and age for sure." she meant weaning them from the bottle, not the water from a bucket.
Melissa Johnson said:
agree, agree, agree. My kids have always drank from the water bucket, even when I did bottle feed (not my method - these came from a bottle feeding home). However, I always put fresh warm (pretty warm too) water with a capful of apple cider vinegar - morning and again at night. If they start not consuming too much water - I drop the vinegar for a couple days - then they want it again. They should drink water from a bucket in between feedings - however, at 12 weeks I would think you could start weaning them from that. I am no expert on bottle feeding and age for sure.
I also have oaks - my goats eat oak leaves and the brown acorns. With diarrhea or not eating well, the vet told me rose leaves, raspberry leaves are really good. The oak leaves, I believe, are why my goats have never tested positive on a fecal for worms, but that is only my opinion. ^^
I only feed hay, no more than 1/2 cup of a good grain with vitamins 2x a day, free choice minerals, baking soda separate from their food (not much - stale they wont eat if needed) and probios when there is a problem. Sick or diarrhea? - grain is the first thing to stop
Like I said before, thank you all for the great advice!! I love hearing what everyone has to say and what you have experienced. I did finally find a vet in the area that does take care of goats. I took them in yesterday and yes, they have Coccidia!!! So they are on medicine for a week, and I am soooooo relieved that I now know and can relax and start enjoying them and not worrying Thank you again for all the advice. I also asked the vet a few questions and between all of you and her, I am learning so much about my new friends!!!
I am sure that when Melissa said, "They should drink water from a bucket in between feedings - however, at 12 weeks I would think you could start weaning them from that. I am no expert on bottle feeding and age for sure." she meant weaning them from the bottle, not the water from a bucket.
Melissa Johnson said:
agree, agree, agree. My kids have always drank from the water bucket, even when I did bottle feed (not my method - these came from a bottle feeding home). However, I always put fresh warm (pretty warm too) water with a capful of apple cider vinegar - morning and again at night. If they start not consuming too much water - I drop the vinegar for a couple days - then they want it again. They should drink water from a bucket in between feedings - however, at 12 weeks I would think you could start weaning them from that. I am no expert on bottle feeding and age for sure.
I also have oaks - my goats eat oak leaves and the brown acorns. With diarrhea or not eating well, the vet told me rose leaves, raspberry leaves are really good. The oak leaves, I believe, are why my goats have never tested positive on a fecal for worms, but that is only my opinion. ^^
I only feed hay, no more than 1/2 cup of a good grain with vitamins 2x a day, free choice minerals, baking soda separate from their food (not much - stale they wont eat if needed) and probios when there is a problem. Sick or diarrhea? - grain is the first thing to stop
agree, agree, agree. My kids have always drank from the water bucket, even when I did bottle feed (not my method - these came from a bottle feeding home). However, I always put fresh warm (pretty warm too) water with a capful of apple cider vinegar - morning and again at night. If they start not consuming too much water - I drop the vinegar for a couple days - then they want it again. They should drink water from a bucket in between feedings - however, at 12 weeks I would think you could start weaning them from that. I am no expert on bottle feeding and age for sure.
I also have oaks - my goats eat oak leaves and the brown acorns. With diarrhea or not eating well, the vet told me rose leaves, raspberry leaves are really good. The oak leaves, I believe, are why my goats have never tested positive on a fecal for worms, but that is only my opinion. ^^
I only feed hay, no more than 1/2 cup of a good grain with vitamins 2x a day, free choice minerals, baking soda separate from their food (not much - stale they wont eat if needed) and probios when there is a problem. Sick or diarrhea? - grain is the first thing to stop
If one has never been pooping berries from the time you got her, then she had a pre-existing issue. Healthy goats poop berries. Do you have a goat vet in your area? Since you only have two goats, I'd suggest getting a fecal. It's probably coccidiosis and/or some type of intestinal parasite, but since most drugs are sold in huge sizes, you are probably better off getting a definitive diagnosis from your vet and buying just enough of the drug to treat them. If they do have parasites, I'd suggest not using whatever drug was used on Aug. 30 because it sounds like it didn't work.
The only foods I've heard of giving goats diarrhea are too much grain, too much green grass early in the spring, or too much milk in a bottle. Coccidiosis is very common in bottle babies. In fact, they even make medicated milk replacer because of that.
And I am really bewildered about them not drinking water from a bucket at 3 months of age. Although you might adopt a tough love approach at some point, I wouldn't do it when they are having diarrhea.
Still seem to have energy. Will check eyelids tomorrow. The leaves have just fallen, not moldy, not sprayed. They were dewormed August 30th, and had the CD&T shot on August 31st. I had been giving them whole milk from the store that they were getting before we got them. Was feeding them twice a day, they ate leaves for 3 evenings, diaherra showed up in the smaller one (a week ago) and the next day the bigger one had it. Kept them away from leaves for 4 days and then quit their milk on that 4th day. The big one got better, the little one was better but the poop looked like dogs....even when we got her it was not berry like. Last night they had leaves and the diaherra is back. I like to think that they are just too young for leaves right now but I think I am kidding myself. And they are still not drinking from a bucket. They will take it from the bottle...I give them one bottle of water at night since I quit the milk on Sunday. Although tonight I only gave them a half a bottle One will lick the water off a plastic spoon though. I am thinking that if they get thirsty enough they will eventually drink from the bucket. Yikes!! I knew I would have some problems along the way, but I never thought it would be this soon!!
Prior to this discussion I have never heard anyone say that leaves cause diarrhea, and it is not even listed in the 31 page diarrhea chapter of Diseases of the Goat -- unless it is something poisonous. What type of leaves are they? Did they come from a tree that had been sprayed with chemicals? (such as a fruit tree) Are the leaves moldy?
You've only had them for two weeks, which means they could have come with some intestinal bugs that are just now starting to cause a problem. This often happens due to the stress of moving to a new home. Coccidia would be the most common cause of diarrhea in kids this age. There are also some types of worms (trichostrongylus) that cause diarrhea. Did the seller talk to you about parasites and give you any information on previous medication they have received? You should check them for signs of anemia -- pull down the lower eyelid. It should be bright pink or red. If it is pale pink or white, they're anemic.
Also, did you change the type of milk they were receiving? Switch from goat milk to cow milk or milk replacer? Did you switch brands of milk replacer?
There is a long list of things that can cause diarrhea, which can be deadly if not treated. Are there any other symptoms?
Ok, back to the drawing board... They have diaherra again. They were eating leaves last night and this morning the little one had it and we got home tonight and now the big one. I bought some probiotic and will use that tomorrow if they still have it. Since they areowl most 3 months old, they are still quite young....could they be too young yet for the dried leaves? And occasionally they found a green one. Or did we end up getting two goats that will always have REALLY sensitive intestines?!? I sure hope not. I was explaining it to the guy at the feed store and he said that they must have gotten too much fiber from the leaves. Oh the learning process!!
Replies
Great Amy! I think goat vets are far and few between ^^ The vet I use is primarily cattle - but he is the only one in the office that will take care of goats -
Amy said:
LOL!! Thank you Glenna! I am glad you speak my language. And Absolutely I mean weaning them from a bottle! LOL
Glenna Rose said:
I am sure that when Melissa said, "They should drink water from a bucket in between feedings - however, at 12 weeks I would think you could start weaning them from that. I am no expert on bottle feeding and age for sure." she meant weaning them from the bottle, not the water from a bucket.
Melissa Johnson said:
Welcome, btw. ^^
agree, agree, agree. My kids have always drank from the water bucket, even when I did bottle feed (not my method - these came from a bottle feeding home). However, I always put fresh warm (pretty warm too) water with a capful of apple cider vinegar - morning and again at night. If they start not consuming too much water - I drop the vinegar for a couple days - then they want it again. They should drink water from a bucket in between feedings - however, at 12 weeks I would think you could start weaning them from that. I am no expert on bottle feeding and age for sure.
I also have oaks - my goats eat oak leaves and the brown acorns. With diarrhea or not eating well, the vet told me rose leaves, raspberry leaves are really good. The oak leaves, I believe, are why my goats have never tested positive on a fecal for worms, but that is only my opinion. ^^
I only feed hay, no more than 1/2 cup of a good grain with vitamins 2x a day, free choice minerals, baking soda separate from their food (not much - stale they wont eat if needed) and probios when there is a problem. Sick or diarrhea? - grain is the first thing to stop
If one has never been pooping berries from the time you got her, then she had a pre-existing issue. Healthy goats poop berries. Do you have a goat vet in your area? Since you only have two goats, I'd suggest getting a fecal. It's probably coccidiosis and/or some type of intestinal parasite, but since most drugs are sold in huge sizes, you are probably better off getting a definitive diagnosis from your vet and buying just enough of the drug to treat them. If they do have parasites, I'd suggest not using whatever drug was used on Aug. 30 because it sounds like it didn't work.
The only foods I've heard of giving goats diarrhea are too much grain, too much green grass early in the spring, or too much milk in a bottle. Coccidiosis is very common in bottle babies. In fact, they even make medicated milk replacer because of that.
And I am really bewildered about them not drinking water from a bucket at 3 months of age. Although you might adopt a tough love approach at some point, I wouldn't do it when they are having diarrhea.
Prior to this discussion I have never heard anyone say that leaves cause diarrhea, and it is not even listed in the 31 page diarrhea chapter of Diseases of the Goat -- unless it is something poisonous. What type of leaves are they? Did they come from a tree that had been sprayed with chemicals? (such as a fruit tree) Are the leaves moldy?
You've only had them for two weeks, which means they could have come with some intestinal bugs that are just now starting to cause a problem. This often happens due to the stress of moving to a new home. Coccidia would be the most common cause of diarrhea in kids this age. There are also some types of worms (trichostrongylus) that cause diarrhea. Did the seller talk to you about parasites and give you any information on previous medication they have received? You should check them for signs of anemia -- pull down the lower eyelid. It should be bright pink or red. If it is pale pink or white, they're anemic.
Also, did you change the type of milk they were receiving? Switch from goat milk to cow milk or milk replacer? Did you switch brands of milk replacer?
There is a long list of things that can cause diarrhea, which can be deadly if not treated. Are there any other symptoms?
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