The woman i got him from said not to worm him until he was 4 mths old...thats not until 8 Aug...He isnt pooping at all, so cant get a fecal specimen to the vet..I read that mineral oil is the thing to use if they are constipated???
Yea, that woman doesn't know what the heck she is talking about. Worming is done
as needed. And yes, if a kid has a high load of worms, they will need wormed, regardless of age. There are many things that can cause a proliferation of worms, enough to cause illness. Overcrowding, stress from a diet change, a move, an injury, etc. can cause a bloom of worms.
Coccidiosis is a
killer of kids. And it is not a worm, it is a protozoan. It strikes kids as young as three weeks (as it has a three week life cycle). Weight loss and stunted growth are the most obvious signs. And it can permanently stunt a goat, because the coccidia can permanently damage the lining of the intestines, resulting in decreased absorption of nutrients for the goat's life. So a kid that is failing to thrive
should be treated for coccidia, because it is
almost certainly the problem.
Worming does not treat coccidia. Coccidia need to be treated with a different type of medication.
Here is an article to help you out.
It sounds like your kid needs
immediate treatment for coccidia. Also, I'd get some vitamin B complex in him. It is an injection medication, over the counter, give him a dose everyday until he begins to feel better (it cannot be overdosed, B vitamins are strongly water soluble, and any excess is quickly excreted in urine). If he is not eating, he will need it. Some probios for getting his gut working again, too, would be of help. Keep him hydrated. If he has been weaned, do not give him milk. That will upset his stomach even more. He likely stopped producing lactase (enzyme to digest lactose, a milk sugar) soon after he was weaned. So giving it to him would cause him to scour more.
Take him off any grain you are giving him until he begins to feel better. Give him just grass hay and lots of fresh, clean water. Some electrolytes in the water wouldn't hurt (as long as the water is changed often, so as not to become a bacteria soup, electrolyte solutions are a great bacterial medium).
