Very tiny 8 week old Pygmy doeling (new pix) worried about her health.

[dianneS]

She had runny green poop most of the day today which started after the probios. She's been laying down a lot too, but then so were the other goats. They are all out grazing now and she seems to be fine. Got a formed poop out of her too, but its still green. Eyes are clearing up too.

Could the probios have stimulated something in her system, like a gets-worse-before-it gets-better type of reaction?

 

[helmstead]

Please take my previous advice to heart...or at minimum get a fecal sample to the vet for cocci and worm egg counts.

No, Probios will never hurt...

The liquid fenbendazole for dogs should be ok...just work out the per lb dosage and go from there.

 

[dianneS]

Okay, I should be able to figure out the dosage of fenbendasol, or my husband can figure it out, he's a pharmacist. I'll get a fecal sample to the vet too.

She' much better this evening. She was grazing with the other goats this afternoon and running along behind them to the barn this evening. She's looking better too, so I'm not as worried as before. The eyes have cleared up for now. She's all snug in her bed and I'll be checking her poops in her pen first thing in the morning.

Thanks!

 

[helmstead]

When you take a fecal to the vet be sure to ask for BOTH fecal egg count AND cocci count.

 

[dianneS]

I'm still waiting for a call back from the vet. Its so frustrating waiting for them. I've actually called 3 or 4 vets this morning! still waiting...

My concern about the cocci is that she didn't have diarrhea when she got here, it only started when she began eating grass all day, (I assumed it was the transition to grass) then got worse diarrhea and started getting runny eyes after the nutradrench and probios.

She's never been very active though, and so small. Her previous owner just called her laid-back and said that her vet told her if the goat is eating and drinking, she is healthy.

What should I do in the meantime while waiting for the vet?

 

[dianneS]

Whoo hoo!! I just got an appointment with the vet in two hours!

Can't wait to get her some proper treatment... what a relief.

 

[dianneS]

Okay, the vet confirmed major parasite overload, anemic and high coccidia counts. She even suspects a stomach ulcer.

They tubed her with electrolytes and gave her three types of wormer and a shot of penicillin and some albon as well as a pepto-type medicine for her tummy.

They sent me home with more injectible penicillin, albon by mouth, the pepto-stuff and some panacur to use in three weeks. She's too weak to vaccinate right now, we have to wait and see if she survives this and we'll vaccinate once she is stronger.

The vet was very concerned, but I am optimistic. I went through this with a rescued mini horse and he turned out wonderfully! That vet was worried the horse wouldn't make it through the weekend.

I'm so glad I got in to see the vet! What a relief.

Now I have to email the woman who sold her to me and let her know so she can take care of my little girls twin as well as the rest of her herd! I still don't think a damp shady woods with no grass or sun is a proper place to keep goats. I'm so glad I got our little girl out of there!

 

[helmstead]

I'm glad your vet confirmed my concerns and you now have a treatment plan. Good luck.

 

[dianneS]

Thanks Kate. You were right on the money. It was just confusing since the diarrhea started when she started on grass so it was tough for me to tell what was going on.

She looks better already. She got some stuff for her diahrrea at the vets and her poop is firming up now. Its not black, its still green from the grass, so I hope that means she doesn't have an ulcer.

I'm so lucky to have gotten in with a vet today. I called at least four vets this morning and only one bothered to call me back! That is very upsetting.

 

[helmstead]

Yes, goat vets are few and far between.

The 'thing' with cocci - and also with worms - is that under certain conditions, they "bloom". A cocci bloom happens when favorable conditions for the cocci occur within the gut and they multiply like crazy. While almost all goats will have a resident population of cocci all the time, when it 'blooms' you have a sick goat. This is especially true in goats under 6 mos...and can quickly prove fatal.

So, you bought her, weaned her (super stressful), moved her (stressful), changed her diet (also stressful) - and she had a cocci bloom. Worms also LOVE stressed goats and take full advantage.

Now you'll know what it looks like and be able to save the office visit next time. Go ahead and order some DiMethox 40% (exact same drug as that Albon your vet gave you) so you'll have it on hand should you need to give her more treatments (likely on a cocci baby).

Please keep up the Probios. I don't really understand why she's on 2 antibiotics, but it will TRASH her rumen if you don't give it pre and pro biotics for the duration.