Goat illness

Suggs4

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i have a 7 month old ND who couldn't shake his cold on his own. He has had a cough for last week that has turned raspy. He has quite a bit of drainage that is white. His face looks a little swollen and his coat is puffy. No fever. Eating like usual just a little sluggish. We started him on antibiotics last night, 2 ml. Gave him b complex and probiotics. Is this the right treatment? I've read we should give antibiotics for 3 days, but how often b complex and probiotics? IMG_1567.JPG
 

Green Acres Farm

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What antibiotics are you giving? How much does he weigh?

I give probiotics according to the tube dosage after every antibiotic shot. You cannot overdose on b complex, and can even give it orally if you don't want to inject. I would do once a day, but it doesn't matter too much.

When is the last time he was dewormed or had a fecal?

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Goat Whisperer

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I think you should have a vet look at him, as I said in your last thread mentioning these issues.

Swollen face...Where one the face? Under the chin?
The swelling would be very worrisome. Look up bottle jaw and see if it fits. You may want to have a vet run a fecal as well.
You shouldn't just toss antibiotics at a goat unless you know its needed.
 

Green Acres Farm

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Swollen face...Where one the face? Under the chin?
The swelling would be very worrisome. Look up bottle jaw and see if it fits. You may want to have a vet run a fecal as well.

Also, if your goat feels cold, he will fluff out his fur including around his face which can appear swollen.
 

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Yes, that can happen. But I would think when someone posts that their goat is having trouble and that its face is starting to swell that they would actually mean swell, not fluffed.

That is the problem when trying to get a diagnosis on an online forum, it is best to have a vet look at it. Especially when you are new to goats.
 

Suggs4

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For the record, I wasn't seeking a diagnosis. I was simply looking for some reassurance. I have done my research and I know my goats. It was time. I crossed off all of the precautions before "throwing" antibiotics at him. Like I said, his cough went from normal to raspy.

I have really enjoyed this site since joining and have felt comfortable posting about anything, until now. Please don't jump to conclusions and have some compassion when replying to someone's thread.

@Green Acres Farm Thank you for suggesting the temperature affect on his coat. I couldn't put into words his appearance and I think it was just that. He is just fluffy all over!
 

Southern by choice

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For the record, I wasn't seeking a diagnosis. I was simply looking for some reassurance. I have done my research and I know my goats. It was time. I crossed off all of the precautions before "throwing" antibiotics at him. Like I said, his cough went from normal to raspy.
I have really enjoyed this site since joining and have felt comfortable posting about anything, until now. Please don't jump to conclusions and have some compassion when replying to someone's thread.

@Green Acres Farm Thank you for suggesting the temperature affect on his coat. I couldn't put into words his appearance and I think it was just that. He is just fluffy all over!

So sorry you feel there was lack of compassion. On a forum there are many different posters of all different levels of experience. Sadly in the forum world when people try to help others there is no tone of voice, no way to tell a posters intent.

Having been on this forum since 2012 and over 9,000 posts I can tell you that very often many do come looking for help to bypass veterinary care. This is not to suggest you were, but many do.
Some are new to goats others experienced, and there is everything in between.

I have seen on this forum alone, not too mention other groups I am a part of, people "offended" because they didn't like an answer or because the responders have no idea of the level of experience of the person and pretty much ask baseline questions.
It is never meant to be insulting. Heck I asked on one of myy groups about a doe that I have that always gets a lump with her CD & T... always... I was asking if anyone thought it may be a sensitivity or genetic issue as this doe and ALL her offspring are like this. Many people responded. In the post I mentioned that it was not how or where the shot was given... I have given literally THOUSANDS of shots (vet med background) and regardless of location this happens. Perhaps some never read through the original post I am not sure but many gave a tutorial on how to give a shot SQ, some said I should try different locations etc.
Basically the point of the post was missed by about 90% of those responding. I could have felt insulted but what I saw was so many that wanted to be helpful. Never did get anyone to answer if they knew of any genetic disposition or sensitivity... but that's ok. :D

I have watched how drugs are given to goats only to have the goat end up dying because of the avoidance of wanting to seek a veterinarian and get an accurate diagnosis. Wrong drug, wrong diagnosis and wrong protocol.
There are many regions where there simply are no vets that treat goats and some really have to rely on other laymen for help. However, as well meaning as people may be, it can cause more issues for the person seeking advice as well as the animal.

Often other questions are asked and generally it helps many to understand that there may be something else going on. When you mentioned
His face looks a little swollen and his coat is puffy.
This is an indicator of a very sick goat, a fluffed face is of course different then bottle jaw. Remember none of us can see what you see.:( So when we read "swollen", as you posted, that is more indicative of bottle jaw. Again, we can't see so that fluff could be a really sick goat OR it is change of weather and they do fluff to keep warm. :hu Goats with bottle jaw will fluff as they are so anemic they can not regulate their body temperature well and are usually at deaths door.
Eating like usual just a little sluggish. We started him on antibiotics last night, 2 ml. Gave him b complex and probiotics. Is this the right treatment?

You asked if this was the right treatment. Maybe. Maybe not.
I don't mean that curt or negative at all... on this end we have very limited info.

You don't mention the name of the anti-biotic. Weight of animal or your course of treatment. SQ? IM? How often are you giving it?

My first thoughts after reading from the beginning were-
Cocci infection can cause pneumonia.
Severe wormload can cause fluff and a goat to be cold, & sluggish.
Resistance down can also cause pneumonia.
If cocci and/or a wormload and animal is given antibiotics the rumen can shut down.
No fever is generally indicative of non bacterial. Usually a particular antibiotic will be best for one but may not be for another type.

Please don't jump to conclusions and have some compassion when replying to someone's thread.
Perhaps you could also give the same benefit of the doubt. ;)Don't jump to conclusions, the questions asked and answers were valid.
Give the benefit of the doubt. This is a genuinely caring community that cares very much for the people as much as their animals. At the end of the matter all of us want the same thing... your goat to be in good health, no more cough and back to normal! ;)

So then we can all go :celebrate :woot:woot


One thing I have seen over the years is that goat people really do care about other's goats!
 
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