Coughing... Lung worms OR Virus?

[Sara1226]

Maybe since she lives near a big city she should take one to a vet and get a diagnosis so we both know what is going on!

 

[babsbag]

I agree with @Southern by choice when it comes to building a relationship with a vet; it can mean life or death sometimes, literally. I have a great vet that raises her own goats and if I were to call her for a coughing goat she would laugh at me; and then ask me what I have tried. She EXPECTS me to try and "fix" my goats before I call her. Granted, I'm not new at this and I have treated a lot of respiratory issues in goats but I honestly would use the antibiotic, but not the powder unless it is a life or death thing.

When I was new to goats I had a crappy vet too and my goat would be dead if it wasn't for friends that gave me the home phone number of the vet I use now. It seems that disaster always strikes on a weekend or after hours. A good vet needs to be spoiled and given cookies and chocolate...and wine on occasion.

 

[Sara1226]

But... There are NO other farm animal vets around here, none at all.

My 3rd one is coughing now too. He's my buddy. I'm at my wits end. Winter is coming and if I don't fix these guys they might not make it through that.

I contacted the seller and requested that she seek vet advice and get a proper diagnosis for both of our sakes. You never know, she might not be willing to do that. I will ask my vet again if he will do an injection, but I feel doubtful. Does anyone have a link they'd share where I can purchase the correct vaccine? Maybe one of my friends would help me give it to my goats. I'm so scared.

 

[Southern by choice]

I understand your apprehension however if this is the only vet around then it really is even more important to take the goat back in and allow the vet to listen to those lungs. Goats are interesting creatures and often it can take more than one try to get what's going on.
Has he run a temperature at all?
To which vaccine are you referring? Right now if he is sick then you shouldn't give any vaccines.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

@Sara1226, when you said vacccine did you mean injectable antibiotics? Here is the link to injectable oxytetracycline:

https://www.jefferspet.com/products/bio-mycin-200

This site also carries a lot of helpful supplies you might like to look into.

 

[Hens and Roos]

sorry to hear that your goats are coughing hopefully you can get this figured out soon. Can't offer anything that hasn't been said. Do any of them have a temperature?

 

[Sara1226]

I will check temps first thing in the morning and report back.

 

[Sara1226]

Ok, I just learned some additional interesting info. I'm not the only one who got a goat from that lady, and that persons goat is coughing too. She tried ivermec, the cough was reduced but then returned. I too tried invermectin AND safegaurd and my guys are still coughing. She called her vet and he thinks it's lung worms too.. But their plan of action is to repeat the ivermec and they want me to do the same. But I have this now.. Early in this thread someone suggested this. Can someone clarify dosing? Packet says lung worms right on it!

 

[Southern by choice]

Maybe someone else will.
I feel a responsibility here to speak up and say you are playing with fire. 3 different dewormers in a week. You could kill your goat.
Overdosing with dewormer in this way can seriously damage the rumin of your goat.
Will you know the signs if the rumin is shutting down?

Did you read that lesions are left even after treatment? So what that means is the cough may persist. (if it is lungworm)

Second "lungworm" wouldn't in a week or two or however long you have had him cause the other goats to start coughing.

Yes, prohibit treats certain lungworms and certain stages.

again- depending on what type of lungworm-

Muellerius capillaris
Chemical control is difficult. Some usual anthelmintics such as broad spectrum benzimidazoles(albendazole, febantel, fenbendazole,oxfendazole, etc.) or levamisole are not or only partially effective against these worms. Macrocyclic lactones (e.g. abamectin,doramectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin, moxidectin) seem to be effective against adult worms at the usual therapeutic dose, but not or only partially effective against immature larvae.


Dictyocaulus viviparous
Excepting slow-release boluses, most wormers containingbenzimidazoles (e.g. albendazole, febantel,fenbendazole, oxfendazole, etc.), levamisole, tetrahydropyrimidines (e.g. morantel, pyrantel) and other classic anthelmintics kill the worms shortly after treatment and are quickly metabolized and/or excreted within a few hours or days. This means that they have a short residual effect, or no residual effect at all. As a consequence treated animals are cured from worms but do not remain protected against new infections. To ensure that they remain worm-free the animals have to be dewormed periodically, depending on the local epidemiological, ecological and climatic conditions. An exception to this are macrocyclic lactones (e.g.abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin,ivermectin, moxidectin), that offer several weeks protection against re-infestation, depending on the delivery formand the specific parasite.

 

[babsbag]

I posted a link earlier to Noromycin 300 and syringes from Jeffers.

What I don't understand is why your other goats would be coughing if it is lung worm? Are they out grazing on wet pastures?

BTW, my goats get respiratory infections and do not always run a fever.

I agree with @Southern by choice, if you have already wormed him with Safeguard and Ivermectin that should have done the job. I would be very hesitant to worm again. Here is a chart though for future reference. And with Prohibit you can OD so you MUST know how much a goat weighs and dose correctly. Can you talk to your friends vet before worming again?