Our first set of nannies delivered about a month ago. We have 2 more in stalls and ready to deliver in December. Then the real fun begins in January when we have 4 does and 7 nannies due between January 1st and Mid February. This will be the largest number of goats we have ever delivered and 6 of the 15 belong to other 4H members that we are helping to build a breeding project.
The barn will surely be busy when all the kids arrive. We have been preparing for all this fun over the last several months. Stalls have been cleaned and feeders have been washed. The nannies / does all received their shots before being placed with the Billie's. The same preparation every year!!!
Always when you think you are ahead of the game ... the unthinkable happens. No matter how much you prepare your animals seem to throw you a curve ball. That moment when you go out to check your herd and you notice someone isn't acting right. Well that happened to us over a month ago.
I went out to feed and there she was ... stumbling and not wanting to graze with the herd. I asked my parents to come take a look and we all agreed something wasn't right and we were about to charter new water on this one. We moved her to the barn in her own stall. Then mom and I went to work trying to figure out what was going on with her.
We used several resources from contacting a local breeder who has always been willing to help to reading up about her symptoms on one of our favorite sites - ( http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com )
We came to the conclusion this nanny had contracted Goat Polio or Listerosis - both equally as bad and not easy to treat if caught to late. Based on her symptoms we were fairly confident we caught it with time to treat.
What is Goat Polio / Listerosis -
Listerosis is a bacteria that attacks the goats brain-stem. It commonly comes from parasites, sudden changes in weather or changes in grain / hay and stress.
Goat Polio is a metabolic disease causing a thiamine deficiency in the goat. It is more commonly seen in goats that are not getting enough roughage but can also start if fed moldy hay.
What caused our nannie to head down this path is something we still have never figured out. We read stress can cause this to happen as well but our only guess at this point is she got a parasite at some point either from fair or from the pasture grazing. Either way we were told by our breeder friends we would be in the fight of our lives to save her.
What are the signs or symptoms-
Goat will withdraw from eating and the herd along with looking depressed. They will start stumbling when walking and only be able to move in one directions. This will progress into a full drunken stagger with shaking and drooling.
How do you know which to treat-
Blood work is the best way to tell which problem you have. Either way you generally can't wait for a blood test to start treating so you treat for both issues at the same time.
Treating her for both problems is where the fun begins! Your goat will feel like a pin cushion when you are done. We were given advise via several sources and after several hours of research this is how we treated our goat. We are not veterinarians so take this information for what it is worth.
We used over the counter antibiotic purchased from the feed store. We gauged the dosing based on the directions on the bottle for body weight.
First dose we doubled the amount and had to give it in 2 shots. Every shot after that was the regular dose. We gave her antibiotics twice a day for 7 days.
Next we used injectable thiamine - this can only be obtained from your veterinarian.
We gave the first 3 days worth via injections. Because my mother is a nurse she told me it will work faster for her if injected. After day 3 we gave it to her orally. This was given at 4cc / 100lbs twice a day for 7 days.
Next we used drench and water with electrolytes via drench gun to give her nutrition for the first 3 days. We kept electrolytes in her water at all times in her pen and continued to offer food. She didn't really start eating until about day 3.
You will be happy to know she survived and we are very sure so did her unborn kids! She is happy and healthy and gaining weight like the other pregnant mom's. She is due around the first week of January so we are praying the kids are all fine. I knew even if she lost her kids the fight was worth every painful minute ... She is one of my favorite nannies and she has thrown a dapple kid each year.
Here she is all happy and healthy!
We will keep you posted on her delivery and all the other kids as they arrive.
From My Barn to You,
Bradley
