Diarrhoea in Angora Goats
By Dr Mackie Hobson
Monday, 15th April 2019Diarrhoea is a symptom of an underlying problem and not a disease in itself.
It is therefore vital to determine the cause of the diarrhoea rather than trying to treat the diarrhoea itself.
Speak to your vet providing a good history. You may need to get a faecal sample checked and, if any deaths, a Post Mortem done to determine the cause.
There are a number of possible causes of diarrhoea in Angora goats. Internal parasites and dietary factors are probably the most common cause.
A list of some possible causes include:
- Roundworms
- Coccidiosis
- Tapeworm
- Feeding problems
- Fresh lush pasture
- Fibre shortage, excess concentrate feeding
- Sudden changes in diet
- Acidosis (excess concentrate insufficient fibre)
- Excess milk in kids, for example kids kept in kid pens with mothers out grazing can consume excess milk. Can lead to ‘Floppy Kid Syndrome’
- Incorrect feeding of ‘Hansies’
- Bacterial overgrowth
- Coli
- Clostridium (‘Pulpy Kidney’, ‘Bloedpens’, ‘Rooiderm’)
- Salmonella
- Poisoning
- Plants: Tulp (cardiac glycosides), ‘Gaanskweek’ ‘Bitter Karoo’, ‘Melkbos’, ‘Witstorm’
- Grains with fungal contamination
- Ionophore poisoning
- Organophosphates
TREATMENT
There is no ‘wonder treatment’ and it is vital to treat or correct the underlying problem as identified above. Involve your vet. Minimally get a faecal sample checked to rule out Roundworms and Coccidiosis.
In addition you can provide supportive treatment
- Fluids are important (electrolytes, dose or tube- such as Lectade, Darrows)
- Probiotics such as Protexin, Biorem
- High fibre diet
- Activated charcoal
- Don’t just give antibiotics, this can often effect the good bacteria and not improve the problem
