EnterotoxemiaA
bacterial disease caused by clostridium perfringens and is a common and
many times fatal disease of goats. This is an extremely fast generating
organism, sometimes in as little as 8 minutes of digestion. Sudden
changes in feed is one of the main causative reasons for outbreaks of
enterotoxemia, however this is not a prerequisite for all enterotoxemia
to occur. Abrupt weather changes can also create on onset of this
disease.
There are 3 forms of this disease, they are; peracute, acute and chronic.
Peracute
forms are mainly in kids many times showing no outward signs of
disease. Finding one or more dead animals is usually the course of this
type. Typically it is the more robust well fed kids that are affected.
In kids eating solids, the signs would be sudden loss of appetite,
fever of 105, arching of the back and extreme pain accompanied by
screaming and kicking at the belly. Profuse watery diarrhea many times
with shreds of mucus and blood. Death is within hours.
Acute
form is similar but with less severity. Stool may start out pasty and
then turn watery and profuse. Severe dehydration and acidosis will
occur if not treated and clinical course will last 3-4 days.
Spontaneous recoveries have occurred but most will die if not treated.
Chronic
form is intermittent and is observed over the course of a few weeks.
There is weight loss with bouts of pasty or loose feces and diarrheal
episodes. This form is difficult to recognize because of the time it
takes for clinical signs to show and the fact that it is intermittent.
C&D anti-toxin
(not to be confused with the CD&T Toxiod Vaccine) can be
administered along with active treatment of electrolytes including
bicarbonate, and the use of
Banamine is useful for goats in toxemia
shock, it also alleviates pain. Oral sulfa drugs have been useful in
reducing bacteria in the gut. All carbohydrates should be eliminated
from the diet.. (grain) and the remaining herd mates should be
vaccinated with CDT or boostered.
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