POISONING/TOXICITY TREATMENTS FOR GOATS

Grain overload and plant toxicity are probably the two most common poisonings that producers will encounter.

Essential products that producers must have on hand: injectable C&D anti-toxin, Milk of Magnesia, ruminant electrolytes (Bounce Back, ReSorb), activated charcoal (Toxiban), UAA gel (universal animal antidote), adult goat stomach tube and mouthpiece, 60 cc kid syringe and stomach tube, prescription Banamine or generic equivalent, mineral oil, and injectable tetanus anti-toxin.

Jeffers carries all of these products except prescription Banamine and the adult goat stomach tube and mouthpiece for which directions to make are on my website. Purchase these products and have them on hand. You won't have time to round them up when an emergency hits and goats will die. Order for Monday shipment so that perishable biologicals are not in transit long.

There is no substitute for Colorado Serum's C&D anti-toxin. Dose SQ every 12 hours according to directions on the bottle. This product is one of the few medications approved for use in goats. Dose Milk of Magnesia orally at 15 cc per 60 pounds bodyweight every four to six hours until the goat's feces turns clumpy then back to normal pills. The goal is to use this laxative to push through as much of the toxic substances as quickly as possible. Keep the goat hydrated with electrolytes; laxatives are dehydrating. When associated with poisoning/toxicity, diarrhea is good. Remember: Diarrhea is a symptom of a problem and not the problem itself.

Note: Pepto Bismol is not a laxative. Some people think of Milk of Magnesia and Pepto Bismol as similar products. Not true. Pepto only coats the stomach lining.

Only if you have a stomach tube available, mineral oil can be used instead of Milk of Magnesia.You must stomach tube mineral oil because it has no taste and can easily be aspirated into the lungs if the goat doesn't swallow properly. Dosage and frequency : 15 cc per 150 pounds bodyweight every 12 hours. Remember to keep the goat hydrated with electrolytes.

Injectable Banamine should be used for pain and discomfort, dosing at 1 cc per 100 pounds bodyweight no more often than every 12 hours.

Do not offer textured or pelleted feed. Feed only green leaves, clean top-quality grass hay, and electrolytes until the goat is well and then ease it onto prepared rations, Do not give probiotics until treatment is completed and goat is back to normal. If the goat can stand, make it get up and walk twice a day. Although not the normal situation, I've seen it take a week for a goat that overate on shelled corn to clean out and for diarrhea to stop.

Suzanne W. Gasparotto
ONION CREEK RANCH
5-12-09