Possible causes of diarrhea in a goat, methods of treatment and methods of prevention

The appearance of diarrhea in a goat is quite common and may indicate various disorders. Common causes of diarrhea are postpartum problems, poor diet, and overeating. Stool disorders can also provoke helminthic invasions. To cope with this symptom, you need to establish the causes of its appearance and choose an effective therapy.

The main causes of diarrhea in goats

There are many reasons for the development of diarrhea in livestock. To cope with the problem, it is important to establish the provoking factor.

Postpartum problems

Females often experience diarrhea immediately after lambing. The less the goat licks the young, the less likely it is to develop diarrhea. Overeating is considered another cause of postpartum problems.

Poor quality feed

If the goat has fed, it is worth analyzing its diet. The quality of the feed significantly affects the condition of the animal. If food is stored improperly, fungi may appear in it. If mold forms on the stern, it is strictly forbidden to give it to the pet. Poisoning often appears with frequent use of oil cake with gossypol. This substance accumulates in the body and disrupts the functions of the digestive organs. This causes diarrhea in goats.

Do not give your pets a lot of grass, cabbage, beets and potatoes. These foods can cause diarrhea in young animals. Also, do not give pets compound feed. It clogs the intestines and provokes unpleasant pathologies.

Overeating

Digestive problems may be associated with high fiber foods in the diet. It includes straw, chaff, chaff. Most often, such food is used in a lean year. It is also used in winter and spring. Such food provokes scar swelling, belching, stool disorders, in which constipation is replaced by diarrhea. Similar problems appear in the absence of walking or a lack of fluid.

Gastrointestinal inflammation

Inflammatory lesions of the digestive system include gastritis, colitis, enteritis and gastroenteritis. At the same time, diarrhea appears, appetite worsens, and abdominal pain is observed. The goat is restless and depressed. The main reasons for the occurrence of such pathologies include the following:

• the use of substandard products;
• the presence in the menu of foods that are prone to fermentation;
• excess acidic silage in the diet;
• stress factors;
• vitamin A deficiency;
• abrupt change of feed;
• sun or heat stroke;
• using cold or dirty water;
• the use of milk from a female patient with mastitis for feeding kids.

Worms and parasites in goats

Diarrhea is caused by intestinal parasites. It is carried out in an alimentary way. Affected goats shed worms into the environment and then eat them. This cycle can be repeated many times. Therefore, it is so important to carry out systematic processing of animals. For adult goats, parasites are not particularly dangerous. In healthy pets, productivity decreases slightly, and digestive disorders are periodically observed. In kids, parasites can cause malnutrition.

To detect worms, it is recommended to conduct a microscopic examination of the feces, and then prescribe medications.

Signs and symptoms

During the grazing season, diarrhea can go unnoticed by the farmer. This is because the goats are out of the stall most of the time. At the same time, there are a number of symptoms that allow us to suspect the presence of problems:

• slight weight loss;
• presence of manure on the rear of the hull;
• loud and frequent bleating after eating.

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It is much easier to detect diarrhea during the stall period. At the same time, the litter of sick animals becomes dirtier and more moist than usual.

In the presence of dangerous diseases, the signs may be different. These include the following:

• sharp weight loss;
• loss of appetite;
• change in the shade of feces - it can be yellow, green or red;
• foam in feces;
• decreased physical activity;
• decrease in milk yield;
• an increase in body temperature;
• frequent and heavy breathing.

First aid

If diarrhea is detected, the animal should be immediately isolated from the entire livestock. This will help avoid contamination of the herd if an infection is the cause. It is recommended to transfer the separated animal to a starvation diet and not feed for 8-10 hours. In this case, it is worth giving him 200-250 milliliters of saline with an interval of 3-4 hours.

It can be replaced with a filtered decoction of rice or oak bark. A decoction of bird cherry or starch solution is also suitable. A small amount of milk will help to support the weakened animal. Before starting treatment, you should consult a veterinarian who will determine the causes of diarrhea.

Treatment methods

It is recommended to treat the goat based on the source of the problem:

1. If you suspect the use of low-quality feed, it is worth temporarily giving the animal good hay. Compliance with such a diet will allow you to cope with the problem in 2-3 days.
2. If symptoms of infection appear, the goat should be given antibiotics. This should be done as directed by your veterinarian. Usually goats are prescribed "Farmaxin", "Tylosin", "Veracol".
3. When an animal is infected with worms, it can be given "Albeon" or "Bimectin".

When diarrhea occurs in kids, it is recommended to give milk to them in small portions. It is also allowed to replace it with acidophilic yogurt. In addition, vitamins will help support weakened pets. They should be injected, since the stomach of a sick animal cannot absorb the medicine.

Effect of diarrhea on milk quality

Goats are most commonly bred for milk production. Therefore, many farmers are interested in how diarrhea affects the quality of the product. First of all, with diarrhea, the productivity of the animal is significantly reduced. This is due to a violation of the water balance in the body.

If the diarrhea is associated with contamination with bacterial microorganisms, there is a risk of their entering the milk. Therefore, experts do not advise them to water the kids or eat them for people. It is best to boil such a product thoroughly and then use it to make cottage cheese or cheese. After recovery, goat milk can be consumed again.

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Prevention of diarrhea

To prevent the development of diarrhea, it is recommended to follow these rules:

1. Adhere to hygiene guidelines for goat care.
2. Provide high quality animal feed.
3. Give clean and fresh water to the goats.
4. Adhere to the rules of hygiene when lambing.
5. Do not overfeed animals.
6. Don't give your pets a lot of heavy food.
7. Timely vaccinate goats against infectious pathologies.

The appearance of diarrhea in goats is observed quite often and is associated with a variety of factors. To cope with the problem, you need to review pet nutrition. If necessary, you should contact your veterinarian, who will select an effective therapy.