How to Treat Goat Scours

Baby goats are very gentle, the one seen here is in Li-loan, Cebu Philippines

If your goat suddenly has scours (diarrhea), it needs immediate attention. Scours is generally a digestive problem and could be caused by infections and parasites. Non-infectious causes can be overfeeding, indigestion, lactic acidosis, copper deficiency and intoxications. Scours can be fatal, as it causes of dehydration, weakness and sudden death. Act quickly. As with any kind of potentially fatal situation, consult your veterinarian.

Things You'll Need

• Pepto Bismol
• Pedialyte
• Bar-Guard-99
• Goat serum concentrate
• Probios gel

Instructions

1. Pull all of the goats feed--no hay or grain.

2. 

   Administer Probios Gel (based on recommended dose) if caught right away. Probios Gel balances good bacteria and can be used to correct a problem if caught right away.

3. Remove the milk replacer, if the kid is still using one.

4. Mix a few cc's of Pepto Bismol and Pedialyte and give to the goat.

5. 

   Wash bottles and nipples thoroughly after each use.

6. Do not reintroduce any milk or feed until the diarrhea stops.

7. Reintroduce milk and feed slowly.

8. Reduce the strength of the replacer, increasing each day.

9. If the goat has a relapse, start over again.

10. You must try to “dry” up the goat, which can survive without milk for two weeks but scours can cause death in days.

Tips & Warnings

• The diarrhea can be green or blackish. Green diarrhea may be the result of a change in feed.

• Bar-Guard-99 is an over-the counter preventative medicine for newborn kids. It protects them from scours caused by K99 strains of E.coli. Some goat experts give a 10-cc subQ injection of Goat Serum Concentrate also as a preventative for a newborn.

• During a kid's first few days of life, diarrhea can be common and could be caused by chilling, erratic feeding, dirty bedding, dirty milk bottles and overeating. You can also use Spectam Scour-Halt (for pig scours) on young kids with diarrhea. Diarrhea in a 3-4 week-old kid is likely due to coccidiosis.

• Check for internal parasites. Worms can cause diarrhea. The feces can be checked for parasite eggs present. This can be done by your veterinarian or you can do it yourself. Proper de-worming should take place if parasites are discovered.