PNEUMONIA

Pneumonia is a year-round killer of goats, both kids and adults. Along with Coccidiosis, pneumonia is one of the two major killers of newborn and young kids. Summertime is often prime pneumonia time for goats. Regardless of season, dramatic changes in temperature and climatic conditions -- such as wet weather coupled with high temperatures and heavy humidity -- may bring cases of pneumonia into a herd. Bottom line: Pneumonia is not just a cold-weather illness.

The most easily recognizable form of pneumonia usually has as one of its symptoms a nasal discharge of yellowish (not white or clear) mucous and is sometimes but not always accompanied by heavy, labored breathing. Elevated body temperature above the normal 101.5*F to 103.5*F range indicates infection.

White or clear nasal discharge is usually (but not always) allergy-related, but if above-normal body temperature is present, then infection or inflammation exists and must be treated. A good rule-of-thumb is to use antibiotics only when fever or inflammation is involved. (See exception below regarding Interstitial Pneumonia) Overusing antibiotics decreases their effectiveness when they are really needed because the goat's body builds up a resistance to repeated use. This has happened with overuse of penicillin in human beings.

The first step in determining appropriate treatment is to take the sick goat's rectal temperature. Body temperature tells the producer which way to proceed treatment-wise. Fever indicates infection or inflammation. Example: A newborn with "weak-kid syndrome" will have sub-normal body temperature that requires a totally different treatment regimen from a kid running a fever caused by e.Coli or other bacteria. Without taking rectal temperature, the breeder might misinterpret visual symptoms, wrongly diagnose the cause of the problem, and medicate the goat incorrectly. The animal would probably die from being improperly treated. See this writer's article entitled Diagnosing Illnesses in Goats on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com.

The most most difficult to detect and quickest-to-kill type of pneumonia is Interstitial Pneumonia. Death can occur in as little as 12 hours. At night the goat appears healthy, but in the morning it is down and dying. No runny nose and no fever . . . just an animal who is off-feed, may or may not occasionally cough, and standing -- not sitting or laying down, unless it is already at death's door -- away from the herd, but does not appear to be seriously ill. The only clear diagnostic symptom is high fever and it may not be present when you discover the sick goat. This writer believes that that high fever peaks quickly and then body temperature rapidly drops below normal, misleading the producer into diagnosing the problem as ruminal. (Sub-normal body temperature is often a sign of ruminal problems. Temperatures under 100*F should be considered critical.)

If high fever is present, it must be brought down quickly or the goat is going to die; fever-reducing medication and appropriate antibiotic therapy must be started immediately. If fever is not present but all other symptoms indicate pneumonia, antibiotic treatment is also essential. (This is the exception to the "no antibiotic usage if fever is not present" rule.) If the illness has progressed far enough, the goat will try to sit down, moan with discomfort, and immediately stand up --- because fluid has begun to accumulate in the lungs and abdomen and the kidneys are shutting down. A goat in this condition probably cannot be saved but the producer should try until efforts prove either successful or futile. The genetic strength of the goat plays a big role in its ability to survive. A goat that wants to live can overcome amazing obstacles. However, once the lungs fill with fluids, survival is unlikely.

Banamine (veterinary prescription) is an anti-inflammatory drug that lowers fever-induced high body temperature. Banamine may be used once every 36-72 hours but normally no more frequently, because it can cause stomach ulcers. (Common sense says that if nothing else is available to drop the fever into normal range and the goat is likely to die, use Banamine daily. A goat with stomach ulcers is better than a dead goat.) Administer Banamine intramuscularly (IM) based on 1cc per 100 lbs. body weight. A newborn kid should receive 2/10 ths of a cc (two-tenths of a cc) of Banamine. If Banamine is not available, baby aspirin can be used. Treat kids with 1/4 to 1/2 baby aspirin and adults with at least one baby aspirin. A reasonable baby aspirin dosage would be to compare the weight of the goat to a human being and medicate accordingly. Do not use other pain relievers, such as Advil, Alleve, etc. --- only baby aspirin.

Producers should keep a supply of prescription medications on hand for emergencies. Nuflor, Naxcel, and Excenel RTU are excellent antibiotics for respiratory illnessess. Nuflor has the advantage of not requiring refrigeration, but the disadvantage of being both expensive and very thick, making injections painful. Use an 18-gauge needle and give Nuflor sub-cutaneously (under the skin) over the ribs. Use a luer-lock syringe so that the thick Nuflor does not blow the needle off the syringe when injecting. For maximum benefit in goats, Nuflor should be injected daily for at least three consecutive days (preferably five days) at a dosage of 3 cc's per 100 pounds bodyweight. Nuflor is this writer's antibiotic of choice for adult goats with respiratory illnesses.

Naxcel is a good antibiotic but is limited convenience-wise by (a) the requirement that it be kept refrigerated, and (b) the need to mix and use the entire bottle within seven days or freeze remaining dosages in individual syringes. Naxcel must be given to goats in dosages stronger than indicated on the label. A newborn kid must receive at least 1/2 cc per day for five consecutive days to be effective. This writer has used Naxcel very effectively with newborn and very young kids. A one-hundred pound goat requires three to four cc's per dosage. As with all other injectable medications, never give more than six (6) cc's per injection site to prevent tissue damage. If necessary, split the dosage, giving half into one location and the remaining amount into another injection site.

Excenel RTU is a ready-to-use form of Naxcel that requires no mixing and no refrigeration. These advantages make it more desirable to use than Naxcel in most situations. See this writer's article entitled Goat Medications and How to Use Them on the Articles page.

Never stop administering antibiotics before the prescribed treatment period is complete, even if the animal is looking better. Relapses are likely. Consult your goat veterinarian, establish a working relationship, and use these medications under vet supervision.

If access to these prescription antibiotics is not available, then the producer will have to use over-the-counter Tylan 200 (not Tylan 50) or Penicillin. With Tylan 200, use 4 cc per 100 pounds body weight for five consecutive days. Administer this thick liquid (Tylan 200) with an 18 gauge needle on a luer-lock syringe and inject SQ over the ribs. Tylan 200 is specifically designed for respiratory pneumonia and shipping fever. Pencillin, which is also a thick liquid, should be dosed at 5 cc's per 100 pounds body weight for five consecutive days; use a luer-lock syringe with an 18-gauge needle and inject SQ over the ribs.

NOTE: If the producer has no antibiotic other than oxytetracycline (LA 200 or equivalent), use it in an emergency and acquire appropriate medications for future use. Oxytet is a broad spectrum antibiotic and may help. This writer used to advise against using oxytetracycline with goats, but previous concerns about possible malformation or discoloration of teeth and bones in utero and in young kids has been overstated; oxytetracycline is the antibiotic of choice in treating abortion diseases and foot rot/scald.

Chest congestion can be relieved by giving Expectahist antihistamine/decongestant orally to the sick goat twice daily at a dosage of approximately six cc's per 100 pounds bodyweight.

Children's antihistamine/decongestant cough syrups may be used if this prescription product is not available, but this writer strongly recommends that every producer keep Expectahist on hand.

Keep the sick goat in a shaded, dry, free-from-draft location with plenty of fresh water, electrolytes, free-choice grass hay, and -- if possible -- green leaves. If the animal is not drinking water, oral drenching with Re-Sorb electrolytes will be needed to keep it hydrated. If pneumonia is caught quickly, the goat may continue eating while ill. If dehydration is severe, sub-cutaneous (SQ) delivery of Lactated Ringers Solution (vet prescription) will be necessary in kids. SQ administration of Lactated Ringers Solution in adults is not a realistic option. It is necessary to stomach tube electrolytes into a sick adult goat in order to get sufficient fluids into it. Refer to this writer's articles about (a) dehydration and (b) how to stomach tube a sick goat on the Articles page.

Never forget the beneficial effect of green leaves -- its natural food -- on a sick goat. Oak, elm, and hackberry are favorite goat favorites. Fresh green leaves have a positive effect on a sick goat by providing nourishment that is readily digestible. Never try to feed grain concentrates to a sick goat.

Follow up all antibiotic treatments with oral ruminant gel, but use them after the antibiotic regimen has been completed. Register Supply's Goat Guard Probiotic Paste is an excellent product. Contact Furney Register at 1-888-310-9606. Live bacteria are necessary for proper digestion, and antibiotics destroy "good" bacteria as they work to kill the "bad" bacteria that made the goat sick.

Goats raised on forage/browse or under free-range conditions are less likely to have as many health problems as goats raised under intense management. Sound practices that include good shelter during bad weather, clean pens, fresh water, grass hay, and no overcrowding go a long way towards reducing almost all goat health problems. Producers who must raise goats under less-than-ideal conditions must be aware of these facts and be prepared.

The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!)

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