Advice regarding coccidia - what now? - UPDATED

The two doelings we bought at the end of June unfortunately had some bad cases of coccidia and worms (trichostrongyles) when we got them (confirmed by fecal floats run by the state lab).

Initial treatment suggested by our local goat vet was Corid for the coccidia. The low dose he suggested didn't seem to tally with what I'd been reading, so I followed the dosing recommendations here. It did nothing (resistant here I suppose), so we switched to Sulmet 12.5% and used a syringe to give orally (dosed straight from the bottle following dosages listed here). We tried the five day treatment and it knocked it out in one doeling, but not entirely in the other. We treated the one for another five days and then her fecal came back clear. A week before leaving for vacation, I had another sample done (on all 3 of my girls) and the one who had the worst case had it again - a moderate load. This time we gave her Sulmet for 9 days and her fecal came back clear. Today I took samples in again (10 days since last sample came back clear) and this same doeling came up positive again with a moderate load!!

Feed is way up off the ground. Water is changed at least once a day and has never been soiled with berries. We've been changing their bedding frequently since this all began and up until a week ago, we were rotating them off pasture daily (so prior to a week ago, they were never on the same ground twice). With every dose of the Sulmet, she received Probios and a few times yogurt (when we had run out of Probios).

So . . . am I missing something in regard to prevention? My husband is a microbiologist and really doesn't want to add medicine to the water for prevention, but maybe we need to? Of course, first we have to knock this out again . . . but what to use now?

 

Re: Advice regarding coccidia - what now?

Locally we have only been able to find blocks; the ones we have do have copper in them as does the feed they get once a day, but I'm sure they need more. Liz had suggested Golden Blend Minerals, so I am ordering that at this moment. I should have done it weeks ago when she told me about it.

I think we still need to dose her with meds for another round, continue with Probios. I'm thinking to give the Sulmet another go-round since it does seem to be knocking it out initially. However, if anyone disagrees on the med choice or has any other thoughts, I'm open ears

 

Re: Advice regarding coccidia - what now?

Thanks, Denise. We also feed our goats their pre-measured feed in separate bowls, so sprinkling the Deccoxx on her individual feed is definitely worth a try. I just want this girl healthy

I have to say I was really surprised she came back positive today for the coccidia. She finally looked to be gaining some weight and starting to grow. She has really been playing and frolicking more. My only clue was I saw a clumpy poo or two in the grass even though every time I see her go, it has been individual berries. Yes, we've definitely become poop-obsessed around here.

We did just start her on a hopefully final round of Sulmet, gave some Probios, and I've got the minerals coming. I'll buy some Deccoxx and start using that as soon as the Sulmet treatment ends. Keeping my fingers crossed . . .

 

Re: Advice regarding coccidia - what now?

I've got the Golden Blend Minerals ordered and hopefully here soon

I couldn't find the Deccox at Tractor Supply, so I am headed out to another farm store this afternoon. If I can't find that, I'll look into the medicated lamb feed/chow.

Question for cdtrum . . . I saw Deccox online and I, too, will probably be at a loss to figure out the dosing on it. Do you recall the amount your sprinkled on your kids' feed since they were similar in size to my doeling at that time. My doeling is probably only 20 pounds, but I'll get a more accurate weight this evening.

Thanks.

 

Re: Advice regarding coccidia - what now?

cdtrum- Thanks for that measurement!

At our second area farm store, the owner told me I can't buy Deccox on its own. I was pretty sure he was wrong since I thought that I could buy it online in an 8lb bag made by Manna Pro. My husband decided to pick up a bag of medicated goat feed with Monensin/Rumensin in it. After getting home, though, I read online that it can be dangerous to dogs, so I am a little nervous about using it esp. if Deccox/Decoquinate is considered safer. The farm store also had another medicated goat feed with decoquinate which I tried to convince my husband to buy, but the store owner told him the Monensin was more effective for coccidia :?

So . . . we did not open the bag and I'm heading to the co-op today to see if they have straight Deccox as that still sounds like the best option b/c I can control the dosing.

I just desperately want to do the right thing, to nip this in the bud and keep it under control.

 

Re: Advice regarding coccidia - what now?

Update . . .

Okay, so the good news is that of our two five month old does, the one has remained clear of coccidia for weeks now - Yeah! The second doeling who has bounced back and forth since we got her just tested clear today, too. She's started eating some Blue Seal Medicated Goat Feed (has Deccox in it), so I am hoping that will help keep the coccidia at bay. Also, everyone now has access to the Golden Blend Minerals, and I daresay that I already see a difference in the one's coat . . . much shinier and softer

So, now the dilemma . . . our new buckling tested light for coccidia. He showed no symptoms, but I had a fecal float done anyway. He's also been eating some of the medicated feed, but, of course, that is preventative.

So do we start Sulmet with him, but do a 5 day round since his is light?

 

Our last round of Sulmet on our doeling, we were advised to do a 9 day round. So I was thinking since his is light, 5 days would be enough.

Also, a cocci remedy was posted on here using ginger, cloves, cinammon, and slippery elm powder . . . with his load being light, I wondered if something like this might be easier on his system . . . but I wasn't sure if a lot of people had tried it and found it to be effective.

 

We have kept him in an area where goats have not been on our property and have moved him every other day to make sure he is always in a "clean" area. It's just terribly frustrating. I read in books that it is often from "dirty" conditions, but the conditions here are far from it . . . still, reading that makes me feel like a bad goat owner I know I have still have a lot to learn, but at least this go round I had him checked quickly so we could nip anything in the bud, already had him on the the medicated pellets & loose minerals. And I did find a local farm store/mill that will sell me in small amounts the Deccox powder/crumble. I had already bought the pellets and he is eating them well, but at least I know where to go should this be a problem in the future. But, yes, I was so happy today to see the girls' results!! That's the silver lining.