Blindness and Confusion

2374 Views 36 Replies 11 Participants Last post by goathiker, Apr 3, 2021

Aasiya

Discussion Starter · Mar 18, 2021

Hi everyone. I recently noticed that Rigel, one of my yearling wethers, sometimes acts like he doesn't know where he is. But when I came infront of him, he looked directly at me...and also blinked if a finger was brought near his eyes. Then, yesterday I noticed him keeping his head sideways when walking, and bumping into things randomly. He also had a strange gait( not circling like listeriosis) ...just an odd, hesitant way to his walk. I gave him a large dose of vitamin b complex, and then another dose at night. Today morning he seems unable to see a thing...I'm worried that it's polio and have sent someone to try to find the only thiamine 100mg/ml injection. Would appreciate any advice on what else I can do...plus dosages for thiamine and dexamethasone if possible. Thank you.

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Damfino

· #2 · Mar 18, 2021

I'm going to guess polio as well. It definitely sounds neurological, and polio is the most common cause. Keep up the Vitamin B. I don't have any advice, having never dealt with this myself, but do some research online for dosages and for how long to keep up the medications. Best of luck to you! Hopefully others will have more experience they can share.

Reactions: 5

MellonFriend

· #3 · Mar 18, 2021

From the TGS medicine cabinet:

B1 Vitamin Thiamine -Straight thiamine
Read vet instructions.
Dosage: 5-6 cc per 100 pounds every 6 hours for polio cases. IM for instant treatment or SQ to prevent polio. Thiamine comes in different mg strengths.
OTC thiamine comes in 100 mg/ml strength such as Fortified Vitamin B Complex.
RX thiamine comes in 500 mg.
Give as an injection, never orally to get it into the blood stream quickly is critical.
Treats goat polio, rumen productivity and provides increased energy. RX

Dexamethasone/Decadron/DEX --
Inflammatory injuries, joint injuries- ½-1cc/20lbs.
Head injuries (after disbudding)- 1-2mg/20lbs.
Shock- 1-2mg/20lbs.
Anti-inflammatory & pain reliever:
Used to induce labor in pregnant does when the slow introduction of labor over a 48-hour period is desired. Used on preemies and pre-labor to help develop lungs in kids before birth and after.
Use this drug only under the supervision of a vet.
Can cause abortion; do not use on pregnant does unless she is safe to kid.
If used for more than 24 hours, must be used with an antibiotic or immune stimulating herbs because it suppresses the body's natural immunity while being used, thus leaving the animal open to infection. Milk withholding time: 72 hours.

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Reactions: 5

NigerianDwarfOwner707

· #4 · Mar 18, 2021

Needs listeria and polio treatment at least 500mg thiamine every 6 hours round the clock and penicillin 1cc per 10lbs every 6 hours round the clock.

Reactions: 3

happybleats

· #5 · Mar 18, 2021

Yes ^^^ and either dexamethsone 1 cc per 20 pounds IM once a day..decrease dose daily through a 5 day process OR banamine once a day for 3-5 days 1 cc per 100 pounds.

Reactions: 4

toth boer goats

· #6 · Mar 18, 2021

All really good advice.

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Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 19, 2021

Thank you all for the advice. Iv been trying my best to get the straight thiamine, but it seems to be out of stock. It's not a prescription med here ...and even the high concentration thiamine+ other b vitamins for humans is not available. So he's been getting the vitamin b complex, 10 ml every 6 hours, for 500 mg thiamine. Will start with the penicillin and dexamethasone as well....as he hasn't shown much improvement yet. I'm trying one last place for the thiamine... praying that I get it this time

Reactions: 1

Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 19, 2021

Also, he's really needle shy...its a nightmare trying to give him injections....any advice to get him to calm down?

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SalteyLove

· #9 · Mar 19, 2021

The dex is what reduces the brain swelling so hopefully you see improvement then. But if it's Listeriosis then the recovery is much slower and needs the penicillin. If it's polio then usually a vast improvement is seen with B vitamins.

You're giving the injections subcutaneously not intramuscular right?

Best to keep him in a stall or small area so you can be sure he's finding the water bucket okay.

Still eating?
Drooling or facial paralysis? Food dropping from mouth?
Jumpy eyes?

Reactions: 5

goathiker

· #10 · Mar 19, 2021

Please help our Bangladeshi friend without the expectation that they have access to meds.

This sounds like typical Bright Blindness, which is a type of polio. However, the B vitamins can't work until the plant that causes it is digested. I've seen it many times here in Oregon, it doesn't seem to happen anywhere else in the USA.
If you can get probiotics or cultured yogurt that would be excellent to feed a few times a day.

Reactions: 4

Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 19, 2021

SalteyLove said:
The dex is what reduces the brain swelling so hopefully you see improvement then. But if it's Listeriosis then the recovery is much slower and needs the penicillin. If it's polio then usually a vast improvement is seen with B vitamins.

You're giving the injections subcutaneously not intramuscular right?

Best to keep him in a stall or small area so you can be sure he's finding the water bucket okay.

Still eating?
Drooling or facial paralysis? Food dropping from mouth?
Jumpy eyes?

Thank you...yes I'm giving the injections SQ, I didn't find the straight thiamine but I found a vit b complex with 100 mg thiamine per 3ml...he's getting 15 ml of that now. Iv kept him in a small area...he's eager to eat if you hand feed him and keep food nearby. Is it ok to give him grain?

Reactions: 2

Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 19, 2021

goathiker said:
Please help our Bangladeshi friend without the expectation that they have access to meds.

This sounds like typical Bright Blindness, which is a type of polio. However, the B vitamins can't work until the plant that causes it is digested. I've seen it many times here in Oregon, it doesn't seem to happen anywhere else in the USA.
If you can get probiotics or cultured yogurt that would be excellent to feed a few times a day.

Thank you. Is Bright Blindness caused by a plant? perhaps there was something in the hay...im giving him probiotics, is there anything else that can help the plant get digested?

Reactions: 1

Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 19, 2021

When it rains it pours I guess

My old bottle was finished so I just opened my new vial of penicillin...to find it cracked and spilt out! I have no idea how...it was sealed. I can get more penicillin...but not till tomorrow morning. Rigel has only gotten one dose.... Is it safe to skip his next two doses? I just have biomycin on hand...is it a good idea to switch him to that? At about my wit's end now....
But thanks for the help everyone...

MadHouse

· #14 · Mar 19, 2021

@happybleats @SalteyLove

Reactions: 1

toth boer goats

· #15 · Mar 20, 2021

Pen is the best for the ailment.

Do you have a friend, who may have some so you can get through until you get more?

Reactions: 2

Aasiya

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 20, 2021

Thank you. Yes, I looked it up and decided to not use the biomycin either... managed to get a couple doses of human procaine penicillin from the 24hour pharmacy ( I'm the only goat owner in the area so... couldn't ask for the goat one)
I may be mistaken, but I do believe he seems a bit better today

Reactions: 3

toth boer goats

· #17 · Mar 20, 2021

The penG must be injected.
Do not give orally, it will kill the gut.

If the goat has listeria, will need penG injected until symptoms disappear and continue there after for a day or two.

If it is polio, thiamine injections will have to be weaned off, after all symptoms are gone and back to normal, it is best to go another few days and wean, so there is no relapsing.

Reactions: 1

happybleats

· #18 · Mar 20, 2021

toth boer goats said:
Do not give orally, it will kill the guy.

What Toth means is it can kill the Gut bacteria. Find injectable asap. Glad there is improvement. Treatment needs to be done for 24 hours AFTER all symptoms are passed and then you start weening off meds over a weeks time.

Best wishes

Reactions: 1

Tanya

· #19 · Mar 20, 2021

Aasiya. How is your goat friend today?

Reactions: 2

toth boer goats

· #20 · Mar 21, 2021

I corrected that from guy to gut. The cell phone did that weird correction.

So now it says what it is supposed to now.

Reactions: 4

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