[littleheathens]

We've been treating this lamb for polio since we found him on his side last Monday morning. He's been getting the thiamine and antibiotic around the clock and slowly improved. He also receives probiotic and garlic. He's always eaten and drank well, and improved daily. We increased the thiamine after 5 days because the vet drastically underestimated his weight. (I was camping on an island with my kids so my hubs was doing all of this, to his chagrin. He did well but it is not his wheelhouse).

He can get himself up now, move around a little, but he has one leg that he doesn't have good control of. I wonder if there is some herbal or other natural concoction that might help him heal and recover more quickly. Comfrey? EO's? SJW- what else can we do? I can't find replamin in stores near me but I'll order some and get some Bo-Se too but those will take a few days. Anyone know 1 retailer that carries both?

 

[NigerianDwarfOwner707]

What antibiotic did you use? Is he still on both thiamine and antibiotic? They should be continued 24 hours after all symptoms are gone.

 

[toth boer goats]

I agree.

Did you give banamine or Dex to help brain swelling?

I would get a vet involved.

 

[happybleats]

Def needs either banamine or dexamethsone to help his recovery.
What dose of thiamine and antibiotics is he getting?

 

[littleheathens]

Like I mentioned, we did get the vet involved. He had banamine too. He finished his course of antibiotics (this started 10 days ago, remember). She prescribed 1.5cc of 500mg/mL thiamine 3x daily since Friday (he's 45#). He really is recovering steadily but I would do more support for him if I could.

 

[littleheathens]

Here's a photo of the sling we rigged up- it's a steel bar (from a car roof rack) with a bifold camp chair (with handles!) suspended over a couple of saw horses. It worked great for him! He is well past this stage now but we were happy with this.

 

[NigerianDwarfOwner707]

antibiotics

Name please.

 

[NigerianDwarfOwner707]

Can you list all the symptoms you experienced as well?

 

[Tanya]

Aw poor baby. Good luck in getting him back up.

 

[happybleats]

If he had listeriosis its not uncommon for permanent damage. If he is otherwise symptom free..PT maybe needed. Frankincense is great for nerve damage..Lemongrass eo for ligaments..Dr Christopher BF&c is great too..

 

[littleheathens]

If he had listeriosis its not uncommon for permanent damage. If he is otherwise symptom free..PT maybe needed. Frankincense is great for nerve damage..Lemongrass eo for ligaments..Dr Christopher BF&c is great too..

Thanks- this is the kind of info I was digging for.

 

[littleheathens]

Can you list all the symptoms you experienced as well?

I can't- I was hundreds of miles away when this was all going down. Our diagnosis is strong though, if that's what you were wondering about.

 

[LucyLU]

My 3 year old Nigerian Dwarf was diagnosed with Polioencephalomalacia (Polio disease).
She was at the Vet's office for two days and I am now caring for her at home with daily injections. Today is the fifth day and although she seems better, she is still not standing.
Our vet said to feed her only hay (T & A hay) and some fruits and veggies are okay.
Not sure which ones would be best?
Has anyone gone through this with their goats and do you have any advise for me?
Thank you.

 

[NigerianDwarfOwner707]

My 3 year old Nigerian Dwarf was diagnosed with Polioencephalomalacia (Polio disease).
She was at the Vet's office for two days and I am now caring for her at home with daily injections. Today is the fifth day and although she seems better, she is still not standing.
Our vet said to feed her only hay (T & A hay) and some fruits and veggies are okay.
Not sure which ones would be best?
Has anyone gone through this with their goats and do you have any advise for me?
Thank you.

Can you describe all her symptoms, her exact treatment (including names and dosages, and frequency)?

 

[toth boer goats]

Good questions, we do need to know what you are giving her and dosage.
What is her weight?
So we may be able to suggest treatment.

Can you make a hanging sling to get her up?
Massaging her legs and moving them naturally may help in a sling, her legs may be asleep because of no circulation.
Slinging her on and off throughout the day may help.

 

[littleheathens]

My 3 year old Nigerian Dwarf was diagnosed with Polioencephalomalacia (Polio disease).
She was at the Vet's office for two days and I am now caring for her at home with daily injections. Today is the fifth day and although she seems better, she is still not standing.
Our vet said to feed her only hay (T & A hay) and some fruits and veggies are okay.
Not sure which ones would be best?
Has anyone gone through this with their goats and do you have any advise for me?
Thank you.

Yup, getting dosages right is really important. Our vet estimated the weight and was way off. She's great but not perfect. I'm sure that slowed his progress.

Our lamb didn't improve much the last week until I gave him BoSe, then there was a quick little baby step improvement. We just put him with the herd yesterday and we'll watch closely. He's happier there, for sure, but he doesn't have good use of his front leg after almost 4 weeks. We tried to splint his leg but didn't do it right and cut off circulation; I can't decide if a splint (paint stir stick?) and vet wrap is a good thing to employ now or not.

The sling was a hassle, but so worth it to dry him off and get him up.

Our mineral mix doesn't have vit E and he was needing it. We picked handfuls of nutritious weeds often- chicory, comfrey, burdock, dandelion, mulberry, clover... And we would get him out grazing the yard during the day once he could stand, which was good in a multitude of ways.

 

[toth boer goats]

If he is only having an issue with one leg and able to get around, that is an improvement.

Do you think when you wrapped the leg, you cut off circulation so much, the leg is dead?
Is the leg warm or cold?

 

[littleheathens]

No, we just wrapped it for about half a day so we could watch before we put him out on the field. Luckily we didn't do more damage! He only needed a little support so we tried to use a piece of pipe insulation and just wrapped it too tightly. Don't do what I did! Rigid splint and vet wrap would be better.