Good husbandry practices are the best preventive measures against coccidiosis. Regular removal of manure and wasted feed, not feeding on the ground, designing feeders and water systems that minimize fecal contamination, providing a clean source of water, cleaning water tanks and feeders regularly, making sure that watering systems do not leak and that sufficient sunlight enters buildings are examples of such husbandry practices. If goats are kept on solid floors during the winter, maintaining clean and dry bedding is important.
Description
Kids with coccidiosis show a reduction in feed intake and may have diarrhea. Kids with coccidiosis are also weak and depressed and it is obvious something is wrong with them. Kids can sometimes die from coccidiosis. The damage to the kids intestinal mucosa (gut) can be permanent and once recovered the kid can be a chronic poor doer. These kids can have a birthday before they get to market weight, and they are not profitable.
Kids with coccidiosis need to be diagnosed based on clinical history, post mortem lesions and laboratory findings. A veterinary lab is needed to confirm diagnosis. There are treatments for the disease and there are preventative measures a producer can take. To treat the disease after diagnosis, talk to your vet. Sulfamethazine treatment in water works well. Prevention is possible with coccidiostats, a drug that interferes with the lifecycle of coccidia. Coccidiostats stop the build up of coccidia in the intestine of kids, which stops the disease. There are three coccidiostat products available for goat producers. The three products are Rumensin,
Features of Sulfamethazine For Goats
Indications for Use: Use in the treatment of general bacterial infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, and infections of the uterus.
Not approved for use in sheep and goats. Refer to extra-label drug use.
Dosage and Administration: Give an oral dose of 50 mg of sulfamethazine per pound of body weight for 5 days. This means that a 100 lb animal should receive one (1) 5 gram tablet.
Duration of Treatment: A minimum of 2-3 days of treatment may be necessary for most problems. Treatment should not exceed 5 consecutive days.
Packaging: This product comes in bottles of 50 or 100 oblets (tablets) that contain 2.5 grams or 5 grams of sulfamethazine. It also comes as a powder and a liquid.
Precautions and Side Effects: Caution should be used to not overdose, and adequate fluid consumption is necessary during the treatment period.
Milk Withholding: Not established.
Meat Withholding: Not established in sheep and goats. 10 days in cattle.
Drug Type: O-T-C
Manufacturer: Fort Dodge
Prices of Sulfamethazine For Goats
$35.55 – $70.09