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Abortion
Abortion
There are several factors that can cause a goat to abort. A deficiency in vitamin A, iodine, or copper can cause abortions. Parasites, certain drugs, poisonous plants, and stress can also cause a doe to abort. Mostly occur from 6-8 weeks of pregnancy, veterinary treatment is needed to control infertility. This could occur due to drinking water containing salmonella typhinmurium. Abortion can occur in a goat fed on rich clover or trefoil.
If abortion is widespread in the herd, there is most likely an infectious cause. Chlamydia psittaci is the most common cause of infectious abortions. However, there are other organisms that may be the culprit, and treatment depends on knowing the infectious agent. Therefore, at the first abortion in the herd, send the placenta to a diagnostic lab. Keep the placenta chilled until it arrives at the lab. Also be sure to wear rubber gloves and be cautious; some agents can infect humans as well.
Toxoplasmosis is another major cause of abortion in goats. This is a disease that can also infect humans, and it is particularly dangerous to pregnant women. Toxoplasmosis organisms are carried by cats, particularly young cats, which develop immunity once infected. It may help to keep one or two adult neutered cats for rodent control and to prevent other cats from coming onto your farm. Toxoplasmosis is contracted by goats ingesting cat feces. It can be brought onto your farm in hay or straw, if there were cats on the farm where the hay or straw was stored. Certain feed additives (Deccox, monensin) can help prevent abortions due to toxoplasmosis. Consult your veterinarian for details on how and where to ship the placenta and how to treat the herd if an infectious cause is identified. (Patton, 2003)
Abortion
You have worked very hard for a couple of years to get your doe raised up and bred and you were so eagerly looking forward to watching her with her first little ones only to have her abort. All you have to show for it is a couple of dead little things that you have to dig a hole for. She doesn’t feel very well, refuses to eat; her new little udder is hard, sore and she doesn’t want you messing with it. You have kicked the dog, blamed your spouse, yelled at the kids and, when no one was looking, had a little bit of a cry.
And if you think that that is bad, consider this scenario: You have developed your herd to the point where you now have thirty or so does, all with real good breeding, good udders, wonderful personalities and all that. It is delivery season and almost all of them have delivered stillborn or very weak kids; you have an obvious epidemic on your hands—a crisis not only for the goats but also for your own sanity.
In any of these situations, it is easy to become totally overwhelmed. You’ve looked at books, talked to sympathetic friends and called the vet. But you still can’t make heads or tails out of the whole mess. All the descriptions of the diseases which can cause abortion are so confusing and you discover they’re talking about cows anyhow. But you know you have some horrible bug crawling around your farm wrecking havoc on everything in sight.
In this introductory section we will try to:
Familiarize you with the causes of abortion or weak kids
Acquaint you with some of the options
Cover some of the causes of reduced milk supply that can accompany an abortion
Help you develop the confidence to overcome the problem and get on with the enjoyable task of raising goatsStart by reading all the way through this first section. One of the reasons for trying so hard to present a unique discussion of this topic is that we have been down this abortion epidemic road. The learning process was very agonizing. We may not be able to hit upon an exact diagnosis for you, but hopefully we can ease the frustration just a little bit. Having a look at a broad overview of the topic is a much better way to start than to dive deeply into each specific disease.
Causes of abortion, a preliminary overview
An abortion or the delivery of very weak kids that have little chance of survival can be the result of serious generalized infections of the dam wherein the abortion is only a "minor" or secondary symptom. These diseases include:
Anthrax
BVD
Contagious Caprine pleuropneumonia
IBR/IPV
Listeriosis
MucormycosisThere are several infectious diseases where abortion is the primary symptom; these are generally considered as diseases of the reproduction process and frequently occur in epidemics known as an "abortion storm." These are the things that generally send shivers through all livestock producers and cause millions of dollars in losses to the agricultural community each year. And, unfortunately, some of them are rather frequent visitors to the goat raiser. If you have multiple abortions in your herd, chances are pretty good that the cause will be found in this short list.
Aspergillosis
Brucellosis
Campylobacter fetus (Vibrio or vibrionic abortion)
Chlamydial abortion
Epididymitis (Brucella
Leptospirosis
Nocardiosis
Salmonellosis
Toxoplasmosis
TrichmoniasisThe following deficiencies can lead to abortion, weak or stillborn babies:
Caloric deficiency
General nutritional deficiencies
Hypoprogesteronism
Iodine deficiency
Manganese deficiency
Protein deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency
White muscle diseasePoisonings can also be the cause of abortion:
Nitrate/nitrite poisoning
Selenium poisoning
Sweet clover poisoning
Western yellow pine poisoningThere are a few other, rather weird miscellaneous disorders that can cause these problems but which don’t fall into any neat, tidy category:
Border disease (Hairy shaker)
CNS congenital anomilies
Myopathies, general
Myodysplasia
Rift Valley feverMake a note as to when the abortion takes place. These periods are generally referred to as the first third, middle third and last third of gestation. Furthermore, an "abortion" may show up at the end of a very normal appearing pregnancy, causing delivery a few days early or on time but with stillborn or weak offspring or a fetus which has obviously been dead a long time and which probably have to be manually removed.
And now for a further complication of the problem:
Abortions or the delivery of dead/weak kids are frequently accompanied by severe problems in milk production. Some examples: the doe may never produce any milk (not a single drop!); she may appear at first to have some milk and then dry up; she may produce just a small amount of milk; she may produce a lot of milk, have no babies to take it and have a rapidly growing and very painful udder. It may be nearly impossible to determine if the problems with the udder are related to the disease which caused the abortion; in some cases they will be and in others they may not. (Now your vet won’t talk to you that way, will he/she?) Nevertheless, you will have to deal with the problem.
And for a final complication: it is relevant to ask what percentage of the herd is affected? Obviously, if you own only one doe and she has an abortion, you have a 100% abortion problem, but it would be hard to make guesses about the infection rate. But if you have 100 does and only one abortion, you can be fairly confident that you are not dealing with a serious infectious disease. You would, therefore, begin to look elsewhere for causes. But when you start having numerous abortions within a large herd, then the matter becomes grave. You have to start puzzling out which of the many causes is creeping through your herd like an invading army. You will want to enlist the aid of a qualified diagnostic laboratory to test the fetus, the afterbirth and the dam for indicators of the more common abortion-causing diseases. You may, depending on the results, want to test all members of the herd. By the time this whole process is over, you will learn a lot about disease, antibodies, titers and all sorts of technical terms you may have never heard of before.
Now, let’s take a moment to summarize what we have covered so far:
In using the term "abortion" we are talking about a large number diseases or disorders which can include the delivery of dead or weak offspring.
The defining event can occur at any time during the pregnancy and may also be the culmination of a gestation of normal duration.
The causes of abortion include:
Generalized infections
Infectious diseases where abortion is the primary symptom
Deficiencies
Poisonings
MiscellaneousAn abortion is frequently followed by problems in milk production, which may or may not be related to the cause of the abortion.
The percentage of the herd affected by abortions may be helpful in determining the cause and the level of response to it.
General treatment considerations
When you have an abortion or delivery of stillborn or extremely weak kids, you should do as much as you can to try to discover the cause. A fetal death in late pregnancy is almost always infectious in origin; if more than one doe aborts, then you definitely have to consider the presence of a disease. In these cases, the fetus, afterbirth and blood from the doe should be submitted to a diagnostic laboratory by your veterinarian.
Abortions in early gestation are fluently due to the ingestion of toxic substances from plants or environmental contaminants. Other non-infectious causes include: malnutrition, Vitamin A deficiency, crowding, injury, fatigue, shock, drugs (including some wormers), poisons or chemicals.
In an abortion, there will not be the usual enlargement and discharges from the vulva. There will be little falling of the sides by the root of the tail. Frequently, there will be no preparatory signs whatsoever, especially if early in the pregnancy.
After an abortion, the afterbirth and bedding should be burned. She should be isolated from other members of the herd until a diagnosis has been completed. Treat her just as if she has delivered, with lots of "TLC." The abortion causes page may suggest some treatment measures for specific abortion-related diseases. Otherwise, give the doe a long-acting broad spectrum antibiotic such as LA200® or 48hr penicillin. Taking her temperature may provide some information about the seriousness of an infection (but not always). If she has a high temp or is in obvious pain, she can be given aspirin or other pain killer as recommended by your vet. Symptomatic treatment of other signs such has runny eyes or lameness may help her feel better.
If she has an infection of the uterus, that should be treated aggressively with Nolvasan® suspension or uterine boluses.
Pay careful attention to the cleanliness of the tail, vulva and back of the udder, keeping discharges frequently cleaned off.
Nutritional needs should receive careful attention. If she will not be producing milk, you will want to avoid large amounts of high protein feeds; but a well-balanced ration should be provided. It is extremely important that she not go "off feed" (stop eating) at this time of high stress. Make sure that she has access to her "favorite" treeats as well as leaves, branches, fresh grass, balanced concentrate ration and the like. If in doubt, it is much more important that she continue EATING than that she eat "properly." For once she stops eating, the situation can become grim real rapidly. If she has surviving babies to feed or if you decide to milk her, or at least to try, then she should receive a normal diet.
Pay attention to her general health. Has she been recently wormed? Does she need to be treated for liver flukes? Parasitic infections seem to blossom during times of stress.
Finally, there are some situations where it is probably best not to rebreed a doe who has aborted due to a serious disease. Even worse, the owner should consider removing from the herd a doe who could be a carrier of a serious infectious disease. These decisions are best made in consultation with your veterinarian.
For help in sending things to a lab, click HERE
DIMINISHED MILK PRODUCTION
Following an abortion or a difficult delivery, particularly if there are no surviving kids, a common sequela is a failure to produce a normal supply of milk. There may even be a total lack of milk production. This situation has to be "played by ear," since the udder may completely dry up no matter how hard you try. On the other hand, by keeping at it and gently mlking her two or three times a day, you can sometimes nurse the udder back to full (or near full) production.
For information purposes, the following is a list of some of the diseases which can cause a drop in milk production. Any of these can occur in combination with an abortion or unsuccessful delivery. In fact, the digestive disorders such as displaced abomasum, indigestion, etc. do occur quite regularly following a difficult delivery ("hard pull"): (The page numbers can be searched for, where the topics have been completed)
ANAPLASMOSIS
COBALT DEFICIENCY
COPPER DEFICIENCY
CRYPTOCOCCOSIS
DISPLACED ABOMASUM
DISTENSION OF ABOMASUM
DYSTROPHY CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS, VIT D
FOOT ROT
GASTRITIS
HARDWARE DISEASE
INTESTINAL TORSION
KETOSIS
LEPTOSPIROSIS
LIVER FLUKE
MASTITIS, COLIFORM
MASTITIS, MYCOPLASMA
MYXEDEMA (THYROID)
PERITONITIS
PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY
POSTPARTURIENT HEMOGLOBINURIA
SALT DEFICIENCY
SIMPLE INDIGESTION
TORSION OF ABOMASUM
Causes of abortion (detailed)
Abortion diseases:
An infection traveling through the maternal blood stream and making its way to the fetus (from the maternal blood stream). The most important of these (the "Big Three") are: Campylobacter (Vibrio), Chlamydia and Toxoplasmosis.
The most distinguishing symptoms of each disease are highlighted with the funny color type.
CAMPYLOBACTER FETUS
aka: Vibrio, vibrionic abortioin
SYMPTOMS
ESTRUS CYCLES LONG AND IRREGULAR
INFERTILITY (STERILITY)
ABORTION at 4 - 6 weeks before due
BABIES - WEAK OR STILLBORN
FETUS - BODILY CAVITIES FILLED WITH REDDISH FLUID
DIARRHEA (DOE)
RETAINED AFTERBIRTH
METRITIS (UTERINE INFECTION), PYOMETRA (PUS)
VAGINAL DISCHARGE
VULVA-VAGINITIS, PUSTULES, NODULES
This is a fairly common form of abortion in goats, but not so much as in sheep. The abortion will occur a little earlier than in Chlamydia. It is also to be suspected if there is difficulty in getting the doe to "settle" or conceive. Numerous attempts at breeding may be noticed. It is frequently accompanied by vulva-vaginitis and this may help to distinguish it from the breeding difficulties caused by an ovarian cyst (but, there are exceptions). It is about the only reproductive disease that may be accompanied by diarrhea.
Treatment consists of isolation of does which abort, antibiotics (but many strains are resistant) and vaccination of unaffected does. Aborting does develop an immunity which may be of rather short duration and it is generally recommended that an outbreak be followed up with routine vaccation. A preparation for sheep can be obtained without a prescription from most suppliers; from your veterinarian you may be able to obtain it in combination with Chlamydia psittaci. It would be our recommendation that laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis and discussion with your vet precede the use of either of these vaccines. Goats are not routinely vaccinated against these diseases unless there is a specific reason to do so.
CHLAMYDIAL ABORTION
aka: Enzootic abortion, kebbing abortion
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION, SOMETIMES FOLLOWED BY DEATH OF DOE
PREMATURE DELIVERY [21 days early]
MOTHER GOES OFF FEED
AFTERBIRTH COMMONLY RETAINED
COTYLEDONS NECROTIC [Dead, brownish]
BABIES WEAK OR STILLBORN
FETUS CLAY-COLORED, MUMMIFIED, WITH DISTENDED ABDOMEN
ASSOCIATED WITH TICKS, RODENTS OR BIRDS
This disease is one of the most common causes of abortion in goats. It is the one with the classic tendency to present you with dead or extremely weak babies almost exactly three weeks ahead of the scheduled due date. Anomalies of the cotyledons ("leathery" or necrotic [dead, rotten, brownish] with thickened spaces between) and fetus (mummified or covered with "clay" colored flaky material; enlarged lymph nodes) are characteristic. If the dead fetus is carried inside the doe for a length of time, there is an increased chance that the mother will die.
It is commonly transmitted by ticks, rodents and birds rather than sexual contact, but its incidence seems to increase when new members are brought into the herd. It must always be considered when you have an abortion epidemic. Treatment consists of segregating all aborting does and using LA200® (or other tetracycline) on ALL does and surviving kids. The good news is that those who abort will usually breed successfully the following year and deliver with no difficulty. However, if they are infected very late in pregnancy they may deliver normally this time and then abort next year.
There is a vaccine, available from your vet or Pipestone, which may be helpful. If you or others in your area have an outbreak, vaccination should certainly be considered. Some have found it very beneficial and for others the results have been somewhat disappointing. Most sources suggest that exposed does receive LA200® 2 weeks apart at mid-gestation. Consideration should also be given to the elimination of ticks, rodents and birds.
TOXOPLASMOSIS
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION AND PREMATURE DELIVERY
BABIES WEAK OR DEAD
ANOREXIA (LOSS OF APPETITE)
ATAXIA (INCOORDINATION) / PARALYSIS
CACHEXIA (WEAKNESS)
DEPRESSED AND/OR EXCITABILITY
DYSPNEA (SHORTNESS OF BREATH) AND COUGH
ENCEPHALITIS (BRAIN INFLAMMATION) AND C N S DYSFUNCTION
GASTROENTERITIS
ICTERUS (JAUNDICE)
TEMPERATURE - ABOVE NORMAL (NOT ALWAYS)
TREMBLES / TREMORS / MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS
WEIGHT LOSS
COTYLEDONS - WHITE SPOTS
CATS AND/OR RODENTS TRANSMIT
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most fascinating diseases that a livestock producer will ever encounter. It can lead to a delivery season which turns into a living nightmare as you watch one doe after another deliver weak and dead babies. Typically, if a doe has three kids, one will be stillborn, one will be small and very weak (and may or may not survive heroic attempts at rescue) and one will appear fairly normal. The disease is caused by a protozoa which lives in the blood which goes through several stages, at least one of which will usually be in the family cat which frequents the barn and uses the feed storage area for a bathroom. Getting rid of the disease in your goats may require the euthanasia of your favorite cat.
[In adult cats there may be no symptoms; if any there will be disturbances of the central nervous system. In kittens, there will be generalize acute illness with fever, respiratory signs, diarrhea and nervous signs.]
Another tragically interesting aspect is the wide variety of symptoms which can be exhibited by the doe. Some will appear perfectly healthy while others will be critically ill. Disturbances of the central nervous system (CNS) are the most typical. The doe may appear uncoordinated or show paralysis which makes you think that perhaps she has suffered a stroke. She will commonly refuse to eat and develop severe digestive discomfort. She then may become more susceptible to other infections, such as worms or liver flukes.
Treatment is of limited value. However, it is our recommendation that you perform blood testing on all the adults in the herd. This may be fairly expensive, but at least you will be able to make critical decisions on the basis of factual data. Also, any cats which have access to the area should also be tested. The blood work will provide you with blood antibody levels, known as "titers." A zero reading indicates that the animal has probably not been exposed to the disease. Any titer level above 60 indicates a probable active disease state. Readings in the low range would be indicative of exposure with immunity possibly sufficient to prevent the disease. Of course, you should work in close conjunction with your vet in interpreting the results and also compare them with what you know about the fate of the offspring of the tested does. You would expect highest levels in those which had the worst reproductive results. The fetus and placenta can also be examined for active toxoplasmosis; cool (but do not freeze) them and transport to your vet for shipment to the diagnostic lab.
WARNING! This disease is transmissible to human handlers and can lead to abortion in pregnant females. If any members of your family are pregnant or could become pregnant and have been or may be exposed to toxoplasmosis, they should consult with their health care provider immediately. Additionally, unborn (human) babies can develop brain damage if the pregnant mother consumes undercooked or raw meat from an animal infected with toxoplasmosis. In fact, there is new evidence that more human cases result from the eating of contaminated meat than from cat feces. If you are unsure of the cause of any abortion in a farm animal and are pregnant, you should consult your veterinarian AND your doctor to see if testing is in order. It is possible to contract the disease from handling an infected fetus or placenta, from the feces of infected cats or rodents. The disease can also be transmitted to non-pregnant family members of either sex and we are definitely not qualified to discuss that situation; you should seek the advice of your doctor if exposed or feel that you have symptoms that may be related to the disease. In short, this is not a situation to be taken lightly.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of toxoplasmosis is that it eventually just goes away. It is debatable whether treatment measures have any role in creating this scenario. This means that if you get rid of the offending cats and if Suzie Q survives the ordeal, she will probably return to full reproductive vigor.
Comments from personal experience: We experienced a toxoplasmosis epidemic in our herd a few years ago. The results were disastrous; a majority of the babies were born dead or extremely weak. We had the does all tested and they showed a wide range of antibody levels with some way above the "disease" level. The buck tested positive as well. My antibody level was below the disease level but indicative of significant exposure. We instituted a rigorous program of treatment which I can provide upon request. But there is no way of knowing it's actual benefits since there are many cases of complete recovery without treatment.
SALMONELLOSIS
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION UP TO 6 WEEK BEFORE TERM
DIARRHEA
TENESMUS (PULSATING ANUS)/ NERVOUS
TEMPERATURE - 105 AND ABOVE OR VARIABLE AND INTERMITTENT
WEIGHT LOSS
ANOREXIA, LIGHT
DEHYDRATION
DEPRESSED
Although Salmonella is usually thought of as a leading cause of diarrhea, certain forms of the organism can also lead to abortion. It can easily be spread by new animals brought onto the premises or from babies with diarrhea being in contact with pregnant adults. It can also be brought in by rodents and birds. From the symptoms above, it is obvious that the doe may show signs of serious illness, which may even result in death.
Treatment begins with isolation of any animals which show signs of the disease. Tetracyclines (LA200®) or sulfa drugs are of limited benefit. Survivors should breed successfully in subsequent years but as carriers they can infect newcomers to the herd, which will abort. Isolation and prompt treatment of babies with diarrhea which may be of the Salmonella type will go a long way in preventing this type of reproductive disease. Crowding and poor sanitation, especially of the babies, greatly increases the chances of a Salmonella infection.
ASPERGILLOSIS
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION
LABORED BREATHING
FETUS - GRAYISH-RED AREAS THAT RESEMBLE RINGWORM
COTYLEDONS - THICK, NECROTIC WITH YELLOW, CHEESY PLAQUES
Aspergillosis is a fungal infection that is usually associated with respiratory problems, especially in man. However, in rare instances this and other fungal organisms can cause abortions which are fairly hard to diagnose. The ringworm-like lesions on the fetus and/or afterbirth may be the only noticeable symptom. The only effective remedies can be obtained only from your veterinarian.
The best prevention is to keep goats in areas that have not previously housed poultry.
TRICHMONIASIS
ABORTION
ESTRUS CYCLES LONG AND IRREGULAR WITH FAILURE TO CONCEIVE
UTERINE INFECTION WITH PYOMETRA (DISCHARGE)
Most typically a vaginal discharge at breeding will be the only sign. This is basically a disease of cattle. I can't recall ever hearing of a case in goats.
Q-FEVER
Coxiella burnetti, a Rickettseal infection
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION
PNEUMONIA
EYE INFECTIONS
Fairly rare disease which can affect all species of livestock and man. In fact, people can become carriers and pass the disease to farm animals. Anyone with flu-like symptoms on a farm where Q-fever caused abortions are present should see their physician. Organisms probably transmitted in milk (less often via feces, afterbirth or meat). Diagnosis is quite difficult and treatment with tetracyclines may be unsuccessful.
BRUCELLOSIS (BANG'S DISEASE)
SYMPTOMS
INFERTILITY
ABORTION IN 4th MONTH WITH PROLONGED VAGINAL DISCHARGE AFTERWARDS
STILLBIRTH OR WEAK BABIES
RETAINED PLACENTA
MILK PRODUCTION FALLS
KERATITIS (INFLAMMATION OF CORNEA OF EYE); CONJUNCTIVITIS
BRONCHITIS
ARTHRITIS
Brucellosis is a "species specific" disease that can affect cattle, sheep and goats. It is of historical significance in being readily transmitted to people where it is known as "undulant fever" or "Malta fever" and was very common a century ago. Since then, rigid eradication programs have been very effective in nearly eliminating the disease from modern cattle. Brucella abortus in cattle, B. melitensis in goats and B. ovis in sheep are three very different diseases. It is quite rare in goats, where it is known as "Malta fever". Although the symptom is more common in rams, the organism can lead to orchitis (inflammation of the testicles) or epididymitis in billy goats. However, there may be no other symptoms except abortions.
Treatment consists of isolating the animal at once and discussing the situation with a qualified large animal vet. Culling may be the best option.
CAUTION: There have recently been a few cases of Brucella melitensis in Starr County, Texas. Goat raisers in that area can contact the Texas Animal Health Commission (or the USDA) for free testing to see if their animals may be carrying the disease and for other steps to take to assure the safety of their herd and handlers.
Vaccination Those interested in a new genetically engineered vaccine for Brucella melitensis for goats and humans can contact Brucellosis Research, NADC, PO Box 70, Ames IA 50010.
LEPTOSPIROSIS
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION
ANEMIA ANOREXIA, LIGHT (OFF FEED) PROSTRATION DYSPNEA (SHORTNESS OF BREATH) TEMPERATURE - 105 AND ABOVE HEMOGLOBINURIA (BLOODY OR CLEAR RED URINE)
ICTERUS (JAUNDICE) MILK PRODUCTION FALLS MILK - THICK, GRAY OR YELLOW, BLOODY WITH NO CHANGE IN UDDER
Leptospirosis is a very important disease in cattle; nearly all producers regularly vaccinate against it. It is less common in goats, but probably has not received the attention which it deserves. Some goat people have now included Leptospirosis in their vaccination routine. It can cause a generalized illness with bloody urine and abortions being the most notable signs.
Treatment is unsuccessful; vaccines are available and should be considered if the disease is found in the area. There is considerable evidence that it can be transmitted by wildlife (in addition to rodents), possibly deer. It can be transmitted to dogs and man.
General infections where abortion can be a symptom
ANTHRAX
SYMPTOMS
WOUNDS, ILLNESS FOLLOWS
MOSTLY LATE SUMMER TO FALL
EDEMA
CARDIOVASCULAR IRREGULARITIES
LABORED BREATHING
COLLAPSE
MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS, TREMBLING, STAGGERING
EXCITED, IRRITABLE FOLLOWED BY DEPRESSION
TEMPERATURE, 105 AND ABOVE
ABSCESS, TONGUE
THROAT, SWELLING and LESIONS
RUMEN STASIS AND BLOAT
ABORTION
MILK PRODUCTION FALLS
SUDDEN DEATH
BLOOD, DARK , THICK, FAILS TO CLOT
BODILY OPENINGS, BLOODY DISCHARGE
RIGOR MORTIS ABSENT
Because of the rapid course of this disease, diagnosis almost always involves the observation of a dead animal. The characteristic finding is a bloated carcass with dark blood oozing from bodily opening and the lack of rigor mortis. (This is different from the small amount of normal-colored blood that many animals emit from the nostrils at death.) "Subacute" cases may abort, but this will be accompanied by other symptoms which make it clear that the animal is extremely ill (high fever, refuses to eat, hemorrhages inside mouth, slobbering, weakness). In goats, there may be trembling, difficult breathing, and convulsions followed by death.
Whenever anthrax is suspected, one should not touch the carcass. Man is very susceptible to the disease. Your vet and/or local livestock authorities should be contacted as per local laws. Treatment should not be attempted.
CONTAGIOUS CAPRINE PLEUROPNEUMONIA
Mycoplasma
ABORTION
MYCOPLASMAL MASTITIS
ARCHED BACK
HEAD EXTENDED, LOWERED
COUGH
LABORED BREATHING
PNEUMONIA IN ONE LUNG ONLY
NOSTRILS, WATERY BILATERAL DISCHARGETEMPERATURE ABOVE NORMAL
WINTER
Mycoplasmal abortions can be the result of the same or related organisms which cause a terrible type of mastitis (and sick babies) referred to in the section on Udder Care. The distinguishing feature of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia will be obvious respiratory distress and fever. The only successful treatment is isolation and tylosin (Tylan®); but there will be many losses.
LISTERIOSIS
"Circling Disease"
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION
C N S DYSFUNCTION
AIMLESS WALKING
CIRCLING
ATAXIA (INCOORDINATION)
LEAN AGAINST OBJECTS
BLINDNESSANOREXIA
SOLITUTDE - SEEKS
DEPRESSEDSALIVA - STRINGY
DYSPLAGIA (CAN'T SWALLOW )
THROAT AND JAW PARALYSIS
FACE - TWITCHING, TREMORS, PARALYSIS
EARS DROOP / ENCEPHALITIS (BRAIN INFLAMMATION)STRABISMUS (SQUINTING)
CONJUNCTIVITISTEMPERATURE - 105 AND ABOVE
RODENTS
"Circling disease," while more common in cattle can be a problem for many types of livestock. The most easily seen signs will those of encephalitis of the neurons on one side, which causes the animal to walk off-course to the right or left, hence the name "circling disease." If the organisms invade the uterus, abortions and stillbirths are likely (with none of the usual pre-delivery signs). It reportedly responds to early treatment with high doses of penicillin. The disease can be transmitted to human, especially when handling aborted fetuses.
MUCORMYCOSIS
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION WITH PLACENTITIS
DIARRHEA
LABORED BREATHING
LESIONS OF BODY SURFACES, LYMPH NODES, GI TRACT
This is a fungal disease for which there is no known treatment.
NOCARDIOSIS
SYMPTOMS
DROOLING (EXCESS WATERY SALIVATION)
LACRIMATION (TEARS)
TEMPERATURE - ABOVE NORMAL
ABORTIONUDDER - FIRM AND SWOLLEN, POSSIBLE WITH FISTULAS OR SINUSES
NODULES - WHITE EXUDATE WITH SMALL WHITE LUMPS
LYMPH NODES ENLARGED
Nocardiosis is primarily known as a very dangerous type of mastitis which can cause rapid loss of condition. It can lead to a systmeic illness with high fever, lack of appetite and frequently fatal results. It may spread to the lungs and lymph nodes, which will contain pus. Abortion may occur if the disease occurs during pregnancy.
Prognosis is guarded. Novobiocin infusions, lancing and treating of abscesses, and systemic penicillin may be of value>
B V D
Bovine virus diarrhea
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION AND WEAK BABIES
ANOREXIA
DIARRHEA WITH TENESMUS (STRAINING)
FECES, BLOODY, MUCOUS IN, FOUL SMELLING
RUMEN STASIS
BLOAT
DEHYDRATIONEYES, OPACITY (CLOUDINESS, CATARACTS), CONJUNCTIVITIS, CORNEAL ULCER
NOSTRILS CRUSTY
MOUTH - INFLAMMATION
TONGUE, SLIPPERY, EXFOLIATEINTERDIGITAL LESIONS
LAMENESSDEPRESSED
PULSE AND RESPIRATION RAPID
TEMPERATURE 104 - 106, THEN NORMAL OR BELOW
What is a cattle disease doing here? Two reasons: some may also want to refer to this section in dealing with cattle or other species and BVD is important in demonstrating the wide range of symptoms that a single virus can cause. I'm sure there are any number of as-yet undiscovered viruses out there that could cause problems (including abortion) in goats. Because there is as yet no treatment for a viral infection, one can only alleviate symptoms, prevent secondary infections (possibly with antibiotics) and prevent the spread of the disease through such measures as isolation. Therefore, the lesson to be learned is important: to look at the totality of any group of symptoms and not simply concentrate on the abortion as the only issue.
I B R / I P V
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis / Infectious pustular vulvo vaginitis [herpes virus]
SYMPTOMS
ABORTION, STILLBIRTH, WEAK BABIES
ANOREXIA
WEIGHT LOSS
DEPRESSED
DIARRHEATEMPERATURE - 105 AND ABOVE
DYSPNEA (SHORTNESS OF BREATH)
RESPIRATION - RAPIDLESIONS - MOUTH (ULCERS, GENERAL)
NOSTRILS - CRUSTY WITH WATERY OR BLOODY DISCHARGE
DROOLING, EXCESS WATERY SALIVATIONVULVA-VAGINITIS - PUSTULES, NODULES, SWOLLEN, EXUDATE
TAIL HELD UP
This viral disease of cattle is here for the same reasons as BVD, and it can cause an even more widespread list of symptoms.
Deficiencies of various items can also cause abortions. For these we will list only the symptoms and suggest that you look at these topics in other sections where available.
CALORIC DEFICIENCY
APPETITE, NORMAL
BABIES WEAK
CONDITION, LOSS OF
GROWTH RETARDED
INFERTILITY
MILK PRODUCTION FALLS
PUBERTY DELAYED
STILLBIRTH
WEIGHT LOSS
GENERAL NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES:
ANOREXIA, LIGHT
INFERTILITY
HYPOPROGESTERONISM
ABORTION
ESTRUS CYCLES SHORT AND IRREGULAR
IODINE DEFICIENCY
ABORTION
ALOPECIA
BABIES, WEAK
GOITER (In mother and/or baby)
INFERTILITY
STILLBIRTH
THROAT SWELLING
THYROID ENLARGED
MANGANESE DEFICIENCY:
ABORTION
ANESTRUS
BABIES, BLIND
BABIES, DEFORMED
ESTRUS CYCLES - LONG AND IRREGULAR
GROWTH RETARDED
HEAL, FAIL TO
HEAT, SILENT
INFERTILTIY
JOINT, ENLARGED
LAMENESS
OBESITY
PROTEIN DEFICIENCY:
ANEMIA
ANOREXIA, LIGHT
BABIES - WEAK
CACHEXIA (WEAKNESS)
CONDITION - LOSS OF
ESTRUS CYCLES - LONG AND IRREGULAR
GROWTH RETARDED
INFERTILITY
MILK PRODUCTION FALLS
PLACENTA RETAINED
STILLBIRTH
WEIGHT LOSS
VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY: ABORTION
ATAXIA
BABIES - WEAK
BLINDNESS, NIGHT
BRISKET EDEMA
CATARACT
CONVULSIONS WITHOUT PADDLING
CORNEAL ULCER
COUGH
DIARRHEA
HEAD HELD TO ONE SIDE
INFERTILITY
LABORED BREATHING
LACRIMATION
NOSTRILS - WATERY BILATRAL DISCHARGE OPACITY
PLACENTA _ RETAINED
SKIN - BROWN, GREASY EXUDATE
STAGGERING
STILLBIRTH
WEIGHT LOSS
WHITE MUSCLE DISEASE:
ARCHED BACK
BABIES WEAK
DIARRHEA
DYSPNEA
FEET - TOES SPLAYING
GROWTH RETARDED
NURSING STOPS, WON'T SUCKLE
PROSTRATION
STIFF
STILLBIRTH
SUDDEN DEATH
Poisoning as a result of ingestion of chemicals. The exact signs as they relate to abortion or damage to the fetus are highly dependant on the specific time in the gestation process when the event takes place.
NITRATE / NITRITE POISONING:
ABORTION
ATAXIA
BLOOD - BROWN (CHOCOLATE)
BREATH SMELLS OF KETONES
BREATHS THROUGH MOUTH
CACHEXIA (WEAKNESS)
CONVULSIONS WITHOUT PADDLING
CYANOSIS (BLUE SKIN AND LIPS)
DYSPNEA
HYPERESTHESIA
LABORED BREATHING
LUNG SOUNDS - CRACKLING, SPLASHING
NERVOUS
PULSE - RAPID
TEMPERATURE - SUBNORMAL
SELENIUM POISONING
ALOPECIA (HAIR LOSS)
ANOREXIA
ATAXIA (IN COORDINATION)
BABIES - BLIND
BABIES - DEFORMED
BABIES - WEAK
BLINDNESS
CACHEXIA (WEAKNESS)
CORONA - HOOFS CRACK AT
DEPRESSED
FORE LIMBS WEAK
HOOFS - ABNORMAL GROWTH, DISTORTED
HOOFS - CRACKED
LABORED BREATHING
LAMENESS
NOSTRILS - FROTHY DISCHARGE
PUPILS DILATED
RUN INTO OBJECTS
STAGGERING
STIFF
STILLBIRTH
TEMPERATURE - NORMAL, THEN SUBNORMAL
TONGUE PARALYSIS
WEIGHT LOSS
SWEET CLOVER POISONING
ANEMIA
BABIES WEAK
BLOOD - FAILS TO CLOT FECES BLOODY (NOT NECESSARILY DIARRHEA)
LAMENESS
NOSEBLEEDS
STIFF
STILLBIRTH
WESTERN YELLOW PINE
ABORTION
Miscellaneous causes of abortion
C N S CONGENITAL ANOMILES
AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR
CONVULSIONS WITHOUT PADDLING
HIND LIMBS WEAK
MUSCLES ATROPHY PROTOPORPHYRIA
RECUMBANCY
RELUCTANT TO MOVE
STIFF
STILLBIRTH
UREMIA
WEAVING
MYOPATHIES, GENERAL
BABIES WEAK
STILLBIRTH
MYODYSPLASIA
BABIES WEAK
GROWTH RETARDED
RIFT VALLEY FEVER
ABORTION
CACHEXIA (WEAKNESS)
DEPRESSED
DIARRHEA
STAGGERING
TEMPERATURE ABOVE NORMAL
OTHERS:
Poor feeding, malnutrition
Crowding
Trauma, injury
Fatigue
Shock
Drugs, chemicals, poisons
Overdose of iodine
Ticks (tick fever, paralysis)
Abortions late term/weak kids
Most of the time, This is Chlamydia, or Leptospirosis. Toxoplasmosis can cause it, but is less likely. Send placenta and dead kid to the vet for culture and sensitivity.
I would start the does on
4cc Biomycin/100lbs SQ on day one, and continue on days 2-10 with Terramycin
soluble powder in the water at 500-750 mg/head/day. This will treat Chlamydia
and Leptospirosis, and will not hurt them. Pregnancies that are alive can be
saved.
The ones that are dead will go ahead and abort, but you can save the
live ones. Q fever, Arthrogyroposis, and Akabane (Akabane and Arthrogyroposis
are the same) are viral origin, and will not show up if the vet does not do a
viral check. These are usually spread by gnats that sting/bite the goat. You
would likely see some deformed kids, or mummified kids. Be sure to allow at
least one gallon of water per doe, and mix it in a tub that will hold enough for
all the goats to drink.
Example: you have a 20 gallon tub for 20 does. Mix
fresh solution each day, and turn off the water. Do not add more water until
that is consumed. Make sure there is no other source of water. Toxoplasmosis
can be prevented if you have Rumensin in the feed, mineral, or the blocks out.
Toxoplasma Gondii is a protozoa, similar to coccidiosis, and is killed in the
digestive tract by Rumensin before it can invade the lining of the digestive
tract, and become a problem.
Author: Coni Ross
Abortion/Tertracycline
I would give each doe 4cc SQ of Biomycin per
100lbs on day one, then put Terramycin soluble powder in the water. It comes in
different strengths, depending on the manufacturer. Clean the trough out each
morning, and add fresh drug each morning, fill the trough, and turn off the
water until all of it is consumed. I would mix it so that a minimum of
500mg/day/doe.
So for example: a package with 10 grams is enough for 20 goats
for one day. Take the number of grams listed on the front of the package, and
divide it by two, and you will have the number of goats it will treat. 1 gram is
1,000 mg, so if you need 500mg/goat, then one gram will treat 2 goats. It will
also treat Leptospirosis, which causes abortion also.
There is a Chlamydia vaccine, but it is not available at this time. If you can get some of the vaccine, I would vaccinate the goats before you breed them next time. Vaccinate, booster, then put the buck in. Be sure to vaccinate your bucks also.
Author: Coni Ross
Late delivered dead kid She has an infection. I would give at least 15cc SQ of Penicillin, and 10cc Polyserum or Bovi Sera plus a weight appropriate dose of Banamine. I would give penicillin at least 3 days.
Author: Coni Ross
Pyometra in a doe? The vet mis-diagnosed your doe, and aborted her. I have never heard of a doe with Pyometra. That is a dog problem. Goats have endometritis from a dirty delivery or from a dead kid in the uterus. Mummified kids are a problem occasionally when one fetus dies in early gestation, but the other fetus is still alive. Some types of viral disease (Akabane/Arthrogyroposis) can cause mummified fetus to occur. Even in humans, occasionally one twin will die in utero, and the other twin is delivered fine.
Does Bucks Goat Diseases and Treatments Goat Medication and Dosage Breeding
