...and adults, but mostly the goat kids.

This has always been a bit of a frustration and I wondered what y'all do in these cases. Ok, so you notice a bit of runny nose, no fever. Not bad, no cough. Usually see it from 4-12 mnths. Not everyone, lots of times an isolated case, the animal in a pen with others. These kids are up on cocci treatments, worming, diet, good facilities. Sooo, you maybe keep an eye..sometimes give probios, echinachea, garlic, aspiren, (depending) etc. I have to say when the herd was larger I would throw around antibiotics quite freely, as it was easy to lose track, and an animal could get sicker quite quickly. I'd hit em hard and fast. I've found nipping these things in the bud is the best, because I've seen it really affect overall future health. I'm trying to at least look alot closer at diagnosis in these cases. Started a doeling on antibiotics yesterday, after waiting around a week, maybe a bit more, she never showed fever, but I'm sure now it is bacterial. This isn't something rampant, but common enough every year to bug the heck outta me. ;)

When do you personally decide to treat with antibiotics? Do you try other things first, if so, what? For instance, I've never used human decongestants, but have heard of others who have....? How do you diagnosis the difference between a viral, and/or allergic type ailment as opposed to a respiratory infection(early stages)in your herd with out the obvious benefit of a lab!? I find, I usually have to end up treating with antibiotics, but wonder if things start as something else, lower immune function, and it becomes a case where they catch any ol thing then. So maybe treating just the symptom more aggessively? Thoughts?

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), June 25, 2002