Although research still has not come up with a sure cause of FKS, it is believed its caused by too much milk “as well as the proliferation of an "infectious agent" in the gastrointestinal tract.” In 1995 there was wide spread cases of FKS. In questioning producers who have dealt with FKS, a common factor was improvements to Goats diet, often corn, or heavy concentrates. Moms milk comes in richer and in abundance. What ever the actual cause, we need to know the signs and take quick action. Age of infliction is debated but commonly agreed to be between 3 to 21 days old...It takes time for milk to build up in tummies. This can set them up for enterotoxemia, which I have always related to FKS.
Symptoms:
“Characteristically, goat producers reported that newborn kids seem to do fine for a few days after birth, beyond which they start to show depression, weakness and flaccid paralysis without signs of diarrhea and have normal rectal temperature. One common clinical sign reported is distension of the abdomen. The signs of depression and paralysis seem to affect the animals in waves. At one particular point, kids look so bad that they give the appearance of being dead. After some time they seem to recover spontaneously only to go back into coma 15-20 min latter. Affected animals that are not treated may die within a few days.”
Treament
Remove baby from mom/bottle for 24-36 hours..This can be hard to do when baby is weak, but if left to feed on milk, baby will die. Feed electrolytes in place of milk to keep baby hydrated.
need to neutralize acidity of the stomach by administering a bicarbonate (baking soda) Dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda in one 8 oz glass of water and administer 10-20 ml (5-10 ml in tiny tots) of this solution orally. Repeat this procedure 2 to 3 times in the following 3 to 6 hours. Most kids will show clear improvement with this treatment within the following 6 to 10 hours
Milk of magnesia dose is 1/4 cc per pound ever 4-6 hours. To flush toxins from the body
CD antitoxin (not toxoid) to help rid toxicity ... every 12 hours.
Banamine can help relax the gut. 1/4 cc per 25#; 1/8 cc per 12.5 pounds...but give no less then 1/10 cc
Enema can help move things along as well..if baby is not responding. ( see enema file)
If baby is too weak to swallow you will need to tube the baking soda mix. 30-60 cc at a time, repeat in an hour. Don’t over fill baby..keep tabs of his tummy.
It been suggested by some to use a sulfa drug orally. Sulfadimethoxazine with Trimethoprim or Neomycin.
Symptoms:
“Characteristically, goat producers reported that newborn kids seem to do fine for a few days after birth, beyond which they start to show depression, weakness and flaccid paralysis without signs of diarrhea and have normal rectal temperature. One common clinical sign reported is distension of the abdomen. The signs of depression and paralysis seem to affect the animals in waves. At one particular point, kids look so bad that they give the appearance of being dead. After some time they seem to recover spontaneously only to go back into coma 15-20 min latter. Affected animals that are not treated may die within a few days.”
Treament
Remove baby from mom/bottle for 24-36 hours..This can be hard to do when baby is weak, but if left to feed on milk, baby will die. Feed electrolytes in place of milk to keep baby hydrated.
need to neutralize acidity of the stomach by administering a bicarbonate (baking soda) Dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda in one 8 oz glass of water and administer 10-20 ml (5-10 ml in tiny tots) of this solution orally. Repeat this procedure 2 to 3 times in the following 3 to 6 hours. Most kids will show clear improvement with this treatment within the following 6 to 10 hours
Milk of magnesia dose is 1/4 cc per pound ever 4-6 hours. To flush toxins from the body
CD antitoxin (not toxoid) to help rid toxicity ... every 12 hours.
Banamine can help relax the gut. 1/4 cc per 25#; 1/8 cc per 12.5 pounds...but give no less then 1/10 cc
Enema can help move things along as well..if baby is not responding. ( see enema file)
If baby is too weak to swallow you will need to tube the baking soda mix. 30-60 cc at a time, repeat in an hour. Don’t over fill baby..keep tabs of his tummy.
It been suggested by some to use a sulfa drug orally. Sulfadimethoxazine with Trimethoprim or Neomycin.