This can be a devastating illness...treatment must be swift and aggressive...There are cases where Penicillin can work on a mild case..but this is not usually the case..Baytril is the best antibiotic to treat both Joint and navel ill. Nuflor works great as well and LA 200/biomycin...dipping babies umbilical cord in iodine a few times until dry helps prevent navil ill...
Naval ill usually shows up by 3 weeks but sooner or even later is possible..Baby begins favoring a leg or more and you notice swelling at the joints..Umbilical cord may or may not be infected as well..sometimes all you see is a large lump on the belly with no heat, redness or pus...
Joint ill is caused when an infection goes sepsis, such as bad case of pneumonia...the infection settles often in the joints but also can go to the kidney and bladder..This is very hard to win...watch careful for first signs ( limping..high fever..lethargic...)..start treatment right away..the sooner you start the better chances your goat has to recover...BE AGGRESSIVE...ten FULL days of a strong antibiotic is needed...
choices in order of MY preference for TEN FULL DAYS
Baytril 100 4 cc per 100# once daily OR
Nuflor 3 cc per 100# once daily OR
LA 200/ biomycin. 1 cc per 20# once daily OR
Penicillin 1 cc per 20 # twice daily OR
Some have had good results with combining the following two antibiotics..
Excenel (6 cc per 100# sub Q AND Penicillin ( 1cc per 20# sub Q) These are done in separate shots once a day each.
ALSO needed is Banamine 1 cc per 100# one daily for 3 days...I have gone 5 days when needed OR Dexamethsone (1 cc per 20# IM once daily) and Vit C to help prevent sepsis.
B complex once daily..1 cc per 25# sub Q
ALWAYS FOLLOW ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT WITH PROBIOTICS 3-4 HOURS AFTER EACH SHOT.....ESPECIALLY WHEN HAVING TO BE ON THEM FOR TEN DAYS
NOTE on DEX. Always ween off slowly over a weeks time by decreasing the dosage a little each day once the goat is feeling better.