Anna has coccidia. It is a fatal illness if not addressed quickly, especially in young goats and sheep. Anna is just 5 weeks old and was a bottle baby from the start, although I did hold the mother the first three days so Anna could drink colostrum from her, which contains antibodies to keep her healthy until she could establish her own. Two bottle goat kids also had it and Anna was hanging around with them. The goat coccidia protozoa and the sheep coccidia are not necessarily the same though. The protozoa creates severe diarrhea, then dehydration and loss of appetite and finally death, usually within a few days. Anna has been receiving bottles of water with a little molasses for palatability and has had two doses of Amprolium. She will need to continue Amprolium for 21 days to completely defeat the organisms. If the Amprolium does not show signs of improving her diarrhea within 24 hours (tomorrow) she will have to have a different antibiotic, and fast. Anna does not like having her bum washed with the hose, but she doesn't mind if I bring her in the laundry sink and use warm water. With the frequency of her runny poop, the hose is much easier at this point. Sorry Anna. She will not be given her milk replacer until all signs of diarrhea have stopped. She also had some Pepto Bismal twice, but it has not stopped or firmed the poop even. With no improvement in two days, she will have to go the veterinarian's for further testing. Come on Anna! Get well quickly baby girl!
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