PARASITES AND DISEASES
PARASITES AND DISEASES
Goats are generally disease resistant but they sometimes suffer from some of the diseases mentioned below.
Coccidiosis
It is caused by protozoa of coccidian type and affects intestine
Signs:
- loss of condition/loss of weight
- Off feed
- Anemia
- Bloody diarrhea
Prevention:
- The house should be clean and dry (maintenance of khola hygiene)
Treat the affected goats with a sulfur drug.
Heart water
It is caused by protozoa and is transmitted by amblyomma ticks
Clinical Signs:
- Often found dead suddenly with no previous signs
- The nervous signs develop, twitching, circling, aggression, progressing to collapse, fits and death.
- Other goats stop eating, show fever and diarrhea
Most animals die unless treated very quickly
Treatment:
Consult the extension officer as soon as possible.
Worms
Clinical Signs:
- Swollen belly (pot belly)
- diarrhea
- Anemia
- Kids may have a cough initially.
Prevention and Control:
- Deworm goats at on-set of rains and at end of rain season.
- Remove dung from khola daily
- Use these drugs: valbazen and ivermec
- Rotational grazing.
Orf
- Caused by virus
- Transmitted through direct contact
- Through contaminated equipment, feed, beddings and droppings
Clinical Signs:
- Sores on the mouth, lips and nose,
- The animals is unable to eat hence loses weight
- Goats of all ages can get affected
- Vesicles, pustules and finally scabs appear primarily on the lips and nostrils of affected goats but may also on other parts of the body
- Off feed
Treatment:
It does not respond to antibiotics as such treat for secondary bacterial infection. Consult veterinary officers.
Foot rot
Caused by bacteria through cuts/open wounds
Symptoms:
- Sores around and between the hoofs
- Lameness
Prevention:
- Keep khola clean and dry
- Hoof trimming
Treatment:
- Remove all rotten tissue with knife
- Spray area with antibiotic spray
- Wash and disinfect daily until healed
- Keep animals from muddy pastures and kholas
- Check for ticks and thorns between the hoofs
PPR (Goat Plague)
Caused by a Virus and it is spread through water, feed and bedding in the house
Symptoms:
- sudden onset of fever
- depression
- loss of appetite
- thicker and yellow nosal discharge
- discharges from eyes
- difficulties in breathing
- pneumonia
- severe diarrhoea
- abortion
- death within 5 to 10 days if not treated
Treatment:
