Livestock Medication Safety

Livestock Medication by Shelby Rodriguez Safety Tips

Are your goat medications safely stored away from your children or other animals? Are you guilty of grabbing "refrigerated" medication and leaving it out on the counter in the middle of the night? Let's face it, we are all busy and raising livestock doesn't stop outside the hours of 8 am to 5 pm. But, keeping your head on straight during a medical emergency can often times eliminate yet another trip to the local emergency room - for yourself.

Livestock medicines, vaccines, syringes, and needles should be kept in a locked cabinet. Medicines requiring refrigeration should be stored away from food in a child proof area. Purchase vaccines on an "as needed" basis and keep them separate from other medications as live vaccines can be potentially harmful and/or cause diseases.

Disposal should comply with infectious waste requirements. Check with the local waste disposal management office.

EPA regulations require that sharp objects be disposed of in sturdy plastic containers such as a laundry detergent bottle, a two liter soda container or a coffee can with a heavily taped plastic lid. Check for additional local regulations.

Storing uncapped or recapping used sharps is risky. Drop used needles or syringes directly into the disposal container without recapping them.

If someone is stuck by a needle, clean the wound and then cover it with a bandage. See a physician or call poison control and follow instructions. A tetanus injection may be needed.

When working with animal health care medicines: •Store all livestock medical suppliesin a locked cabinet. •Store medicines away from food and children. •Be careful not to stick yourself or anyone else when using a needle. •Discard all used needles and syringes in an approved method. •Seek medical attention if stuck by a used needle. •Never reuse medical supplies. It may spread disease. •Wash hands with hot water and a disinfectant when finished with health tasks. •Purchase drugs only as needed.

•Keep all livestock medications stored in locked cabinet. •Never store medicines with food, and wash hands immediately after completing health task. •Reusing medical supplies can spread disease. •Seek medical attention if stuck with a needle.

Mineral oil when injected into tissue is non-degradable

and highly irritant - There are many vaccines for livestock that use mineral oil as the carrier. These include, but are not limited to Gudair (Sheep Johnes Disease), Silirium (Cattle Johnes Disease), Pilliguard (Cattle Pink Eye), Roratvec Corona (Calf scour vaccines), Vibrovax (Cattle Vibrio), Bovillis MH & MH/IBR vaccines (Cattle respiratory diseases), Bovillis S (Cattle Salmonella) and Ovillis Campyvac (Sheep abortion). I have not limited these to goat medications as I believe many goat producers also have other animals and these medications can be extremely painful and/or threatening if injected.

So, next time you get one of these messages on Facebook, reply back with the appropriate response. Dectomax is a vegetable oil-based adjutant, which causes only moderate irritation!

Vegetable Oil Based Adjuvants - Moderately irritant

Accidental self-injection of these can cause local reactions depending on amount and location. Livestock medications include Arrachis (peanut) cotton seed & sesame oil, Injectable Drenches ( Dectomax 70% sesame oil), Hormones (Testosterone e.g. Ropel, Tepro and Testoprop; Progesterone oestradiol) and Antibiotics (Moxylan, Excenel).

Specific adjuvant not disclosed

Consider surgical flushing if acute pain and inflammation within 24 hours. One example is Cydectin LA.

Potentially Toxic: Hormones

Self-Injection can induce premature labor Not to be used by pregnant women. Seek immediate medical attention if any type of hormones are injected.

If possible the application of gentle squeezing pressure with absorbent material (e.g. facial tissue) at the injection site will swab up unabsorbed material. Strong squeezing of the site should be avoided. The damaged area should be thoroughly cleansed and a topical antiseptic applied.

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Respiratory Diseases signs, symptoms, treatments

There are a number of respiratory diseases that affect goats at all stages of their lives. These causes include viral and bacterial infections, as well as irritants to the nasal passages and injuries during transportation and confinement. There are also a number of flies and parasites that can cause irritation and injuries that can lead to infections.

Kids typically develop respiratory infections due to an infectious agent. Kids that have recently been weaned can develop respiratory infections due to a variety of risk factors, including changes in nutrition, transportation, loss of maternal antibodies, exposure to new pathogens, adverse housing conditions, and overcrowding.

Barn ventilation in extremely cold weather deserves special comment because it is often overlooked. Warming a barn increases the relative humidity, thus producing a stressful situation. Moisture should never be allowed to accumulate on the walls, ceilings and floors. Dusty conditions can also accumulate when ventilation is not adequate inside barns. When inspecting facilities for irritants, make sure to inspect at the goat’s level.

There are two generalized areas of concern for respiratory diseases, lower tract diseases and upper tract diseases. Lower tract diseases usually result from a disease-causing agent. Upper tract diseases are normally associated with inhaling foreign bodies or irritants, or injury to the trachea although viral and bacterial diseases can occur.

Lower Respiratory Tract Diseases

Blood-borne infections

Most respiratory disease problems of baby kids are due to septicemia or blood-borne infections. While these diseases involve all systems of the kid, respiratory symptoms often predominate. Commonly, these infections are due to inadequate colostrum consumption and environments with heavy bacterial loads. Some organisms responsible for these infections include E. coli, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasturella multicoda, Mycoplasma, and Streptococci.

Signs and symptoms

These diseases occur where wet and crowded conditions exist. The onset is sudden with kids becoming weak and depressed, refusing to eat, running a fever, and breathing rapidly. Sometimes, sudden death is the only sign. Large numbers of triplet or quadruplet litters may increase incidence. 12 - The Boer Goat Treatment, prevention, and control

Kids exhibiting these signs are in a medical emergency. Treat using antibiotics having a gram negative/gram positive spectrum to counteract a wide variety of organisms. A veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics to help with the infection and to keep any secondary infections from occuring.

Proper management can prevent occurrence. Late gestation dams should be in good body condition (3 – 3.5). Maternity pens and kidding pens should be clean and adequately ventilated. Ensure navels are dipped in iodine at birth and that kids consume adequate colostrum.

Enzootic pneumonia

Enzootic pneumonia is the end stage of infections by a variety of primary agents (mycoplasma, chlamydia, adenovirus, syncytial virus, IBR, PI-3, Caprine herpes virus) or by the various stresses experienced in intensive weanling management, most notably coccidiosis. This pneumonia is usually a herd problem in goats raised in confinement or under intensive management. Predisposing conditions include crowding, inadequate ventilation, and high humidity.

Signs and symptoms

Animals will have a moist, soft cough, increased respiratory rate, nasal discharge, watery eyes, and decreased gains. When listening to the lungs, crackling and wheezing is heard.

Treatment, prevention, and control

Many of the pathogens associated with caprine pneumonias are not susceptible to certain drugs. Products that can aid in the control of enzootic pneumonia should be used under the supervision of a veterinarian. Reduce stress and overcrowding, maintain adequate ventilation and sanitation to reduce incidence.

Pasteurella

Pneumonic pasteurellosis (pasteurella) is a killer pneumonia in all livestock species affected. Pasturella pneumonia is caused by either Mannheimia hemolytica that causes sudden death or Pasturella multicoda that causes respiratory signs with pneumonia. M. hemolytica is blood-borne and outbreaks usually occur in feedlot conditions where animals are stressed, transported, and commingled. Usually several animals will be involved. They will be noticeably sick and off by themselves. Commonly, nutritional management, ventilation, and parasite control are less than ideal.

Signs and symptoms

Typically, the first animal is found dead followed by signs

of pneumonia noticed in herdmates. Affected animals will be off feed, have a moist cough, and appear depressed. The lungs will typically make a wheezing or crackling sound. P. multicoda is capable of entering the blood stream and causing arthritis and mastitis (Blue bag mastitis).

Treatment, prevention, and control

Antibiotics, prescribed by a veterinarian, can be used in treatment. There are no pasteurella vaccines made for goats. While there are a variety of bovine pasteurella vaccines available, their effectiveness in goats has not been proven.

Mycoplasma pneumonia

The Mycoplasma species are commonly involved in pneumonias of goats, although usually more of a problem for dairy goat than meat goat producers. Pleuropneumonia is a specific disease caused by Mycoplasma mycoides and is a significant cause of sickness and death in does and kids. In kids, the organism is transmitted orally through contaminated milk or colostrum. Outbreaks often occur when animals are stressed, such as in overcrowded conditions.

Signs and symptoms

The disease is highly contagious and usually involves multiple animals in the herd. Signs include fever, cough, respiratory distress, joint damage and lameness, nervous system disorders, and/or mastitis.

Treatment, prevention, and control

Antibiotics must have a mycoplasma spectrum of activity. Treatment can assist in relieving symptoms of the disease, but affected animals may shed the organism for life. Some animals may appear to respond to treatment but will relapse and be chronically poor performing. The organism is spread by direct contact, through the air, milk and ear mites.

Verminous pneumonias

Verminous pneumonia is caused by certain types of lungworms (e.g., Dictyocaulus filarial, Muellerius capillaries, and Protostrongylus rufescens). Young animals are most commonly affected. These parasites prefer low lying, moist pastures. Some of the parasites, Muellerius and Protostrongylus, for example, require snails or slugs as intermediate hosts in their life cycle. Heavy pasture contamination with these parasites can occur from high stocking densities.

Signs and symptoms

Signs usually consist of a persistent, chronic coughing in a herd or flock. Animals will have increased respiration rate and lose weight.

Treatment, prevention, and control

It is unclear how effective treatment is for this condition. Anthelmintics will stop parasite egg production, but may not effectively remove the parasite. Prevention strategies include avoiding low, wet pastures, particularly during the early morning hours or at night. Avoid mixing different age groups of animals or having young animals graze on pastures contaminated by adults. Frequent deworming with certain anthelmintics can also help control the parasite. However, this is not recommended as frequent, large-sclae use of anthelmintics can increase the rate of drug resistance by other internal parasites such as barberpole worms.

Upper Respiratory Tract Diseases

Irritants, trachea injury

Constant or long-term inhalation of irritants, such as dust or ammonia, and trachea damage through incorrect use of balling or drenching guns can cause respiratory problems.

Signs and symptoms

The predominant sign is coughing and sneezing. Animals may have nasal discharge. With simple inflammation of the respiratory passages due to inhaling dust or other irritants, animals appear healthy other than the annoying cough and sneeze. Other signs would include foul odor to the breath, off feed, cough, and nasal discharge.

Treatment, prevention, and control

Remove all sources of respiratory irritants from the environment. Dispose of moldy hay, shake dusty hay away from animals, or wet the hay. Environmental dust can be eliminated by wetting the area. Clean bedding to remove urine and feces. Ensure good ventilation and maintain as clean an environment as is possible.

Nasal bots

Nasal bots are uncommon in the deep southern portion of the United States but are common elsewhere. The gadfly deposits eggs on the nostrils, leaving the larvae to migrate to the frontal sinuses and are expelled by sneezing.

Signs and symptoms

The main symptom is violent sneezing in the late summer. Affected animals have a nasal discharge that may be tinged with blood. Some animals may make a snoring sound due to nasal obstruction.

Zoonotic Diseases from Goats

Zoonotic diseases are contagious diseases that spread between animals and humans. It is estimated that approximately 75% of recently emerging infectious diseases affecting humans are diseases of animal origin; approximately 60% of all human pathogens are zoonotic. Humans can contract zoonotic diseases through direct contact with infected animals, and also by consumption of contaminated food or water, inhalation, arthropod vectors (such as flies, ticks, and mosquitoes) and pests.

Below is a condensed list of sheep and goat diseases that can be transmitted to humans. The diseases are grouped in alphabetical order within groups of common routes for human infection. Many of these diseases, whether in animals or humans, are reportable to State and Federal Authorities. Contact your State Veterinarian or your State/Local Health Department for information about State disease reporting requirements in animals and humans, respectively.

Rabies

Rabies is a severe, viral disease that can affect all mammals, including sheep and goats. People most often get rabies from the bite (direct contact) of an infected animal, but can also be exposed to the virus by entry of saliva, brain or spinal cord fluid of an infected animal into cuts or breaks in the skin or mucous membranes. Early human symptoms include fever, headache, confusion and abnormal behavior (neurological signs). Once signs begin, recovery is very rare. If you are bitten by an animal, immediately contact local animal control so the animal may be tested or quarantined, and contact your physician immediately to determine whether post- exposure treatment is indicated.

Contagious Ecthyma (Soremouth)

Caused by the Orf virus, contagious ecthyma in people is called Orf. People become infected by direct contact with skin lesions or scabs usually on the face and mouth of infected animals. In people, usually only one single lesion (local sore/wound) develops.

Ringworm (Dermatophytosis)

Ringworm is a common fungal disease caused by dermatophytes. People can become infected by direct contact with the spores on an infected animal. The spores may be on the animal’s hair/wool or skin, and can even be on fomites such as brushes or clippers. Dermatophytosis tends to be more common in show lambs than production flocks. Itchiness is the most common symptom, and the spots are generally inflamed at the edge with redness, scaling, and occasionally blistering.

Chlamydiosis

Chlamydiosis is a bacterial disease in sheep and goats is caused by Chlamydophila abortus. Pregnant animals can shed large numbers of C. abortus in the placenta and uterine discharges when they abort or give birth. Although rare, people can be infected by direct contact with birthing tissues, but there are additional ways to be infected. In people, animal-associated chlamydiosis causes flu-like signs (fever, body aches, headache), reddened eyes, and pneumonia. Pregnant women should avoid contact with pregnant or aborting animals.

Campylobacteriosis

consumption of contaminated or undercooked meat and unpasteurized milk or dairy products (oral). People can also be infected by untreated water or contact with infected animals or feces. People infected with campylobacteriosis can have diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache and muscle pain. People with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for severe or recurrent infections.

Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidiosis results from infection by Cryptosporidium parvum, a coccidian parasite common in the environment and carried by many animals without symptoms. People often become infected by ingestion following contact with objects contaminated with feces or unwashed hands after contact with ill animals. Infections in people can cause stomach cramps, watery diarrhea, nausea and a poor appetite. Vomiting, fever, and muscle aches may also occur.

Listeriosis

Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a bacterial disease in ruminants and humans. Most infections in people occur by eating raw meat or unpasteurized dairy products (oral), but there are additional ways to be infected. Animals can shed L. monocytogenes in the feces, milk and uterine discharges. Pregnant women or immunocompromised people should take special care to avoid unpasteurized dairy products. Unlike other bacteria, L. monocytogenes can grow in cold temperature, including in the refrigerator. A skin infection form of the disease can occur in people who handle sick animals.

Salmonella

People most commonly get salmonellosis from eating (oral) improperly cooked food, such as meat, eggs or unpasteurized milk/dairy products. People can also get salmonellosis by direct contact with feces/diarrhea from infected animals. People with salmonellosis may have diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramping.

Q Fever (Query Fever, Coxiellosis)

Q fever results from infection by the bacterium, Coxiella burnetii, which can infect people who inhale aerosolized organisms, or by additional routes. Most human infections are associated with cattle, sheep and goats, and often occur when the animal gives birth. Symptoms of Q fever include fever, chills, night sweats, headache, fatigue and chest pains. Q fever can cause abortion or premature delivery in pregnant women, so pregnant women should avoid contact with pregnant or aborting animals. www.purplevisionfeeds.com 800-888-7863

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by Karla Blackstock Managing Selenium in Goats

Managing minerals is a year-round job in the goat business. Trace minerals, such as copper, selenium and zinc, are essential components of any domestic livestock species, and supplementation of these minerals can have a positive effect on your herd’s reproduction, disease resistance and feed intake.

Some minerals are more important at different developmental stages and at different times of the year. To give these minerals a full glance, the next few issues will highlight minerals and their importance. The first of this series highlights selenium.

Selenium plays a critical role in the growth of newborns, fertility of breeding animals and in the prevention of diseases. Because of its role in muscle development, deficiency of this mineral typically presents itself as muscle impairments.

Deficiency Symptoms and Diseases

Signs of selenium deficiency include white muscle disease, reproductive disorders (embryonic mortality, infertility and retained placenta), impaired immune function and growth impairment.

Because selenium is involved in the immune system response, deficiencies or imbalances can reduce disease resistance. Stress induced by giving birth, milking, weaning and transport has been shown to decrease the ability of the animal to immunologically respond. Proper amounts of selenium in a goat’s diet can adequately counteract these stressful times.

However, selenium is closely linked to a number of vitamins, including A, D and E. Vitamin E and selenium are both involved in a variety of metabolic processes, and both nutrients are required to protect tissue membranes from being damaged.

Selenium and vitamin E are synergistic. When animals are exhibiting symptoms for selenium deficiency, you also need to consider vitamin E deficiency.

Ross also said that harsh winters and droughts can cause goats to be deficient in minerals and vitamins. This also is true, she said, for goats raised in confinement.

Vitamin E deficiency has also been found in studies to increase the amount of selenium that is needed to increase stress tolerance, which is why you find vitamin E formulated into many selenium supplements.

In addition to the goat’s need for selenium for a healthy immune system (and disease resistance), there are a number of diseases or problems that can occur as a result of selenium deficiency.

White Muscle Disease

White muscle disease is a degeneration of muscles and is the major sign of selenium deficiency in ruminant animals, including newborn goats. White muscle disease can develop during gestation or after birth. Kids that have general weakness or stiffness should be evaluated for white muscle disease. In mild cases or in the beginning stages of the degeneration, kids will have a difficulty standing. In these cases, immediate selenium and vitamin E supplementation may improve the kid’s health.

Many times when a kid has white muscle disease, it is found because it stopped milking or is cold and unresponsive. Kids found in this state should be warmed prior to feeding. Seek medical advice if necessary.

Decreased Sucking Reflex

Kids that are deficient in selenium from gestation will also have a decreased sucking reflex. While there are other factors for kids with a decreased or unenthusiastic sucking reflex, evaluate these kids for a selenium or vitamin E deficiency.

Kids that are born “spraddle legged” (either back or back and front legs splayed out) with an inability to rise are usually vitamin E deficient. Treating these kids with vitamin E is easy and may be just what they need.

“You can buy regular 400 iu gel caps from a local grocery store, poke a hole in it with a needle and give it orally,” Ross said.

Retained Placenta

While there are a number of causes of a retained placenta, nutritional deficiencies, such as selenium and vitamins A and E, are a likely culprit. Supplementing with selenium and

vitamins A, D & E during the last few weeks of gestation will increase the body’s response to stress and could have a positive impact on the overall birthing process. Additionally, kids’ born to mothers who have been supplemented are less likely to develop white muscle disease. Supplementation

At one time, the FDA prohibited the addition of supplemental selenium in livestock feeds. However, current supplementation is .3 ppm for all livestock diets and free-choice mineral supplementation is currently 12 ppm for goats (not to exceed .7 mg/head/day).

Approved FDA sources for supplemental usage for goats include sodium selenite and sodium selenite with organic yeast. Free-choice minerals that are formulated for goats should be offered year-round and have sufficient selenium. Injectable selenium supplements can be prescribed by your veterinarian if necessary. And, a vitamin supplement for A, D

Selenium Toxicity

Selenium in high amounts can be toxic to animal of all species so it is critical to know what your soils hold before supplementing with high doses of any minerals.

“Giving selenium in non-deficient areas of the country can by risky,” said Ross. “You should always pay close attention to levels in your soils before supplementing with high doses of mineral.”

In the case of selenium toxicity, symptoms include emaciation, loss of hair, soreness and sloughing of the hooves, excessive salivation and blindness. Most cases of selenium toxicity are found in areas where selenium is found in soils. To find out the selenium, or other mineral, level in your soils, you can contact your local USDA or Extension office.