A. Inquiry
CPC. Amir-North Sumatra
My goat got bloated, trembled, convulsed then died. There are 4 tails with such symptoms at different times. What is the name of the disease and how is it treated?
B. Answer
Thank you Amir for the question. The occurrence of goats appear bloated and shaking can be caused due to bloating, grass spasm or disease grass tetany and cyanide poisoning.
Bloating is a digestive disorder accompanied by accumulation of gas in the stomach due to the rapid fermentation process. Bloating can be caused by giving legumes or excess legumes and a little grain (corn, soybeans).
In addition, it can also be due to too much starch-containing concentrate and too high a content of forage chlorophyll. Cattle that experience bloating appear enlarged left abdominal side. When the stomach is patted, a drum-like sound will be heard. Goats look restless, trying to stomp their feet, sometimes they have difficulty breathing and their appetite decreases dramatically.
Grass seizure disease is a metabolic disease caused by lack of magnesium and calcium mineral levels in feed ingredients. Lack of mineral consumption will lead to a nervous breakdown. Some of the clinical signs seen physically are spasms in the legs that cause difficulty walking or frequent urination or urination. Seizures can continue the next few days and if left untreated can lead to death (Sodiq and Abidin, 2002).
Cyanide poisoning is caused by giving leaves that contain a lot of cyanide acid, such as cassava, cantel or fresh sorghum. Symptoms if cyanide poisoning cattle, among others, stand stagger, shaking, thrashing, seizures, dilated pupils, red mucous membranes, salivating, frequent defecation and urination, difficulty breathing.
The treatment that can be done if the cattle experience bloating is giving bloating medicine. Bloatex it can be given directly into the mouth. If the condition of the cattle is severe, the effort to expel the gas needs to be done by piercing the left abdomen with a trocar. But of course this is done by trained animal health personnel.
If livestock shows symptoms of grass seizure or cyanide poisoning, it is necessary to immediately contact animal health personnel. In order to receive appropriate treatment for livestock conditions, for example, intravenous administration of magnesium and calcium minerals in cases of grass seizures. Sodium nitrite and sodium sulfate can also be given intravenously in cases of cyanide poisoning.
To prevent cases of the disease, several things need to be considered:
Quality feeding
Provide feed according to nutritional needs and sufficient quantities. Avoid giving young forage in large quantities because the mineral content of magnesium and calcium is still low. In the provision of forage also needs to be done first to reduce the water content in the forage that can trigger bloating.
Regular health control
Daily health control can be done every morning, for example, at the same time as feeding. If you see a sick GOAT, then immediately conduct a thorough clinical examination.
Optimal health Program
Health programs need to be done to improve and maintain the immune system of livestock and prevent disease. Multivitamin administration is useful to prevent and treat health problems due to vitamin deficiency, increase appetite and improve metabolism.
Routine vitamin administration is carried out every two months, it can also be given when the livestock is sick or looks weak. Vitamin products are given for example Vita B-Plex Bolus Extra Flavor.
