Farmers Guide: Here Is How To Manage Diarrhea In Young Goats & Lambs

By Spy Uganda

Diarrhea in young goats (kids) and lambs can be caused by the factors listed below. When sheep or goats suffer from stomach diseases, their droppings usually become soft, watery, and malodorous. Various conditions might lead to diarrhea in goats or sheep.

These encompass colibacillosis, paratyphoid, Johne’s disease, Rift Valley fever (Slenkdalkoors), coccidiosis, worms, and poisonous plants.

Colibacillosis In Goats & Sheep

Primarily affecting lambs and young kids under two weeks of age, colibacillosis is triggered by a bacterium. Several factors commonly influence this age group.

The bacterium causing colibacillosis is present in the droppings of sick sheep and goats. When lambs/kids ingest food or water contaminated with these droppings, they fall ill. These animals become lethargic and refuse to eat. They develop watery, whitish-yellow, or greyish diarrhea, known as “white scours.”

Lambs or kids require colostrum, their mother’s milk, to safeguard against colibacillosis and various other diseases. Failure to consume this milk after birth increases their susceptibility to colibacillosis.

Paddocks or kraals that are excessively dirty and wet can additionally increase the risks of the disease as well as subjecting lambs or kids to stressful conditions, such as moving them between different places (paddock to paddock or kraal to kraal) or overcrowding them.

Mixing sick lambs or kids with healthy ones also exposes them to colibacillosis infection.

Indicators Of Colibacillosis In Live Lambs Or Kids:

Depression: Infected animals display lethargy and signs of depression. They exhibit reduced activity, reluctance to move, and isolation from the rest of the flock or herd.

Appetite Loss: Affected lambs and kids frequently experience diminished appetite and may reject food or water.

Diarrhea (White Scours): Severe diarrhea with a distinct appearance is a hallmark of colibacillosis. The expelled fluids can be white, yellow, or gray. This type of diarrhea is often termed “white scours” in lambs and young goats.

Inflamed and Swollen Umbilical Cord: In some cases, infected lambs and young kids may exhibit an inflamed and swollen umbilical cord, indicating a potential systemic infection known as omphalitis.

Soiled Back Legs: Frequent and watery diarrhea can soil the back legs of affected animals, visibly signifying the disease.

Dehydration: Intense diarrhea and inadequate fluid intake can swiftly lead to dehydration. If not addressed promptly, dehydration significantly contributes to the disease’s progression and fatality.

High Mortality: Untreated colibacillosis can be fatal for lambs and kids, largely due to dehydration and overwhelming bacterial infection.

Signs of Colibacillosis in Deceased Lambs and Kids:

1). Red Gut: The intestines may appear redder than usual, particularly the small intestine, due to inflammation caused by the bacterial infection.

2). Gut Enlargement: Fluid and gas buildup, particularly in the small intestine, can cause gut swelling.

3). Grayish to Yellowish Gut Fluid: The gut contents may contain a grayish to yellowish liquid, indicating severe diarrhea characteristic of colibacillosis.

4). Inflamed and Swollen Organs: Other internal organs, such as the liver and kidneys, may also show signs of inflammation or congestion.

Treatment of Colibacillosis in Kids and Lambs:

Antibiotics can effectively treat colibacillosis. Providing ample drinking water and electrolytes to sick lambs and kids is crucial to prevent dehydration. Mature female sheep and goats (does and ewes) can be vaccinated 6–8 weeks before giving birth to protect their offspring from colibacillosis and various other diseases.