Whether you are dealing with coccidia or preparing yourself for coccidia in goats, this is the place to be. For the past couple of months, I have been dealing with coccidiosis infecting my goats and let me tell ya.... IT'S NOT FUN!! There are ways to help prevent the spread of coccidia and treatments for this horrible parasitic disease, but once you're dealing with it, it seems like forever before the treatment works. 

Coccidia affects the digestive tract and is caused by Eimeria, a deadly parasite. Eimeria can be found in a variety of animals such as dogs, cats, sheep, goats, cattle, poultry, etc.... 

SYMPTOMS

With all of the possible infections and diseases goats can get, coccidia can easily be mistaken for something else. That's why it is important to take a fecal sample to your vet and get a FOR SURE answer. In my case, my goats not only had coccidia, but also had strongyle worms (that's for another blog lol). The most prominent symptom in goats is diarrhea followed by dehydration, weight loss, lethargic, and poor appetite. The animals are also likely to run a fever from trying to fight of the disease. In some cases, if not watched closely and treated soon enough, coccidia can be fatal in 24 hours. 

PREVENTION

There are many different preventative measures you can use to help ensure your goats don't get coccidia, but they all revolve around husbandry (caring for animals). If you only see one or two goats with symptoms, be prepared to treat at least half, or even over half, of the herd. Prevention can be easy, but not always. 

To help prevent coccidia infecting your herd, don't overcrowd, keep clean (fresh) water out 24/7, and always make sure their pens are clean. Feed additives such as Bovatec (this is what we use) can help prevent coccidia in your herd. **DISCLAIMER - BOVATEC IS HIGHLY TOXIC TO EQUINE** These preventative measures are not always 100% bulletproof but help in the long run. 

TREATMENTS

There is a WIDE range of treatments for coccidia, but few are highly affective. My favorite choice is sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) pills. SMZ's can treat a variety of infections and diseases in animals, including coccidiosis. These pills are cheap and easy to use. Give the right dosage prescribed by your veterinarian and you should be back on track! Sometimes, depending on how bad the animal is, dewormer might need to be given to help treat the animals. Another treatment that works wonders is toltrazuril. It's a bit pricey but is typically a one-time treatment that works wonders within 24-48 hours. Another thing I like about this treatment is that it's available as an injectable, oral, or topical! I have used both SMZ pills and toltrazuril (oral) and they both healed my goats. Personally, I like the toltrazuril best, but because it's so expensive, I mainly used SMZ pills. 

Another treatment commonly used in goats and sheep is Corid. What are my thoughts on Corid? I do NOT like it and I think it's a waste of your time and money. We used it as oral drench and even had it in their water (properly mixed) and seen no results. Corid is typically a three-day treatment, and some people get along great with it, but not us. We first used Corid about two years ago and it worked great, but now, the coccidia has built up resistance to it. I personally would choose SMZ pills or toltrazuril over Corid. Corid is an easier treatment to give (because you can put it in their water, while SMZ pills and toltrazuril you have to catch the animal and give it to them) but in the long run, SMZ's and toltrazuril treatments are your friend.