Preventing Enterotoxemia and Tetanus in Goats

Preventing Enterotoxemia and Tetanus in Goats

Guest Post:

Eileen A. Coite, Wayne County

Compiled from Vaccinating Goats Against Enterotoxemia and Tetanus: Is it Necessary? (ANS 09-614MG) by Drs. Jean-Marie Luginbuhl and Kevin L. Anderson, 2010.

Are your goats protected from enterotoxemia, otherwise known as overeating disease? What about tetanus? If you are in the goat business but aren’t familiar with these diseases, or if you haven’t had a chance to vaccinate for them you might want to consider. Enterotoxemia and tetanus are similar diseases because they both are caused by clostridial bacteria that can be found in the environment or in animals. Because of these similarities, the vaccines for both are often combined in one dose and make it easier to administer and lower the cost from having to give two vaccinations. Let’s take a look at each of these diseases and why they are a concern.

Enterotoxemia, or overeating disease as it commonly is called can affect goats of all ages, and can often be fatal. It usually is a bigger concern for young goat kids and often those that grow the fastest or those that over-consume feed after becoming excessively hungry, hence the term “overeating disease”. What happens is that normal bacteria found in the intestines of goats (and also found in the soil) reproduce rapidly and release high amounts of toxins in the gut. How can we prevent overeating disease? If you add grain to a goat’s diet, or change their diet in any way, make all changes gradual. This might mean taking a couple of weeks to introduce the new diet to allow the goat’s system to acclimate to the diet. Vaccinating for Clostridium perfringens types C and D will also protect against enterotoxemia.

Tetanus is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. It is a neurological disease caused by this toxin, which is found in manure and also in the soil. It is very similar to the tetanus we are vaccinated for every ten years or if an injury occurs. Tetanus bacteria can enter the body of goats through wounds due to castration, disbudding, ear tagging, etc. The disease symptoms might not show up for several days after the wound takes place, but if affected, neurological problems will arise, such as muscle spasms, stiffness, and the common “lockjaw” symptom when they have difficulty opening their mouth. If not treated an animal will eventually go down permanently and die.

Make sure your goat herd is protected against these deadly bacterial diseases. Vaccines such as the 3-way “C-D-T” vaccine are available to prevent from both. Check the label for administration instructions and withdrawal times. These vaccines can be given through subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. Withdrawal times (the amount of time from treatment to marketing the animal) is usually 21 days for vaccines. Again, follow the label for vaccine handling, administering, and withdrawal instructions. For more information on vaccinating or preventing diseases in your goats or other livestock, contact your Cooperative Extension office for animal husbandry publications, or contact your veterinarian.