If feeding rules are not followed or a balanced diet is not followed, goat kids develop rickets. The disease is caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus in the animal’s body. To avoid the risk of disease, the farmer must follow the rules for feeding livestock. Every breeder should know about the clinical signs of rickets in kids, symptoms and treatment methods.
Reasons for appearance
Rickets is a disorder of calcium-phosphorus metabolism in the body of kids. The risk of the disease occurring is especially high in winter, when there is no green food and the quality of root crops is low.The consequences of the pathology are poor nutrition and insufficient walks in the fresh air.
Rickets can occur due to an incorrect ratio of nutrients in the feed. This often manifests itself in one-sided feeding of young animals with food containing a low percentage of useful elements: calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D. The appearance of the disease can be triggered by a lack of vitamin A and protein. With insufficient exposure to ultraviolet rays, calcium-phosphorus metabolism is disrupted.
The development of rickets, mainly observed in young animals, manifests itself as a result of improper feeding pregnant and lactating goats. The result of a lack of useful microelements has a negative impact on the offspring. Baby goats are born with weak immunity.
Signs and symptoms of the disease
If a kid is born weak, the farmer should closely monitor its growth and development. The first signs of the disease include:
- loss of appetite, lethargy of the animal, signs of exhaustion appear;
- the kid begins to lick the feeder, the walls, and eat the dirty bedding;
- digestive upset is observed: diarrhea and other manifestations;
- curvature of the spine and limbs occurs, and it becomes difficult for the kid to move.
With this disease, the animal’s body lacks vitamins involved in the formation of the skeletal system. The kids become weak, their metabolic processes are disrupted, which leads to developmental delays and other ailments.
Diagnostic methods
Rickets in young animals develops gradually; the farmer may not notice the first signs immediately. A veterinarian diagnoses the disease based on the animal’s living conditions, symptoms, and laboratory tests.
If necessary, the specialist conducts a histological examination of bone tissue and takes x-rays.
When conducting a differential diagnosis, the doctor excludes:
- osteodystrophy;
- paresis;
- rheumatism;
- diseases of the biogeochemical sector and a number of other diseases of a specific nature.
When the first signs of the development of the disease are identified, timely comprehensive treatment and normalization of the diet, the animal quickly recovers. At an advanced stage of rickets, various viral and bacterial infections are added. In this case, immunity decreases, the prognosis is usually unfavorable.
Methods for treating rickets in kids
Treatment of kids must be comprehensive. The sick animal is separated from the rest of the livestock and the living conditions are improved. Organize a dry, clean room and lay out fresh bedding. Increase the number of walks in fields with fresh grass, mainly in clear weather.
The following is added to the diet of kids with rickets:
- dairy products;
- high protein feed;
- calcium;
- phosphorus.
Nutrition should be balanced and easily digestible. Add mineral supplements, bone meal, calcium chloride, and chalk to the diet. The animal is given medications: “Trivit”, “Trivitamin”, “Tetravit”. Vitamins D2 and D3 are administered intramuscularly.
Prevention
The appearance of rickets can be prevented if the necessary preventive measures are carried out in a timely manner. Animals need regular exercise in the open air, as ultraviolet light helps absorb vitamin D.
The room for keeping goat kids should be dry, clean, and well ventilated. There should always be fresh and clean litter. Newborns are provided with a place that meets sanitary and hygienic standards. Organize ultraviolet irradiation.
In order to prevent the development of the disease in animals on farms, a group of young animals is identified, from whom blood serum is taken once every 2 weeks to test its phosphorus and calcium content.
Compliance with sanitary standards and rules, increased attention, quality care and a balanced diet contribute to the appearance of a healthy litter, the growth and development of kids. It is easier to prevent any disease than to treat it. If you follow these rules, the animals will always be healthy.
