I just recieved the results about a fawn I'm having trouble with. She has a infestation of giardia. I think that is what killed 2 of my other bottle fed fawns in the last 10 days. Now this one is showing some signs so I had a fecal test done and giardia is the result. The vet gave me some metronidaziole to give to her but she said it is likely the others have it also. My question is, other than these tablets, is there any medication i could give to the rest of them either in their water or feed to help combat this problem. I asked the vet about corrid solution and she wasn't quite sure if it would work but said it can't hurt. So I figured I would send out a call for help from the people who have the most knowledge about all kinds of subjects related to deer. You guys. I like and trust my vet but another deer farmed told me not many vets know a lot about deer and it is wise to ask other deer farmers because it is likely someone has had the same problem before and could advise me on what worked for them. I have found out that if you ask 5 people you could get 5 different answers but at least it will give you options. So does anyone have a suggestion as what to try?
Joined Apr 2009
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Fenbendazole.....Safeguard
I found this online
The most active compounds against Giardia belong to the benzimidazole carbamate group (mebendazole, fenbendazole, albendazole), but the latter requires a long and repetitive treatment, which might be difficult to apply in young animals.
The metronidazole (5-nitroimidazole) syrup was the ideal choice for Giardia treatment, because it is commercially available, cheap and easily given per os.
I found this online
The most active compounds against Giardia belong to the benzimidazole carbamate group (mebendazole, fenbendazole, albendazole), but the latter requires a long and repetitive treatment, which might be difficult to apply in young animals.
The metronidazole (5-nitroimidazole) syrup was the ideal choice for Giardia treatment, because it is commercially available, cheap and easily given per os.
Woody - what physical symptoms have you noticed prior to testing, and what did you test? Hair loss, weight loss, temperature, appetite, stool quality..... any and everything you can think of?
Back to winter of last year i ran a post under "thin buck",had lost a tremendous amount of weight and whatever I did I coud not put weight on him,dewormed him, put corid in the water,had a fecal test done by the local vet and came back clean,that's when I ran the post "thin buck"looking for some ansewers,nothing!Move forward,few months,the buck looked terrible,took another sample and of all my does(6) plus 5 babies (bottle fed)and sent them to a lab in the next state,couple of weeks went by and the head vet called me and told me all my deer were loaded with giardia.Did a bunch of research and came back with Fenbendazole,used safegard and did 3 days in a row treatment,waited a month and gave them another 3 day treatment,the fawns were to young so I waited a couple of weeks and gave them the same treatement,safegard pellets mixed with their feed,cut doun on their food and mix it with your regular feed the night before so it does not have the strong smell to it.Looking back,only my buck looked like something was wrong the rest looked good,maybe the only tell tale on some of them a soft,peanut kind stool.Everybody looks good now and the buck looks fenomenal,ready for the rut.Fernando
Robbie, the first fawn was the one I called you about. She was kinda thin and had diareaha that it coated her tail, butt, and the backs of her legs and hocks. I gave a stool sample and the vet found tape or hook worm eggs. We wormed her with ivomec plus and also gave her oxytetracycline. The next day she looked better and was giving pellets. The following day she looked like a brand new $100 bill. Eating good, active, bright-eyed, and perfect pellets. The next day she was listless, mopey, didn't come to feed and had diareaha that was just water. She was weak and her temp was 95. I tried everything i could including IV to re-hydrate and warm water baths and enema. She died in a few hours. The next fawn (bottle fed also and in the same pen) I just found laying dead. I did not see any signs. Now a third bottle fed one in the same pen, looks thin, her hair looks like she just woke up or got tumbled down a hill, her tail is clamped down over her butt, her eyes remind you of a sick child, and her stool is like pudding or yogurt. She is still eating good and comes running to feed but she just doesn't look "healthy". I took a stool sample to the vet and she had it centrifuged and they found an infestation of giardia. We are treating her with metronidaziole tablets and she's taking them well so far. I'm just wondering if there is anything I can put in the feed or water to treat the others that are probably infected but are not clinical...yet. I can't touch the rest of them without darting them. I guess I will try the fenbendazol if that's what the general answer is. I guess it can't hurt, right?
ask your vet about Valbazen ,this should work for you.it is a liquid so you you can give it through a syringe or on apples ,feed ect.active drug is albendazole.
Word of warning - be careful using Valbazen on bred does. It is not proven safe for pregnant animals, and a vet I consult with often said that he has seen birth defects due to the residual albendazole. It is a great dewormer, just be mindful of your timing when giving it to your herd.