Thin buck

I need advice really bad,I have a buck that has been loosing quite a bit of weight very picky eater and I changed feeds just about when he started to loose weight,started to give him rice bran because he likes it a lot and will eat it good,loves treats,apple slices,grapes and marshmellows,but I cut giving them to him because I thought it was filling him and he was not eating the grain for his protein,took a poop stool to the vet and came back clean,wormed him with pore on eprinex and 1 week later gave him safegard pellets,he would not eat so I crushed them and mixed with rice bran and he ate it all,also 3 days ago mixed corid in water(for coccidiosis)just in case and will have for 2 more days,today I noticed him eating or at least chewing on dried poop clumps,will lick the palms of my hands,he is going to be 3 1/2 old and very very friendly,he seems to be alert and will run around(not crazy)he has been always very calm ,I have him and 5 does on a 2 1/2 acre enclosure and it has vry lush green grass mixed with clover,he is like a mower eating the green stuff all the time,he will eat the rice bran and treats any time I give to him but hardly see him eating grain but he must be eating some because I see corn pieces in his poop.Please I need any advice that can be given has I don't want to loose him.Thankyou in advance Fernando

Sounds like coccidiosis to me,especially with him "chewing" on poop.If he is tame I would drench with corid for 5 days.I had a doe fawn do the same thing all test came back clean but she still lost weight after worming,I started on corid drench and after 3 days there was a complete turnaround.

Thanks Jason for the pront reply,my question is,since I've had him for 3 days drinking water with corid,two more days will be the 5 day treatement,would it hurt him to do the drench?He is very friendly so I won't have a problem with the corid drench,should it be straight or mixed,thanks again.

I would give straight drench for at least the next two days and see how that works.Does he have scours?

He has a soft poop (like a peanut butter).How much on the drench?Pour on top of his back so he can lick it? Thanks

Probiotics. Target is best, I can mail you a tube, but I would go to the feed store and get a tube of Probios and get 10-15 grams in him immediately, and 5-10 grams / day for a few more days. Put out some free choice goat minerals, too. Licking the salt off your hand could indicate a mineral deficiency, but the soft poop makes me think pH in rumen is off and needs good bugs. Careful with the antibiotics - remember that to kill bad bugs, you also kill good ones, so the probiotics helps to restore the balance.

Thank you Robbie,Have probios,will give to him right away,about the free choice goat minerals,can I get them at Tractor supply?

I would think TSC or a feed store would have minerals. Get goat minerals, there are things in sheep and cattle minerals that are different (like copper and selenium levels), and I always trust the goat specific items first, when I have the choice.

Just a question-if the stool samples came back clean from the vet's office, why did you worm the next week? Also, Coccidia should show up in a stool sample. Just my thoughts.

I've read quite often that tests that come in clean are false,did not show any sign of coccidia,in a few days will let you know if it was coccidia(if the buck starts gaining weight)Been giving him probios and his stool is getting firmer.

Hey Robbie what does the goat mineral's look like.I bought this block at TSC last night,it is a block and it look's like grounded up pellet's compress together.It was called a Goat Block.Does the goat mineral's look like a salt block.My buck fawn(10.5 month's) is looking pretty thin.I have been putting Nutra-Glo on the feed for a week or so.I gave him some probios last night.He also like's to lick the salt off of my arm that is why i was asking about the goat minerals.Any other suggestion about getting his wieght up would be helpfull.Other than being thin he seem's healthy

Thank you

Hey Robbie,I have a thin buck fawn(10.5 month's old)other than being thin he seem's pretty healthy.He like's to lick the salt off of my arm's.I bought this block at TSC,it was called a Goat Block.It look's like grounded up deer pellett's compressed in to a block,I was just wondering is this the goat mineral's you were talking about or does the goat mineral's look more like a salt block.I have given him Probios the last 2 night's and have been putting Nutra-Glo on there feed for about a week or so.Any other suggestion's would be greatly appecated(sp).Thank you in advance

Still trying to figure this new site out.Did not mean to post twice.Hillbilly

ky - I have seen the goat blocks, but I use a granular goat mineral that my Nubian milk supplier told me about. I am sure the block is fine, certainly better than nothing. I keep a bowl of mineral out all of the time. Sometimes they eat it like crazy, other times they go months without touching it, telling me they know when they need it. That's why the interest in the salt off you makes me wonder. I assume you have de-wormed, right? Keep going with the probiotics, you can't overdo it, the healthier the gut function, the better the nutrient absorbtion. I haven't used Nutra-glo, but understand that it is supposed to help body condition. I use Target Probiotics Top Score and Doe Choice for that purpose, to add condition and bone. Sounds like overall you are doing the right things, weight gain is usually slower than weight loss. Why can't that be true for people???