Don't know if my deer had the same thing, but it's close enough to talk about it.
I went to the pen one day and a 4 yr old let me get way to close without getting up. So, I of course pressed the issue to see what was up. His reaction was this: He strained heavily to get up, made it as far as just getting his front end up, then sunk back down. I got closer. His next attempt got him to all fours. He walked extremely labored and wobbly for about 7 or 8 yards before he went down, back end first.
Well, I thought he tweeked his back somehow, or one of the other bucks in the pen tweeked it for him. That was in the evening just before dark. Went down next morning to treat him and he was dead.
A week later in another pen, I noticed a buck didn't come to feed. Went lookin for him and when I found him and approached him, he struggled a bit to his feet, stood kinda shakin, and was havin trouble with his balance. After 30 seconds or so he straightened right up and out of it, walked over to the water and started drinking with the rest of the deer. Tweeked my own back the next day, so wife had to do chores. Asked her if that buck showed up, she said no. Next morning went down to treat him, he was dead. I was just gonna dart him with Draxin for lack of knowing anything else I could do, and see how he responded.
Another 10 days or so goes by, and another buck, in the same pen as the 2nd buck that died, is standing around having a serious balance problem, and was also ''wild eyed''.
Went right home and got the dart gun and meds. I gave my normal dose of drugs when I have a sick deer down - wormer, BoSe, vita-ject, C&D anti-toxin, banamine, and gave him a heavy dose of Pen G per Scott's advice as well as my vet's. He came right out of it and is standing healthy in the pen today. I was told also that I should have given some Dex to him as well, but didn't have any at the time.
It appeared to me that all 3 bucks had the same thing. And towards the end, just prior to death they would/could appear to have back problems, but earlier on, the symtoms were more of a serious balance problem, a bit shakey, and wild eyed!
Don't know if this is the same thing, but thought I would share my story in case it was. I know whatever it was in my deer, it took them pretty quick.
Best of luck!
Upon reading Awesome Antlers' post below, it rung a bell with me that we may have given him some Thiamine as well, but not positive. Wife thinks she remembers going to the vet that day and picking some up.
