Another name for Polioencephalomalacia is goat polio. It is caused by a thiamine deficiency and/or sulfur toxicity. Other causes include improper feeding, especially feeding too much grain. The disease is seen more in winter in North America, primarily due to increase in grain consumption.
Symptoms: Symptoms include excitability, stargazing, muscle rigidity, uncoordinated staggering and or weaving, drunkenness, circling, diarrhea, muscle tremor, pressing head against wall and apparent blindness. A rapid involuntary, tick motion of the eyeball is also noted. As it progresses, convulsions and high fever may occur, and if untreated, the animal generally dies within 24-72 hours.
Treatment: Thiamine is the only effective therapy, and treatment can result in improvement within two hours if the disease is caught early enough. Multiple doses of thiamine are required to be effective (that is,0.25cc/10-pound body weight three to four times day) along with consultation with a veterinarian. Avoid vitamin B-complex as there is insufficient thiamine to be useful. One treatment of penicillin is also indicated.
Control: measures include increasing roughage feeding with a decrease in concentrate feeding and avoiding moldy feeds as well as those containing large amounts of molasses, such as horse feeds. In problem herds, supplementation of the grain ration with thiamine mononitrate or brewer's yeast may be indicated.
Keywords: disease, goat polio, thiamine
For additional information on other brain disorders please click the link: http://www.extension.org/pages/22450/goat-cns-diseases
