Cause
a. Usually a digestive upset which:
  - impairs thiamine (vitamin B1) production, or
  - hampers thiamine absorption.
  - results in thiamine destruction before its absorption
b. Thiamine is indispensable for the vital functioning of the brain... if thiamine is unavailable or its required level is decreased, the brain cortex degenerates.

Signs
a. Clinical signs are the result of brain degeneration:
  - incoordination
  - depression
  - prostration
  - arrested ruminal movement
  - blindness
b. Fever is usually absent.
c. May at times be easily confused with enterotoxemia.

Treatment
a. Thiamine (B1) is the specific treatment.
b. Affected goats should receive (preferable intravenously) 1 1/2 gm to 2 gm thiamine, depending on size and severity of condition.
c. Treatment should be repeated every 6 hours for at least 24 hours.
d. Thiamine may be provided alone or in a B-complex preparation.
e. Recovery is not always complete. Animals severely affected for more than 24 hours cannot be expected to respond adequately to treatment.
f. Do not administer dextrose IV's to affected animals, because their carbohydrate metabolism is impaired.

Prevention
a. Slowly increase dietary carbohydrates (concentrate) intake, especially for feedlot kids.
b. May consider supplemental dietary thiamine: 100-200-mb/head/day for 7-10 days, during periods of high risk

This article is used by permission and is part of:
Nutritional Effects on Goat Health
by Helen A. Swartz
State Sheep, Goat and Livestock Specialist
Lincoln University Cooperative Extension