On my list of vaccines for goats - the CD&T vaccine, a much debated topic in the goat world. Some do, some don't - every herd will be different and this is something you will need to decide for your self.
What is a CD&T vaccine ?
This vaccine works as an aid in prevention of enterotoxcimia types C & D and also for tetanus.
Most always this vaccine is given for the Tetanus side of things - After all Entro is highly preventable, and the vaccine is only in their system for 6-8 weeks. You can see more about this in my Entrotoxcimia post, but this one is about tetanus.
The ugly T word - and yes, it's everywhere, in your soil - wether you think so or not. I my self have lost 2 goats to tetanus in the past 9 years. Tetanus is a very real concern for goats - not only are they susceptible to it, but it is a very slow and painful way to die. More then 80% of goats who contract tetanus do not survive, even when treatment is imminent.
I do everything in my power to prevent tetanus in my herd - however, for me, this doesn't not include administering the CD&T vaccine.
*Gasp* You say? What?! How can you say you prevent it? And why ever not give it?!
Yes, I know, this is not the typical answer you will find and I urge and encourage you to do your own research and study into the matter - perhaps you will find different then I - but here is why I don't use the CD&T vac in my herd.
Simply put - It just isn't good enough.
When I first started into goats I wanted to raise them 'naturally' which meant no vaccines. When I lost my first goat to tetanus it made me stop and reconsider, so I did some checking around on the vaccine -
What I found -
Goat breeders that had vaccinated their entire herd year after year still lost goats to tetanus
In some occasions kids died from a having a bad reaction to their first CD&T vaccine
Older goats were more susceptible to suffer from analeptic shock from the CD&T vaccine when received year after year - and on rare occasion died from it.
As I asked around in neighboring herds and I was finding just as many goats that had died from side effects caused by the vaccine as had from tetanus itself.
I also found a lady in KY (who no longer raises goat - but had for many years), an herbalist who was doing things 'naturally' with no vaccines. She believed in her research that if goats were left unvaccinated as kids they would develop a natural immunity or stronger resistance to tetanus. I do not know whether or not this is true - however, both goats I have lost to tetanus were under a year of age. I also see more stories were kids have died from tetanus then adults.
At this point in my herd - it just doesn't make sense to vaccinate.
I believe prevention is the best way to keep tetanus out of your herd. For some the vaccine is an aid in doing that. For me, it generally comes in the form of a bottle of iodine. Disinfect, disinfect, disinfect. Both cases of tetanus in my herd could have been prevented if I had only been more precautions and used a disinfectant. The first time was from a hoof trimming. I did not know that tetanus could be picked up and enter into the system through freshly trimmed hooves. Now, whenever I trim hooves I have a bottle of iodine in my back pocket. After every hoof is trimmed it gets a quick poor over of iodine.
The second was from a castrating on a buck kid - again, I had failed to use a disinfectant for the task. Now all sacks, tools, bands, etc, are soaked in iodine before castrating.
Every wound, scratch, cut, scrap and scab, on my goats that I see is cleaned. While iodine is my favorite disinfectant, there are other good ones out there too -
Chlorhexidine - use this one for tender areas like udders and sensitive parts
Peroxide - one of the best - though used full strength can cause scarring. I mix with water and use it as a flush for bad wounds - then coat with iodine and a wound powder to help seal out dirt.
Betadine - very similar to iodine, though not considered to be as strong.
Deep wounds usually heal best when left open - that is unwrapped or bandaged - and cleaned often.
Well now that you've read my $0.02 on the subject, go make up your own mind -
Best wishes to you and your herd for however you choose to fight against this horrible illness in goats.
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