Diagnosis is available via laboratory tests, but the producer does not have the luxury of the time that such tests take. Thiamine is the only effective therapy, and treatment can result in improvement in as little as two hours, if the disease is caught early enough. Thiamine is a veterinary prescription but very inexpensive. Producers should always keep thiamine on hand. Initially, IV dosage is best, but SQ or IM can be used.
Some producers even give thiamine orally after the initial treatment.
If thiamine is unavailable but the producer has multiple B vitamins on hand, make sure the dosage is based upon the amount of thiamine in the multiple B vitamins. The key to overcoming Goat Polio is early diagnosis and treatment. Complete recovery is possible under such circumstances. It must be said, however, that complete avoidance of Goat Polio is impossible at this time. Listeriosis is caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes , which is found in soil, water, plant litter, silage, and even in the goat's digestive tract.