Toxoid or Anti-toxin

Guest post by Suzanne W. Gasparotto


TOXOID OR ANTI-TOXIN?

Knowing the Difference Can Mean Life or Death

Toxoids and Anti-toxins are medications for identical goat health
problems, but their usage is dramatically different. Which vaccine
should be used depends upon what the producer is trying to accomplish.

The two most common vaccines that come in both toxoid and anti-toxin
forms are the overeating vaccines and the tetanus vaccines.
Confusing the matter is the fact that there is a vaccine for Overeating
Disease which is also combined with Tetanus prevention.

Toxoid vaccines are used for long term protection. For example, the
vaccine for Overeating Disease combined with Tetanus prevention is
called "CD/T." These letters represent protection against Overeating
Disease caused by the most common and dangerous organisms . . .
Clostridium Perfringens Types C & D. The "T" part of the vaccine
provides long-term protection against Tetanus.

Toxoid vaccines are given once, with a booster injection following 30
days later. CD/T vaccine is given to unvaccinated adults and kids
twice in the first year, one month apart. Booster vaccinations are then
given annually, although some goat veterinarians and producers are
boosting this protection twice a year and oftentimes one week before
does begin to kid, in order to "jumpstart" the immune systems of the
soon-to-be-born kids.

Anti-toxin vaccines are used in medical emergencies, when immediate but
short-term protection is required. The two most commonly used goat
anti-toxin vaccines are C&D Anti-Toxin and Tetanus Anti-toxin. C&D
Anti-toxin should be used whenever Overeating Disease is suspected to be
the cause of the goat's illness. As with the toxoid vaccines, the
anti-toxins are recommended to be used SQ (sub-cutaneously . . . i.e.
"under the skin). C&D Anti-toxin vaccine is very safe to use and has a
very high margin of error. It is one of the few medications which can
be used without fear of hurting the animal, even if the problem turns
out not to be Overeating Disease. "Bloat" is another goat health
problem against which C&D Anti-toxin may be used, in conjunction with
other medications.

Tetanus Anti-toxin is used after castrations are done ("wethering a
goat"), for injuries (bites, cuts, puncture wounds), and when
Tetanus-like symptoms are present (goat's neck is dramatically bent to
the side and unable to be straightened, eyes unfocused, difficulty
standing).

The temporary protection afforded by both of these vaccines lasts from 7
to 14 days. If the goat survives the illness, the producer must wait
at least five days and begin the two-vaccination toxoid series again,
because the Anti-toxin has cancelled the benefits of the Toxoid
vaccine. Some folks will argue that this occurs, but it better to be
safe than sorry, particularly since these vaccines are very inexpensive.

Note: CD/T, the toxoid, will sometimes cause a "knot" at the injection
site. This is evidence that the vaccine is successfully interacting
with the goat's immune system. To avoid these "knots," injections can
be done inside the loose skin where the front leg meets the goat's body
(in the "armpit," so the speak). Usually, but not always, these
"knots" eventually disappear.

Here's a "word association" (courtesy of Jerry Munns of Honea Path,
South Carolina) to help remember the difference between Toxoid and
Anti-toxin:

TOXOID . . . . TO AVOID
ANTI-TOXIN . . . IN NEED OF FIXIN'

Suzanne W. Gasparotto
ONION CREEK RANCH
HC 70 Box 70
Lohn, Texas 76852
325/344-5775

website: www.tennesseemeatgoats.com