Therapeutic application of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) for idiopathic paresis in goat kids

A total of 34 goat kids of 1-4 month old were presented to small ruminant medicine referral clinic with a history of incoordinated movement with good appetite. On clinical observation, all kids showed incoordinated gait in hindlimbs, tremor in tail, head tilt, lateral deviation of head, which is progressed to paralysis of hindlimb and forelimb, sternal and lateral recumbency. On palpation of vertebral column, most of the kids evinced pain on lumbo- sacral region and thigh muscle and few showed pain on thorax. All kids were tested for caprine arthritis and encephalitis, border disease and metabolic disorder and found to be negative. The kids were treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs for 5 days and ashwagandha churanam for 15 days and 41% were recovered. Ashwagandha could be a best nervine tonic for management of paralysis in goat.