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Premature kid

4K views 24 replies 10 participants last post by  toth boer goats 
#1 ·
Looking for opinions please! We were given a Boer doe this past weekend that owner didn’t have time for anymore so we adopted her to our farm. She looked very pregnant but the owner wasn’t sure on dates. She kidded quads the next evening! 2 were strong and up nursing like normal. 2 were tiny and had no hair on ears, soft hooves, teeth barely out of gums, no sucking reflex. We tubed colostrum to the weak kids. One passed away the following day. 4 days later we still have one weak little doe. She can stand for only a little bit at a time to go to the bathroom and tries to take a few steps before falling. We tube feed her. We gave her Bose. Just wondering if there’s anything else that can be done for her or if anyone has had premature kids that have survived? Thanks!!
 
#3 ·
Wow great work saving this little one and welcome to the forum.

Dexamethasone can be really helpful to premature kids for lung development. It is prescription from a veterinarian. Because preemies lungs are often not quite developed, they are very prone to neonatal pneumonia. You should monitor her breathing rate and temperature, if either begin increasing a course of Draxxin (antibiotic), also prescription, would be imperative.

Were the two strong kids bucks and the two weak ones does?
 
#4 ·
Yes - I've had premies. I kept baby on a heating pad, keeping temperature up is crucial. Making sure baby is pooping and peeing. You may need to give an enema if no poops. I also gave some dexamethosone to help lungs. Make sure you are not overfeeding, and if getting a suck reflex, switch to a bottle. My little guy stayed in the house for 3 weeks..... best wishes.
 
#5 ·
thanks for the replies!

I’ve been keeping an eye on breathing. It’s rapid but steady, no raspiness. My husband just picked up dex to give her. We have her on a heating pad and she’s in the house plenty warm. She stands up to pee and poo, no troubles there. We’ve been tubing about 2 ounces 4 times a day. Not sure if that’s too much or not enough.

this is the first time We’ve had any weak/premature kids. But I’m assuming mom didn’t have food prenatal care.
 
#11 ·
We currently have a couple preemie twins but not as preemie as yours. Baby A and Baby B because we didn't know if they'd survive but they have. Not confident enough to tube feed so I would just use a baby bottle and let it run down his throat, I could feel he was swallowing he just wouldn't suck. The other one was a bit stronger. First couple days seemed just feeding them a tiny bit at a time but they did get stronger and are now 2 weeks old, happy, bouncy, still tiny. Still on a heating pad and the only goats we've had in the house. I was quite surprised my husband allowed it. Mom didn't have any milk so they are full time bottle babies (another first), we've had to supplement before but we're not fond of getting up for 2 am feedings. They are now going about 5 hours between feedings at night so have been feeding them at midnight and husband at 5 am. They are doing very well and it was worth the effort. But they were further along than yours.
 
#15 ·
I will get some vitamin b to try. And we have red cell, may try some of that. She’s still hanging in there. She still can’t really stand well, I almost feel like she’s weaker in the legs now. She did try to suck a little bit this morning or the first time, but after trying on the bottle for a little bit she fell asleep.
 
#17 ·
If you can get her weight then we can help you with the correct amount to feed! She may be seeming weaker if she isn't getting enough to eat.

Are you milking the dam to feed her or using replacer or cows milk? Be sure it's at 100* F when you tube so you don't drop her body temp.
 
#19 ·
Awww tiny little gal. So 8 ounces per day is appropriate. Estimates for bottle feeding vary from 10-20% of body weight in ounces per day. So 3.6lbs x 16 ounces per lb = 57.6 ounces, 10%-20% = 5.8 - 11.5 ounces per DAY, split into as many feedings a day as you can manage. More important than the math is that the tummy, just in front of the back legs, is flush and firm at the end of a feeding, no hollow spot and not ballooned /rounded out.
 
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