A true case of bloat kills the animal. The animal cant keep up with the froth by burping and the bubbles in the froth are to small to pop and release the gas. Anytime a goat eats, they will create gas within their stomach but the bubbles are big enough to be popped and released. Sometimes an animal will get a huge belly but be in no real danger as long as they are able to burp and their rumin is working as it should. Still a good idea to keep a close eye on a suspected case. So I think you are doing good in that dept. And seeing how they are new to you and id guess you are feeding them something different then what they are used too, its even a better reason to keep a close eye on em. Now if you wanna be super safe, you can give them a cup or two of baking soda a day. Just pure it into a lip pan or even add it to a lose mineral salt. Baking soda is a rumin buffer and will help to keep it in top working order. Next you can put a table spoon or two of dawn liquid dish soap and water into an 8 quart bucket for them to drink from while eating (water first then soap). This acts as an bloat drench by mixing with the tiny bubbles of the froth and making big easy to pop bubbles that they can burp. Trust me on the dish soap. Our hay this year turned out to be upwards of 30% protein and if not for the soap, we would be at least a dozen goats lighter.
Bloat, or just big bodied?
I'm personally not concerned, but my bf is being a little nutty so I figured I would ask someone as the internet hasn't been completely helpful in my queries 
I have 2 cashmere wethers, I'm not new to goats, but to owning them myself I am. I've had these guys for roughly 3 weeks now, one of them, Zoro is nice and trim, nicely rounded belly, deff me favorite and like my dog Lots of happy gut sounds and just mischievous to shift out routines a little. Coco is more friendly to my bf, and my bf to him, fine by me but his body type is a bit more like a pregnant doe lol, they guy who delivered them was not concerned, and this has been his body type since we have had him, from my understanding, this is just healthy rumen development, i watched him closely today for a while, he peed, pooed, burped when i squeezed him, and on his own, but his gut sounds were much quieter, and his left side did seem a little higher, and maybe out of balance, I'm not positive because i never really looked with intent to see before, ya know? he is NOT grinding his teeth, off his chow, or standing tipped... is is still possible he is in the beginning of bloat? I will have pictures up a bit later, I've gotta head off to work now..
I have 2 cashmere wethers, I'm not new to goats, but to owning them myself I am. I've had these guys for roughly 3 weeks now, one of them, Zoro is nice and trim, nicely rounded belly, deff me favorite and like my dog
Lots of happy gut sounds and just mischievous to shift out routines a little. Coco is more friendly to my bf, and my bf to him, fine by me but his body type is a bit more like a pregnant doe lol, they guy who delivered them was not concerned, and this has been his body type since we have had him, from my understanding, this is just healthy rumen development, i watched him closely today for a while, he peed, pooed, burped when i squeezed him, and on his own, but his gut sounds were much quieter, and his left side did seem a little higher, and maybe out of balance, I'm not positive because i never really looked with intent to see before, ya know? he is NOT grinding his teeth, off his chow, or standing tipped... is is still possible he is in the beginning of bloat? I will have pictures up a bit later, I've gotta head off to work now..1 - 5 of 5 Posts
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