Bottle kid down and I dont know why

approx 1 week old male boer kid, on the bottle since day 2 and drinking well, one of twins. Had difficulty standing at birth and for the first 2-3 days, was given vitamin A, D & E by injection after which he appeared to be able to stand normally. For about 3 or 4 days he appeared normal, walked fine, no problem. This morning he is unable to stand, extremely painful in both front legs, I think the knees seema little swollen but then sometimes babies look knock kneed. I can never tell. The back legs just want to fold up under him into a sitting position. He's breathing heavily and grunting and crying in pain. I know the plumbing systems are working.

What are your thoughts?

I've given him both oxytetracycline and trimethoprimsulfa, plus glucose under the skin, plus milk every few hours

I'm going to go get him some vit A, D & E and maybe some selenium

I figure all that will cover infections (joint ill) and WMD ...

:sigh: I dont really think he's going to make it, he looks awful

 

no dehydration.

have to admit I havent done the temp

pooing fine, reasonably normal for bottle kid

on replacer

 

I honestly dont think the replacer could cause all this. I've always used this replacer with great success. Better than whole goats milk.

replacer wouldnt explain the problem with the legs, and besides he's been on it since day 2 (colostrum day 0 and 1)

 

well he is still alive. and looking just a tiny teensy little bit improved. nothing to write home about though

I'm pretty settled on joint ill, although I thought he was a bit young for it. but I showed him to a few different people and they all thought the knees were swollen (I wasnt sure, I've been looking at him for so long lol)

I'm going to hit him hard with a/b and hope for the best

Prayers please guys, I really dont want to lose him

ray:

 

he's gone down a little bit now.

Also a bit loose in the poo now, but I did give him some cod liver oil so that might be causing the loose poo

 

oh man, I cant believe he's still alive. He barely does anything, just lies there and groans.

Breathing is worse. I think we are dealing with Mycoplasma here, not just simple joint ill. Mycoplasma will cause lameness similar to joint ill, as well as respiratory problems. Mortality is 90% in cases this young.

He suckled last night but has since stopped so I am tubing him. Was up every 1.5 hrs last night to check him. At 2.30am he was really bad and I was so surprised to see him alive at 4am.

I've given the other two kids a/b as well; one looks like he might be in the beginning stages of it.

 

he now has blood stained urine :?

So this is what I am doing:

- 1ml oxytetracycline every 12 hrs (desperate times call for desperate measures)
- 1ml triprim every 24 hrs (I've never tried this one 12 hrly so not sure if its safe)
- 5ml glucose s/q morning and night
- 50ml milk every 2 hrs tubed into stomach - he seems to be digesting still, pooing and peeing normal (cept the urine is now bloody)
- keeping him warm
- changing his bedding when he soils/wets it

poor little guy, wish I could do something to make him feel better.

What would happen if I gave him painstop? (baby pain relief) lol

I honestly dont know how he's still alive. I've never seen one this sick hang on so long

 

he's gone

I knew it would happen but somehow that didnt make it any easier when he did finally give up

I've been bawling my eyes out since he went about half an hour ago.

I tubed the milk into him, he yelled and wriggled round a bit like he always does, then he struggled a bit for air, I felt his heart stop first then his breathing. I've never had one die in my arms before, its a humbling experience. And I was surprised at how much he wriggled and kicked after both his heart and breathing had stopped.

Oh bugger, now I'm crying again

 

I just dropped him in at the vet for a post mortem, because one of the other kids looks like he might have similar symptoms. He's still walking and eating though.