Doe Foaming When Chewing Cud

1868 Views 29 Replies 8 Participants Last post by toth boer goats, Feb 28, 2022

BuckeyeHomesteader

Discussion Starter · Feb 5, 2022

I’ve seen a couple people reply to posts that they have “foamy does,” but is it unusual that my 12 year old (the same one that’s has two weird constipation issues this past year) foams at the mouth when she chews her cud now? She didn’t do that before this past fall. All else seems normal and she seems happy.

Hay is an orchard grass mix. Probably a little clover and alfalfa, but not much.

Only other thing that’s different is that they used to get more browse, even in the wintertime, but it’s all down now due to the horses so the goats eat almost exclusively hay. Before they would browse a lot.

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KY Goat Girl

· #2 · Feb 5, 2022

I wonder if it has something to do with her teeth since she’s so old.

BuckeyeHomesteader

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 5, 2022

Maybe? I stuck my finger in her mouth and didn’t feel anything too weird. What can we do for their teeth? Do their teeth get bad like ours, or more like a horse’s? I’ve never had a goat with bad teeth before.

KY Goat Girl

· #4 · Feb 5, 2022 (Edited)

As they age, they’re teeth get worn down. If they get too bad you might have to start feeding them things that are easier on they’re teeth like making some sort of mash by soaking whatever pellets you normally feed. I’ll see if I can find an article about it. For some reason it seems like I’ve heard they will start foaming at the mouth if they are having trouble eating their food.

KY Goat Girl

· #5 · Feb 5, 2022

Aging Sheep and Goats By Their Teeth

KY Goat Girl

· #6 · Feb 5, 2022

Here is an article with pictures. I have a 9 year old and her teeth look like they’ve been filed down pretty evenly. I’ll see if I can get a picture of her teeth for you later.

KY Goat Girl

· #7 · Feb 5, 2022

thriftyhomesteader.com

Caring for Senior Goats

Goats can easily live to more than ten years. Here are some of the changes they may face and tips for how to care for goats as they age...

thriftyhomesteader.com

Here’s a better one. Scroll down to “Dental Changes in Senior Goats”.

BuckeyeHomesteader

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 5, 2022

Thanks! It’s interesting - I don’t think of her as “old.” I’ve known does to be close to twenty before they really slowed down. I guess I need to adjust my thinking ....

my daughter just told me that she sees our younger doe getting foamy too, although I haven’t seem her. If that’s the case, Sounds like the hay?

KY Goat Girl

· #9 · Feb 5, 2022

I don’t think of my 9 year old as “old” either.

Hmm, could you post pics of both of them?

KY Goat Girl

· #10 · Feb 5, 2022

Dog Jaw Dog breed Carnivore Gesture

This was the only good pic of my 9 year olds’ teeth. In person they look really filed down.

Are your does doing anything other than foaming at the mouth?

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KY Goat Girl

· #11 · Feb 5, 2022

@toth boer goats @GoofyGoat @happybleats

BuckeyeHomesteader

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 6, 2022

Thanks for the picture.
Nope, nothing else.

KY Goat Girl

· #13 · Feb 6, 2022

You’re welcome!
Could you post pics?

KY Goat Girl

· #14 · Feb 6, 2022

@ksalvagno @Moers kiko boars

ksalvagno

· #15 · Feb 6, 2022

How much clover is in the hay? Clover will do that.

Reactions: 3

happybleats

· #16 · Feb 6, 2022

@KY Goat Girl ..you're always so helpful!! 🥰

I agree. Clover can cause issue. Or somtimes rheir rumen flora is off some. Maybe try some probiotics daily and see if that helps?

Reactions: 2

BuckeyeHomesteader

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 6, 2022

KY Goat Girl said:
You’re welcome!
Could you post pics?

I’ll try tomorrow during daylight!

Reactions: 1

NigerianDwarfOwner707

· #18 · Feb 6, 2022

Is it white foam or cud foam? White is usually a normal random occurrence that we see in some goats, even perfectly healthy ones. Most likely just extra bicarbonate production and I've recently come to think it is linked to the pH of the diet.

KY Goat Girl

· #19 · Feb 6, 2022

happybleats said:
@KY Goat Girl ..you're always so helpful!! 🥰

I agree. Clover can cause issue. Or somtimes rheir rumen flora is off some. Maybe try some probiotics daily and see if that helps?

I try to be as helpful as I can until someone else can chime in with better advice.

A lot of what I know I learned from here or I remember it from when I was little.

Reactions: 1

mark.b.matar

· #20 · Feb 6, 2022

ksalvagno said:
How much clover is in the hay? Clover will do that.

happybleats said:
@KY Goat Girl ..you're always so helpful!! 🥰

I agree. Clover can cause issue. Or somtimes rheir rumen flora is off some. Maybe try some probiotics daily and see if that helps?

you both always amaze me with your experienced replies. you are heroes

Reactions: 3

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