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A

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I have 1 doe that started acting off yesterday morning. She wouldn't eat. So I took her temp and it was 101.8. I looked at her eyelids and they were a little pale so I wormed her with valbazan. she doesn't have a runny nose or cough either. This morning she still isn't eating and another doe isn't eating. I took this does temp and it was 101.6. I looked at her eyelids and they were pink. She again has no runny nose or cough. They both are eating hay and chewing cud. They will eat cookies also.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'm scared they might be getting pneumonia. One has kids nursing. What is safe to give them that is safe for the kids nursing?
 
A

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Discussion Starter · #3 ·
One has 5 weeks old twins. The other is not pregnant and is not nursing any kids. We feed a pelleted food by ADM and have not made any changes. They have free choice baking soda and loose minerals. They are current on vaccinations and not loose poop. I'm just very worried. They never refuse feed. I brought their feed pans inside and washed them by hand and ran them through the dish washer just in case their pans were turning them off.
 
sweetgoats

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#4 ·
Do you have a stethoscope to listen to their lungs?
I do believe Teresa would be the best one to tell you about the Pneumonia, beings she just saved several of hers from it.
Now you said they are off their feed. Does that mean that they have not eaten anything at all?

I would try some probias and for sure a Vit B12 shot.
 
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T

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#7 ·
The thing about some pnumonias they spike a fever then it goes down and if you do not catch it when the fever is up you sometimes don't know they have it and they get too far gone before treatment starts. That is why it is sometimes called silent pnumonia. For me and my goats the snots started about 24 hours after they stopped eating and then the coughing started. Get a stethascope and listen also watch to see how the breathing looks. Make sure it isnt labored at all. This year the weather is crazy and pnumonia is a big problem with alot of herds and it is the contagious kind that is sweeping through the entire herds like mine. If a goat doesnt dive into its feed like it hasnt eaten in weeks to me something is wrong and you better find out what it is.
 
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#9 ·
Is there any stiffness or lethargy? If so I might add some calcium. I mentioned this because this was a problem I had with my 3 month pregnant doe recently. She was moving slowly (even for her- the dlug) and not eating much and this was her problem.
B1 and calcium can not cause any harm so they are something easy to do while deciding on antibiotics or not.
 
A

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Discussion Starter · #11 ·
there is LOTS of stiffness. they are myotonic goats LOL. No seriously they are pretty myotonic does. If they arent better by this afternoon it is off to the vet. My vet is gone for the week but his partner (who is less knowledgable about goats but does other livestock) is there. I figure he is better than nothing.
 
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#13 ·
since your goats are eating hay, you might want to check if the grain mix is okay. sometimes companies are changing the recipe in the winter months or if one part of an ingredient becomes too expensive.. what brand do you feed? goats will refuse if there is mold or pellets are infested with bugs.
i also would suggest a shot of b-complex to stimulate appetite. probios would be nice too. make sure they are still eating the hay with good appetite.
what kind of hay are you feeding? alfa hay for nursing and milking does would be good.

i have one doe, due to kid feb. 2nd she will not eat any grain, but she has some good weight on her and eats her alfa pellets with gusto. :wink:
 
A

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Discussion Starter · #14 ·
We feed a bermuda hay and ADM showtech feed. The other 18 goats didnt have a problem with the feed. Daisy, the goat with the 5 week old twins is not eating again. Tilda nibbled a little but I did discover that she is in standing heat which seems to affect my does appetites. Her temp is still normal, she doesnt sound congested, she is eating hay and chewing cud. I called the vet and he suggested just watching her for a little while longer but did offer his services if I thought she needed to be seen. Will update you again after supper.
 
A

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Discussion Starter · #16 ·
After we wormed the doe with kids with Valbazan she seems to feel a lot better and is eating good now.

The other doe is still not eating grain but she is so worried about going to see the bucks she won't even come in the barn. I hope it is just from her being in heat.
 
S

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#20 ·
a rumen that is compromised from what ever reason has an imbalance of some enzymes that destroys vit b.
so, if you give it oral, it will not do any good. this is very important if you have to treat a goat with polio or listeriosis.
i always advice to give the b as shots, because this hopefully becomes a habit and in case of emergency the right application method is chosen.
a healthy goat does not need supplemented with b vitamin because she has the ability to produce it herself in the rumen.

here is a very informative article from karin christensen. :wink:

http://www.dairygoatjournal.com/issues/ ... ensen.html
 
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sweetgoats
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