Pregnant doe with stiff/weak legs

626 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by toth boer goats, Feb 21, 2022

Gridarm

Discussion Starter · Feb 20, 2022

New here and new to goats, im trying to help a friend who has a year and a half old doe that is bred, shes due next month. For the past two weeks shes had weak legs, has a hard time walking, like stiff legged, spends most of her time sitting. Shes had "CD-T" vaccine this year, she seems healthy, eats and drinks just fine, and her feet are fine, watching her try to walk kinda looked like a video i saw where a goat had a selenium/vitE deficiency which was called white muscle disease, so i gave her a dose of selenium and within a few hours that really seemed to help. That was two days ago and shes still doing alot of sitting and struggling to get up. Im curious how long it might take for her to heal from a selenium deficiency if infact that is the problem, or if anyone has any other thought on what it could be. Shes in northwest arkansas, with about 100 acres to roam on, with about 20 other goats, the other goats are all fine. She is a kiko. Thanks for any advice.

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Jessica84

· #2 · Feb 20, 2022

Hopefully someone who has had to deal with this comes on soon and help you. But I would say if she seemed to do better after the selenium it’s a good bet your on the right track of what the cause is.
How much did you give her and how much does she weigh? She is probably going to need more then the average dose. But let’s see what others have to say

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Gridarm

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 20, 2022

I gave her the recomended dose of 4 mg i believe, for an adult goat. I would guess shes aproximately 70 lbs

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ksalvagno

· #4 · Feb 20, 2022

Front legs? Back legs? Do you have white tail deer?

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happybleats

· #5 · Feb 20, 2022

Also grab some ketone strios and test her urine..make sure she's doing ok there.

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Gridarm

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 20, 2022

ksalvagno said:
Front legs? Back legs? Do you have white tail deer?

It apears to be all four legs, maybe more in the back legs. And yes there are alot of whitetail deer in the area.

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GoofyGoat

· #7 · Feb 20, 2022

You might be dealing with M worm from the white tail deer.
Try reading this and see if it fits, Ive never dealt with it personally but there’s a lot of folks here who have and can help.

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/meningealworm.html

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GoofyGoat

· #8 · Feb 20, 2022

I’d get a vet involved also since she’s so close to kidding.

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Gridarm

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 20, 2022

GoofyGoat said:
I’d get a vet involved also since she’s so close to kidding.

Shes not my goat, and i doubt the old timer who owns her will go that far to save her, but he asked if i wanted her i could have her, im just worried about introducing her to my goats if she might be infectious. Ill take her to a vet tomorrow and see what they think. And if they feel shes not infectious, ill bring her home and still keep her seperate from mine for a few weeks, thanks

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GoofyGoat

· #10 · Feb 21, 2022

Gridarm said:
Shes not my goat, and i doubt the old timer who owns her will go that far to save her, but he asked if i wanted her i could have her, im just worried about introducing her to my goats if she might be infectious. Ill take her to a vet tomorrow and see what they think. And if they feel shes not infectious, ill bring her home and still keep her seperate from mine for a few weeks, thanks

That sounds like a good plan. Keep us posted please. I’m curious what the vet will say.

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Gridarm

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 21, 2022

GoofyGoat said:
You might be dealing with M worm from the white tail deer.
Try reading this and see if it fits, Ive never dealt with it personally but there’s a lot of folks here who have and can help.

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/meningealworm.html

I read that article about the meningeal worms, scary stuff. I hope i never have to deal with those. So far i dont think this doe is really showing the symptoms of meningeal, shes been weak for about two weeks, but no itching at all, she can get up and walk short distances then wants to sit back down. Everything else about her seems normal. Ill be taking her to the vet tomorrow. Thanks

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GoofyGoat

· #12 · Feb 21, 2022

Gridarm said:
I read that article about the meningeal worms, scary stuff. I hope i never have to deal with those. So far i dont think this doe is really showing the symptoms of meningeal, shes been weak for about two weeks, but no itching at all, she can get up and walk short distances then wants to sit back down. Everything else about her seems normal. Ill be taking her to the vet tomorrow. Thanks

Keep us posted! I’m glad you don’t think it’s meningeal worms ...I hope you figure it out 🤞

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toth boer goats

· #13 · Feb 21, 2022

Are her ankles swollen? If so, give calcium.

A vet would be wise.

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