baby goat emergency (she's a LOT better) - updated with pictures!

[BeardedChick]

Quote:
Too late, she is tube fed. I contacted my help (show sheep farm) and they said they tube sooner than later if the kid seems weak. She seemed very 'empty' this morning, and I am sure by mom's behavior that she's not letting them nurse freely yet. The doeling did not have much of a suck reflex this morning (bottle, finger or mom's teat), and that's exactly what worried me.

The tube feeding went really well and was very easy. I followed Goatworld's article to the tee. Brought her in the kitchen, set her on my lap, measured and slipped the tube in, gave 3 cc. of distilled water first to be sure I wasn't in the lungs. Then I gave her about 2 oz. of colostrum. She was not distressed about the tube at all.

She's back out under the heat lamp with her brothers.

I will update later.

 

[Chatychick]

All a newborn needs is the colostrum from mom and then milk for the first 2 weeks and nothing else. I hope she makes it since you gave her the water. She might and might not. sometimes the weak dont make it. I never give anything except milk when they are only a day old....good luck and you might want to call a vet and get some Bo-se in her as this will help with the sucking reflex and some vitamin E gel caps and give her 1 each day for about a week. Just snip the tip and squeeze the end into her moouth. Good Luck.

 

[dutchhollow]

3 cc's of water isn't going to hurt, and it is used to make sure the tube is in the right place (stomach, not lungs).
Sounds like you did a great job, just go out and hold the doe every few hours and let them nurse, if you don't have help you may have to tie her up to a fence then hold her back leg up for them (so she can't kick at them or move away from them).
Hope the doeling perks up now with some food in her belly!
Good luck and let us know how it is going!

 

[BeardedChick]

Thanks - yes, 3cc of water is a TINY amount (and it's recommended by Goatworld). It's just enough to make the kid cough if the tube is in the wrong place - but it's not enough to drown her. I considered it a very important safety precaution - especially as a first time tube feeder - to use a small amount of distilled water to check tube placement.

I also think she will be strong enough to nurse off of mom next feeding.

That would be fantastic!

 

[farmgirlie1031]

Glad she seems to be doing better. I was worried I would have to tube feed one of ours as she refused the bottle and was getting weak. I put one teeny tiny drop of honey on the nipple and put that in her mouth and finally got her to suck. These were bottle goats we had just gotten.

Back when I was raising sheep I remember having a ewe I had to hold to let them lambs nurse for a few days and then after the milk had been in them a few days they smelled like her and let them nurse. She was a first timer.

 

[BeardedChick]

I tube fed the doeling again at 10 and it really perked her up. Afterwards she came out to jump around and play with the boys. The boys were hungry and I held mama to nurse them. She isn't fighting too much, just seems uneasy.

PLEASE forgive the stall! I just bought fresh straw yesterday thinking I had plenty of time to clean it and replace the straw and was truly suprised that she kidded when she did. I know what I'm doing today... CLEANING out that mess!

I think the doeling's name will be Zelda. She looks like a Zelda to me.

One of the bucky boys.

 

[raneydayfarm]

I am glad they seem to be doing well. We had a pygmy that would not let her baby nurse. We tried and tried, we got her down to let the baby nurse and still no luck. We ended up having to bottle feed the baby (she was a few weeks old so I don't know how often to bottle feed a younger one) and sold the momma as a pet only, not for breeding.

 

[bheila]

Good for you for being prepared. You've done a great job!

 

[Jena]

They are beautiful,

so pleased she is improving,

Good for you.

 

[helmstead]

Yup, Zelda fits!