Helmstead -Goat close to kidding cannot breathe foaming at mouth

[helmstead]

 

[cassie]

If the goat is suffering from ketosis or milk fever, she may not be able to push the kids out. Does like this will dilate, but they will not go into a normal labor. You can reach in and pull the kids out. The fact that she will not eat grain makes me suspect she may have ketosis. I would give the doe some CalDex under the skin and see what happens. I would also find a goaty friend if you have one to come over and examine the doe and see if she has dilated. You can do this yourself. Just wash up well. If nothing else you can use dish soap as a lubricant.

 

[Fudgie]

I had planned on taking the doe to the vet when I got home from work but she did not make it that long. This morning when I checked on her, she was fine and standing and eating her hay and feed and drinking. No changes. I came home and she was laying on her side, I ran to the kennel but she was gone, and her mouth was cold. I figure she had been gone a while. There was a water sack hanging out but had not burst. I thought we might have a chance to save the babies, if the babies were still alive, so we did an emergency c-section on her and pulled the babies out but they were also gone, we rubbed them and tried to get them to get some circulation but nothing. She only had 2 babies, 2 big daughters. I hate it when I second guess my gut instinct to take an animal into the vet. Next time would one of you guys just smack me up side the head and tell me to call the derned vet!

 

[Fudgie]

Quote:
I will read these articles and save them for the future.

 

[helmstead]

Sounds like she was hypocalcemic and just couldn't progress, probably went septic...

So sorry for your great losses...darn it all.

 

[Fudgie]

Thanks, It looked to me like she had a slight yellowy discharge when she died as well, I noted that when I went in the pen with her. And OMG when we tried to save the babies, the FAT that girl had on her. I have never seen anything with so much fat deposits. We only had her for a year and a half so I wonder if where we got her from fed her very well so she stored up mega fat cells. She was a real sweetie and I will miss her terribly. At least we have 2 of her daughters from last year.

SOOO to prevent this from happening again, is there something different I need to be doing with these girls and guys to prevent them from having this sort of problem. Some sort of supplement etc. I am relatively new to goats so any help is appreciated from ANYONE!

Thanks for the support you guys are awesome.