HELP! How do I safely fatten up a skinny doe?

[ravencreek]

We bought/rescued a trio of goats from a man that thought it was OK for goats and pigs to live in the same 10x15 dog lot. They too were VERY skinny and both nannies were pregnant. Our vet came out and told us to feed them not only the high fat grass hay freely but to feed them sweetfeed and instant oats or grits mixed with a little goat milk(of all things). He said that we could feed them as much as they wanted. The more high fat foods they had the more weight they would gain and have the neccessary fat stores to survive the birth and to make milk for the kids. But of course everyone has there own opinions and things that worked for them.

 

[freemotion]

Thanks, all ideas very welcome here! I'll go look for the licorice idea on the grunting goat thread....

 

[goatlady]

Quote:
Hi sorry to butt in here but got this notice over Google Alerts and I felt it was important to go ahead and say something so you can help your doe. - Chatychick has seen goats die from herbal dewormers because they don't work effectively and the goats die from worms-

You mentioned my website here and I am going to post an important fact from my article on deworming for you:

There are 4 stages of larval development and in order to kill all 4 stages (which have an approximate developmental period of 10 days) we deworm 10 days apart for a consecutive 3 times- so you will deworm , then in another 10 days and again in another 10 days - then again one month later and then on an as needed basis.

Never give any injectable dewormer orally for severely wormy goats as it can cause severe bleed out in the gut:
You are always advised by me to inject Ivomec and Ivomec PLUS injectable- it is made for injecting. When it is given orally it passes through the body within hours. It kills large numbers of parasites quickly and when they die they detach from the stomach lining and intestinal walls,leaving thousands of tiny holes that bleed into peritoneal cavity.

You can see a necropsy photo from this bleeding out from using ivomec orally in a severely wormy goat- Best to inject it and make sure to follow up according to my article in 10 days and again in 10 days. This is vital for a skinny anemic goat!

The article is here:
http://goat-link.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=46

Also for fattening up goats - shredded beet pulp soaked in hot water for 30 mins before feeding it will help put on weight. Make sure to soak it as it swells a lot. Just a cup or so after it is soaked will do . Calf Mann is a pelleted feed for calves (pink and smells like black licorice)- full of nutrition and calories only takes 1/4 cup daily.

goatlady
Goat-Link.com

 

[buck-wild-chick]

goatlady

You might want to stick around awhile.A Lot of people here have goats and questions LOL

 

[freemotion]

Wow, Goatlady, THANK YOU! I was so concerned about ill effects of worm die-off, after working with horses some years ago, that I was hesitant to worm her until after she delivers.

I read your article and it is fantastic! I do not know when my little rescue is due, if she is indeed pregnant....most likely is....but her eye membranes are not white. After 12 days of food, she is getting lively and spunky and even ran in the pasture the past two days. She will gobble down a pound of grain in one feeding, whereas 12 days ago I couldn't talk her into eating a pound in a whole day. The other tips, calf manna and beet pulp, are much appreciated. I had stopped the beet pulp because she was eating so poorly and just wanted plain grain. I will try to re-introduce the beet pulp when I am out of rutabagas, in a week or two. I will buy some calf manna tomorrow at TSC.

So considering her unique situation, do you think I should go ahead and do her first worming, or let her get a bit stronger? I am torn between worming her right away to HELP her get stronger, vs the stress that deworming will bring.

Your opinion?

 

[goatlady]

Thanks for the warm welcome, I will keep a message notification on so I can be aware better when someone has a question.

Good Deal on the eye color.
I would use Ivomec or Ivomec PLUS injectable and make sure to Inject it SubQ,
you may want to give her a B vitamin injection (I use B vitamins 1cc/25lbs also injected SUbQ) the day before- and also the few days following, it helps some with stress- but as long as the dewormer is injected there should be no problems. And keep in mind no matter when you did a deworming, always do at least one deworming the day after kidding - kidding brings on wormload.

goatlady

 

[freemotion]

Where is the best place to sub-Q inject a goat? I have done horses and cats, no goats....

 

[goatlady]

How to give a Goat Injections

Steps of Giving an Injection

1. Always use a clean needle and syringe
2. Wipe top of medication bottle with alcohol prep
3. Use separate needle for drawing medication from bottle so as not to contaminate medication
4. Make sure injection needle is properly attached to syringe, then while holding syringe upside down needle pointing upwards.. loosely in one hand.. flick with your fingers the top of the syringe to get air bubbles up to top, then expel them by pushing plunger some until you are to pure medication.
5. Secure goat
6. Wipe injection site with alcohol prep, double check dose amount in syringe.
7. Insert injection needle into goat at what ever angle you intend on giving injection (Sub-Q or IM)
8. Draw back on plunger to make sure you are NOT in a blood vessel! (This is especially important for giving penicillin injections as Penicillin is deadly if injected into the bloodstream)If you are in the vessel ..withdraw needle and re stick the goat.
9. Slowly and firmly inject medication (if the goat moves and you think there is a possibility of breaking the needle- Let go of it and let it hang.. you do much less damage with the needle hanging there than trying to hold on and taking a chance of breaking it off in the goat!)
10. Withdraw needle and rub injection site briskly.
11. Let go of goat and apologize for giving it an owie. Give her a kiss and a cookie.
12. Watch her for at least 30 minutes.. this is why I bring mine inside if at all possible. Keep an eye on her the next few hours Just in case..



*Make sure you always use a clean needle..
*If the syringe and needle drop onto the ground.. go get another needle.
*Only re-use a needle a couple times.. if you use them more than once.. they go dull VERY quickly.. and if you Do use them more than once.. make sure you sterilize them between uses.
Tip: A sterilized short jar with a tight fitting lid, filled with a sterile sponge and alcohol nearly to the top is a good place to store used needles for future use. Stick the needle into the sponge covered with alcohol and it will be sterile and ready for use later.
*Make sure you use the correct needle for the right job.. thick medications require a bigger gauge (diameter) needle.. a baby needs a smaller needle..
*Don't mix medications.
*Know which medications sting ahead of time so you don't get upset when one starts to jump and dance around thinking you are experiencing shock.. (Ivomec, Tylan200 and Nuflor among others are notorious for stinging..)
*Write down who you gave what shot to so you do not repeat it too soon, and make sure to give follow up medications when needed.. not giving enough is almost as bad as not giving any.. follow through.

goatlady
Goat-Link.com