Lets talk about goats!

[RTFchickens]

I'm completely new to goats. My buck kid is about 12 weeks. I just picke him up yesterday. He has a cough, poop tha more closely resembled a cats vs a goats raisin looking poo, and itching a lot. I took him in for his 1st check up. He has lice, possible worms (will know tomorrow after poop is tested) and treating for a resp infection. Price of registered ND buck, $425 price of vet with meds $175. So I'm up to $600 for this ONE goat so far not including the usual stuff like a barn, food, new feed dishes, bedding, etc.
this is like a roller coaster ride here! I was so excited yesterday, my kids fell in love with him! I'm supposed to be getting 5 more goats Sunday.
Are these normal problems? I've read about these things occurring, I just didnt think I would be starting off with them.

 

[Tuhmu]

Did you see this goat beforehand? 99% sure he has worms...... All of those conditions are curable but I wouldn't purchase more goats until you get that one cured, or at the very least keep him separate.

I know this is off topic, but did you get him at one of those alternative livestock auctions? (also live in N. Dakota)

 

[H Diamond]

They are normal in that they are problems goats can get. It is NOT normal to buy a goat from a breeder especially for that much with all those problems. Find a new breeder!

 

[sandesnow]

They are normal in that they are problems goats can get. It is NOT normal to buy a goat from a breeder especially for that much with all those problems. Find a new breeder!

Agreed. If he is ill, I hate to say this because we all get so attached, he really should go back. That isn't right to sell sick animals to anyone. I would demand my money back at least, for the vet bills, because it is their expense for the vet bills for selling a sick animal. Yeah, don't buy any more from these people.

 

[ChickyChickens]

It may depend on the line. Dairy goats of the Swiss breeds are seasonal breeders. They start coming into heat so many weeks (I forget what it is) after the longest day. Boers come from near the equator where the length of the days and nights are close to the same length year round so they are more likely to cycle year round. I once knew a Nubian breeder whose goats would breed any time of year, but she bred for that trait..

OK thanks!!

 

[cassie]

I'm completely new to goats. My buck kid is about 12 weeks. I just picke him up yesterday. He has a cough, poop tha more closely resembled a cats vs a goats raisin looking poo, and itching a lot. I took him in for his 1st check up. He has lice, possible worms (will know tomorrow after poop is tested) and treating for a resp infection. Price of registered ND buck, $425 price of vet with meds $175. So I'm up to $600 for this ONE goat so far not including the usual stuff like a barn, food, new feed dishes, bedding, etc.
this is like a roller coaster ride here! I was so excited yesterday, my kids fell in love with him! I'm supposed to be getting 5 more goats Sunday.
Are these normal problems? I've read about these things occurring, I just didnt think I would be starting off with them.

If he's itchy, he also has lice. You can get louse powder from any feed store.

 

[Stacykins]

I'm completely new to goats. My buck kid is about 12 weeks. I just picke him up yesterday. He has a cough, poop tha more closely resembled a cats vs a goats raisin looking poo, and itching a lot. I took him in for his 1st check up. He has lice, possible worms (will know tomorrow after poop is tested) and treating for a resp infection. Price of registered ND buck, $425 price of vet with meds $175. So I'm up to $600 for this ONE goat so far not including the usual stuff like a barn, food, new feed dishes, bedding, etc.
this is like a roller coaster ride here! I was so excited yesterday, my kids fell in love with him! I'm supposed to be getting 5 more goats Sunday.
Are these normal problems? I've read about these things occurring, I just didnt think I would be starting off with them.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but you should have given him a thorough examination before bringing him home. You can easily check for lice and hear a cough without a vet. You can see if his fur is thin anywhere and his skin flaky. You can see if his nose is running and if he is sneezing excessively.

If you just picked him up yesterday and he is showing all those issues, then you would have been able to see that at the breeders. You should not have brought him home in that condition. A breeder should only sell a 100% health animal and as a buyer, you have the right to refuse to bring him a sick animal AND get any deposit back you put on him. A nonrefundable deposit is only nonrefundable if you change your mind. A sick animal is an unsalable animal.

Thankfully, you took him to the vet promptly. Which means you need to be sending that breeder the bill, because those illnesses wouldn't have been picked up at your place, he left sick.

 

[H Diamond]

But, was there a sales contract signed?

 

[sandesnow]

I wouldn't think it matters. I don't know of any contract that would state that an animal was sold 'as is'. And if there was a sales contract, an ill animal is a breach of contract. The vet bills are the sellers responsibility. The new owner has an obligation to have taken the animal to the vet. So hands are tied when it comes to that because an owner, whether the animal was sold on pretenses of good health or not, is obligated to do what they can to help the animal and take it to a professional, but the seller is liable for the bills.

Hope things worked out. I wouldn't stand for that in any kind of animal sale, livestock or other, because illnesses take time to develop. Especially those kind.

 

[RTFchickens]

I appreciate the advice you guys gave me. My goat is doing much better now. Antibiotics are working great. We gave him the lice treatment from the vet gave us, and then did a DE treatment. His poop test was negative for parasites, which was good. His lungs were clear when I listened to them the day I picked him up. I also didnt even think to check for lice.
This breeder does an "all natural" goat care. I have watched this little guy grow up. I didn't want to get goats not knowing how to care for them, so I went there about every other week to see the little guy and observe care. Unfortunately after becoming "friends" with these guys I took their word that he was in good health even though my better judgement told me otherwise.
I will never buy another goat from them. I'm gong to eat the vet bill, and count it as a lesson learned. I'm just glad my little guy is doing good now, and has a friend to play with ;-)