My goat ate chicken feed, hard to wake up, help!

[flockof5]

I checked on my goat and the wether was baa'ing, but the doe wasn't moving. They are Nigerian Dwarf goats, we've only had them a couple of days.

Anyway, normally the doe will baa and come when we are out too. Her head was laying in some chicken feed, I couldn't wake her up at first. I had a turkey chick in there, I thought she couldn't get to it, but she managed to wedge her head in and eat it.

It freaked me out, I seriously thought she was dead. She finally woke up and we let her out and she is acting fine now. But should I take her to a vet? She's probably eaten about 1 quart mason jar full of chicken feed in the last 24 hours. Is this an emergency?

Money is nonexistent right now, but if it's serious, we will take her to a vet. What symptoms do I watch for? I called a vet and they said check her gums. Her gums are very light pink. They said watch for gray gums and for bloat.

help, I'm clueless!

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Bump

 

[Chirpy]

Yes - watch her gums and for signs of bloating.

Do you have tums... I would give her a couple. Does she have access to baking soda? You should make sure that is available 24/7 for your goats.

Do watch her tummy for signs of bloating - although I believe she would already be a beach ball if that were the case. I would put a collar/lead on her and walk her around for a while also... that helps get things moving inside and can help with possible bloat.

If you have probiotics I would give her some.

There are others here with far more experience than I have so hopefully they'll see this and chime in quickly for you.

 

[hikerchick]

I wish I had words of advice.

I can't keep my goats away from the chicken feed no matter what I do and I worry that something bad will happen to them.

 

[Sillystunt]

geeshh, i am soo sorry! i am not sure cause you hear bad things about chicken feed. That amount i have noo clue!

My advice is to post on www.backyardherds.com

there are some really nice people who breed and have wayyy more knowledge then myself!

Please keep us posted!!

 

[bheila]

PMed you

 

[cassie]

This is probably too late, but file this for future reference. If a goat gets into the grain, and chicken feed qualifies, and you catch them in the act, the first thing to do is keep them away from water for several hours. When the grain ferments in the rumen it produces lactic acid. Too much acid will kill the rumen bacteria. No rumen bacteria, no goat. Without water the deadly reaction cannot occur. Offer the animal dry hay. The object is to dilute the grain as much as possible. Give penicillin and an entero shot. You can give a dose of penicillin down the throat and one under the skin. Do the same with the clostridium perfingens antitoxin. If the animal starts to bloat, give GasX, not oil. All goat owners should have clostridium perfingens antitoxin and GasX in their medicine chest at all times. An antiacid of some sort would be a good idea.

 

[flockof5]

Thanks, everyone. I posted this on the backyard herds forum, too. I figured any advice was welcome!

Cassie, she is acting okay so far...I gave her orchard grass hay while milking her. I didn't read your response about water, so hopefully we'll be okay.

However, her milk tonight smelled fishy. And yesterday and today, her right side took longer for the milk to come in while milking (the left side always starts giving milk right away). And there seems to be more milk at the end on the left side....it takes longer to finish.

She doesn't have mastitis or something, does she? Do I throw out the fishy smelling milk? Or have it tested? My husband discovered someone who tests milk.

Or should I take her to the vet tomorrow? Not sure how serious the fishy smell in milk is, or if it's related to the chicken feed. Thanks!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Quote:
We have a three month old goat that occasionally gets into the chicken feed without any negative reaction. But, we also feed our three goats Purina Goat Chow, in moderation, about a half cup each a week, and that is a grain. Should one keep them away from water after feeding that? And, as for Gas-X, what would be the approximate dosage per weight for a goat?

flockof5, i hope your goat will be okay. i have Nigerian Dwarfs also, and fairly new to goats, so still learning.

 

[username taken]

you should NEVER withhold water in cases of lactic acidosis (too much grain). the key symptom of acidosis is SCOURING, you are asking for trouble if you withhold water because the goat is going to get dehydrated and die faster than you can blink.

penn isnt going to do anything for acidosis, because its not an infection. all penn is going to do is kill of the rumen bugs, and as you yourself said, no rumen bugs, no goat.

as far as the OP is concerned, I've answered on BYH, but I wanted to adress the misinformation here.

ESF, please do not let your goat eat chicken feed, even occasionally. It can and will eventually kill him