Sick baby goat - HELP EMERGENCY

[AltonaAcres]

I arrived back from a 5 day camping trip (family was doing chores) to find my 5 week old Mini Alpine buck kid standing by himself in one of the goat sheds all hunched up and shaking. Probably in pain. It's obvious he hasn't been eating, his mom's udders are really big! I lost the buckling's twin sister awhile back, so am very attached to this guy. We feel a mass in his lower stomach, maybe a hernia? Help pls. Is it an emergency? we have a vet appointment at 10:45...........is it too late? So emotional

 

[chickens really]

Definitely a Vet is needed. Best wishes. You can also join Backyard Herds. Lots of helpful Goat people.

 

[AltonaAcres]

He has a bad hernia which triggered Thiamine deficiency. Is euthanasia the only option?

 

[chickens really]

He has a bad hernia which triggered Thiamine deficiency. Is euthanasia the only option?

What did the vet recommend?

 

[AltonaAcres]

He thinks the hernia has nothing to do with it. He said the kid had a low grade fever so probably has some sort of infection. This he is in pain and not eating which caused the deficiency. Prescribed pain meds and antibiotics.

 

[cassie]

I hope he also got thiamine. Have you given him a shot of CD/T to prevent tetanus and entero? Glad he is on antibiotics. Pneumonia is very common is goats.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Yes, we gave him and will be giving him Thiamine. We chose not to vaccinate our herd against CD&T after talking with several goat experts and weighing the pros and cons. How would he develop pneumonia? Also, I cleaned out the A-frame he and his mom have been sleeping in and it was nasty! We have some ground water around our property and so the bedding was pretty moist I feel bad, I should have been checking more! The other goat sheds stay dry, but not this one. Could that have caused something? He is doing about the same, less pain so he's been resting, nursed a little bit. We syringe fed him some baking soda, activated charcoal, and milk to help his tummy. Haven't seen him poop. He'll kind of twitch on his abdomen every 5 minutes or so. Thanks for all your help.

 

[cassie]

I can't imagine what the cons of vaccinating with CD/T would be. I can tell you what the cons of NOT vaccinating are. A dead goat. Castration and dehorning exposes the goat to tetanus. Entertoxemia, caused by clostridium perfingens, strikes without warning and can kill in a matter of hours or less. CD/T helps prevent both of these conditions. Dampness and poor ventilation will set a goat up for pneumonia.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I hope your little guy is ok! I appreciate this post as a prospective goat owner. Thanks, all!

 

[sunrise.superman]

Is his abdomen bloated at all? They can get a frothy bloat. Vegetable oil (NOT mineral oil) orally via syringe can help knock down the froth and bubbles and make him more comfortable and get things moving. Dosing with probiotics as well if you think this is a gut issue.