Sick Goat---Help Please!!

[Peaches Lee]

So my goat got into some horse grain before I could get it into the bin. I'm not sure how much she got, but yesterday she had very loose stools. So she only was fed hay and water.

Today, her stools are getting better, but she is shivering (it is 12 degrees here), sore on her front feet, and just generally looks like she is sick to her stomach.

Is there anything I can do? Do you think she foundered?

 

[shadowpaints]

i dont beleive goats 'founder' at least i have never seen it


i would be more concerned about bloat. does she have free choice minerals (IE goat block , at the very minimun iodized salt) also how about free choice baking soda? we always keep baking soda and minerals available at all times to the goats.

have you taken her temp? whats her color like on her gums??


im sure she will be fine in a few days... good luck!

 

[Peaches Lee]

Quote:
Thank you for your prompt reply! Yes, she does have a mineral block free choice. I tried to look at her gums yesterday, but she is very opinionated and tried to ram me (so I didn't see). I highly doubt I would be able to get a temp on her. She was a rescue, I don't know much about goats, but it was our house or the freezer--so she's here. I realize she is very badly behaved, but I got her as an adult and have had her for about 6 years, needless to say she is very difficult to work with as she is set in her ways.

I will try some baking soda. She does appear to be getting better. I also wanted to mention that I think she may have some arthritis from a dog/coyote attack at her previous owners--maybe her sore-ness is from that plus the cold rather than being sick.

Again, thanks so much!!

 

[shadowpaints]

so glad she is looking better . hope she gets 100% soon!

i have a few that wernt handled much as babies too, they are FUN(not) lol

its always so hard to see them when they are sick...

 

[glenolam]

Goats do founder - it's called laminitis. I'm not a horse person so I don't know if you use both terms for horses, but I've only seen it called laminitis. If she gorged on horse feed it is possible she could founder, but from what I understand it would take longer than a day to present itself.

I agree with giving her baking soda - no grain until her poo forms up nicely. You can drench her with a baking soda paste so you're sure she's getting it. Also, mineral oil is good to give to "speed" things along, but if she's already pooing nasty stuff you may not want to do that.

I know she's hard to catch/manage, but is she up to date on her CD&T?

 

[Peaches Lee]

Quote:
Is that a goat vaccine? We do not have any other goats, and we do not have animals/people in and out of our place.

She is doing better, finally chewing cud and eating a little more vigorously. We were able to administer dry baking soda in her mouth, she is quite impossible and the paste did not work--needless to say she got the majority of the soda, but some made it in her eyes and nose. I think her struggling with us made her feel better, maybe help get things moving. She was a little pale but is looking better. Now when I say she is difficult to handle, I mean it! It usually takes 2 people to trim her hooves and it took three of us to hold her to get her micro-chip! She is not scared or timid--she's a mean, bully, tyrannical little goat! But a lot of fun and very much loved.

Anyway, about how long does it usually take for them to recover from bloat? Thank you for your help.

Here is a picture of her from this Fall.

 

[glenolam]

Sorry it's been a few days! We're battling the sickness bugs over here...

CD&T is a goat vaccination. Here's a little blurb on it:

CD-T toxoid provides three-way protection against enterotoxemia (overeating disease) caused by Clostridium perfringins types C and D and tetanus (lockjaw) caused by Clostridium tetani.

I took this from this article:

http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/flockvaccinations.html

People usually give their goats their CD&T vaccinations every 6 - 12 months. If you have a pregnant doe, you would give the doe her CD&T vaccination (2ccs) about 4 weeks prior to kidding; that gives the kid their first dose. Then when the kid is about 3 weeks old you give them their booster shot (2ccs) and follow up every 6-12 months, whatever you decide. Most show-goats are done every 6 months since that is what the boards prefer. If you're just a backyard farmer you're safe with every 12 months.

How's she doing? Did the baking soda help?

 

[Peaches Lee]

Thanks for the info, I'll have to look into that with my vet. She is doing much better!

The baking soda is what I think really helped her get through this. I was so worried.

I just want to thank everyone that chimed in and helped, it's very much appreciated.

glenolam--hope your crew gets to feeling better!

 

[Inkheart]

I had this issue with my sheep - got into a bag of cracked corn - touch and go - but i was told milk of magnesia and that is what literally brought her back - thought i was gonna lose her!