Goat and other problems

[pioneergirl]

I don't keep a journal anymore, but I felt the need to post this.....

Yesterday I noticed my goat, Bonnie Jean, was eating her grain ration a bit slow (its goat feed by nutrena), but I figure she just wasn't awake yet. She acted fine afterwards, bouncing around the yard. She acted fine all day yesterday, so I didn't think a thing about it. Got up this morning to find her stiff legged in her pen, unable to walk. She couldn't open her mouth, and there was a bit of foam around her lips. She tried to walk, fell over, and couldn't get up. She looked like one of the 'fainting goats' we all are familiar with.

I carried her out, tried to get some water in her, but no dice. She was able to walk a few steps, and could barely eat. One small piece at a time, and only ate about 1/4 of her ration. Her poops are normal, no dog-logs or scours. She is peeing fine. She just can't move!

She tried picking around the yard, and managed to get a few leaves down. I don't know what is going on, but will see what today brings. I don't have a 'goat vet'....my vet would come out, but wouldn't do much for her, so that is a waste.

On top of that, the woman I traded my horse with (recall the post of Tomahawk) is a severe alcoholic and can't decide if she wants to stay with the swap or get her horse back. Its a battle of indecision every day. *sigh* :-(

 

[freemotion]

Please post this on byh with "goat emergency" or something similar in the title. Meanwhile, withhold feed! Someone will tell you what to do. Eeek.

 

[Javamama]

Oh my, that sounds bad. for you.

 

[ksalvagno]

I'm not really sure but CMjust0 or Roll Farm or Helmstead could help you on BYH. Make sure you tell them that you don't have a goat vet. If there is any way that you could find a goat vet, even if they are a bit of a distance, that is always good for the extreme emergencies.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

yep - post over there Roll is really good. you could probably also PM her

check this site also - search on stiffness:
http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/articlesMain.html

i thought debbie was a gonna and all she needed was some vitamin b1... hope its an easy fix.

 

[emilosevich]

Sounds like polio or white muscle. Has she had her CD&T shots? Try mega dosing her with B vitamins. I'm talking like double the recommended dose. Make sure she keeps eating her hay and drinking water, but withhold the grain. How old is your doe?

 

[pioneergirl]

Thanx for the replies, but I don't hold my breath for BYH, been there done that in the past with no results.

Anyway, she is still stiff, can't open her mouth, won't take water, and now can't stand up. I have her laying comfortably in the shade. Maybe it sounds cold hearted, but I'm not paying over $100 for a "possible" goat vet to make an emergency trip to my place. It just doesn't happen around here.

I don't have Vit. B, don't know where to get it, nor administer it. Again, maybe I sound like a cold person, but she hasn't had any shots or anything. She is about 4 or 5 months old, give or take.

Flame me if you wish, but I do things differently. She can't stand up, she keeps falling down, labored breathing, belching, etc. I only posted thinking someone might recognize symptoms, or something. Heck, I don't know, maybe just because I wanted to tell someone.

Again, thanx for the responses, I'm just really grumpy right now. Going back out to sit with her.

 

[ksalvagno]

I'm not trying to be mean here but the kindest thing you could probably do for your goat is shoot it if you have a gun. Then she won't suffer. Since she has had no shots, there is a good chance that is is tetanus. There is a lot involved to try and save them from that.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

still there PG? and no i dont think you are cold and karen is probably right.

but

the possible fix is easy and anyone can do it... you might want to at least give this the old college try:

you can go to the grocery or walmart and get PEOPLE vitamin B tablets for under $5. go to their pharmacy and ask for a non-needle syringe to administer.

you might even have a B Complex (people form) - in your house. you are looking for B1, specifically and if its in a B-multi then you can use that. but not just a multivitamin.

crush/mash the pills (at least one - you cant give too much) as best you can, mix with a little warm water (less than a tablespoon), suck it up into the syringe, put it in her mouth and see if she can swallow it. do this every couple of hours. the effect is rather fast. if she improves - great. if not, you tried.

the goat site i gave you suggests the salivating and stiffness is some kind of mineral/vit deficiency.

and you are right some of the folks on BYH are mean. Roll Farms is not one of them if you want to try her directly. she's helped me out a couple of times with kindness and compassion.

no one is judging you. i just feel bad that you are in a tight spot.
:-(

 

[Blackbird]

I agree with Emilo and OFG, some vit B would be worth a shot, couldn't hurt. Your local feed store might have some.