Still Stumped by Snowflake
 

You've probably seen my posts in the last 2-3 weeks about my doe. Snowflake is her name and we are just stumped as to what is ailing her. The vet will be out of town for a few more days at least and I don't trust the other vet completely.

First she gradually lost weight. She is thin, but not sickly, yet. I thought it might be polio because she appeared blind. Well, I treated that, because she doesn't seem (as) confused or blind. She's old (at least 11) so her eyesight probably isn't great anyway. She had better days and bad days of eating. I haven't seen her poop in weeks, but she isn't eating much either. She was peeing alot at first, then she started just squatting. She was still drinking water, she will take water every day or so, but I have water buckets everywhere for her. (I have no place to separate her, no thanks to my lazy husband...:grumble:...sorry other husbands out there, but that's another story for another day) :)

If you weren't looking for illness, you wouldn't know she was sick! Momma knows though. I have had stones in my boys before. So I know a goat in pain. I have seen her paw at the ground, and she stretches funny and the way she breathes, like through her gut, she even trembles ever so slightly in the mouth every now and then. Weird thing is, she is not acting like she is in serious pain or crying or really acting stressed. But I know its bothering her enough to not want to eat. She sniffs at food like she is interested, and every now and then she will eat.

OK..so my question is where do I have the vet start? Stones? (no blood when she does pee that I can see) She doesn't cry when she does pee. Bloat? No signs of that either. constipation? Possibly, but she doesn't appear to be trying to poo. UTI? She is not very trusting lately so getting near her is difficult. Doubt I could get a urine sample.

I think at the very least I will go with some banamine to see if I can see other symptoms. Any reason I shouldn't? What tests should I ask the vet about? I can't spend alot of money because she will probably have to go back later in the week.

One last thing, before I stopped seeing her poo, her tail was a little dirty, but not much. I saw one pebble of poo stuck to her earlier in the week and it did look solid, but it was a little mucousy. (lighter color mucous- yellow/green/white) it was only one pebble. Haven't found any more since around her area.

This is really depressing me, and I can't even think of how she feels! Its been soo long with out a good change.

Thanks again for your support, you guys are always there to listen and I need that.

Sounds like your wormer is not working. At least that is where I would start.

I thought that as well. I've had issues with sucking lice before. I wormed her with ivomec when that was all I had. I got some dectomax last week and gave that to her.

I have also given her vit b and probiotics. I thought that maybe after the wormer, her rumen stalled out.

What about her teeth? Whatever her issue is hope she gets better soon.

I thought of her teeth, but I haven't really looked. She certainly acts strong when I try to mess with her. I will try tomorrow...ack! I kinda figured it wouldn't be her teeth because of all the weird stretching she was doing.

Yep, I thought teeth too when you first posted about her.
Make sure you have her teeth checked, and possibly floated..
She could have an abscess, or ??

Floated? What's that?

Floating is how you clean and shave a horses back teeth..
I tried to attach a you tube video for you, but my computer is
needing an attitude adjustment. To float the teeth, it takes sedation to get to the back teeth...and files..etc...try to you tube it..
When is the vet coming out??

Shouldnt the vet have known this? Odd...I floated mine a few times...eventually I was wetting down her food, then I finally had to make a decision.

Croenan, if more food is falling out then going in, she may need her teeth floated.

I had a friend who had a doe "waste away". The vet tried everything. They did a necropsy and found a giant wod of hay twine... :/

Goat is 11. The oldest doe I ever had was 14.

I'd not waste a ton of money diagnosing her at that age because she won't be around much longer anyway.

Like was said I'd check for worms make sure she's getting easily digestible grain and roughage, and make sure she has enough minerals but I'd not spend a lot of money on her.

Once animals get that age it can often be hard to pin down what's wrong with them.

Oh my thats just heart breaking

How much did you use?
Oral or SQ?

Both wormers are the same.......
Helps to switch them out with something else. Some times what one will not get another class will and then the goat is feeling better.

Can you get a fecal done?

Well my night seriously sucks. I got some banamine from the vet and during the process of trying to give it to her my lone chicken jumped out of the hen coop and basically killed herself. Between grumpy husband, a big spider in the goat house and my dumb chicken I only got half in her, still have the other half in the syringe (dunno if I can give it to her tomorrow)

I am really bummed about my chicken because she was the last hen I had for my rooster, who is one of my favorite animals. He also gets very depressed when he doesn't have a girl around. We were down to zero a few years ago. (not to mention that I love all my animals very much) BTW, when she jumped down from the coop, 1 ft, she did a summersault and then couldn't get up. He crop turned blue and then she died. I should be grateful it was quick. Sadly, she just recovered from being ill about 2 months ago.

It got too dark to really get a good look at her teeth, not to mention, I really don't know what I am looking for. I gave her a good feel up, nothing weird or hard, and she didn't flinch when I tried to check her teeth out. I also felt for weirdness around her jaw. She did pee twice, and it wasn't alot, but it wasn't a trickle, so that is good.

I got to make her bed more comfy and hopefully she will get some rest tonight. Me, well, I'll be sobbing myself to sleep. :(

I'm so sorry Croenan...too much for a person in one day. I hope tomorrow is a little bit better for you. Sending you a big (((Hug))) :(

Oh Croenan:( So frustrating and so...well. I'm sending hugs to you and good vibes to Snowflake from over here in central VA. If I was closer, I'd squash that spider for you (still doing the Yucky Spider Dance of course) and give you a hug in person.

Mpete, I am paranoid about keeping twine away from my goats. Yikes.

(((Croenan))) I really hope your doe gets better. She sounds like a sweet girl who is very loved!

I was hoping that she would be at least a little better by now. Just hang in there. You are doing what you can for now, it seems. Have you given her any antibiotics in case there is some sort of infection?

Oh sweetie I'm sorry you're having such a bad time. We are all here for you. It's no fun when you lose a pet.

Have you actually had your vet look at her? I had an older goat once who was off feed, quit making milk and had a subnormal temp. I was treating her for milk fever, but she wasn't responding. The vet examined her and found it was pneumonia and with antibiotics she got better. I would never have thought of pneumonia with the low temp and no coughing or snotty nose. When I had another doe who did the stretching thing, I gave her C&D antitoxin, 10cc sub Q and 10cc orally along with cud from another goat. She was better the next day.

If she is eating - remember, she should be pooping. If it goes in it must come out. If she's eating and not pooping she may have an obstruction somewhere.

teeth would be the first start, then I would see if she would eat canned pumpkin so you couldnt help be see her poop. will she still eat hay if given by hand or perhaps a tree limb?

Quick help
 

Ok, Snowflake just took a turn for the worse. She started crying a bit, like when they have stones, but not so bad. But she looks very unhappy.

I had 3ml of banamine left so we gave it to her and she was resting quietly for a half hour or so, but she is breathing heavy now and trying to "sleep".

Thoughts? I am trying to figure out if I drive an hour to an emergency vet to put her down or if it is part of the banamine. I can't remember and I am torn to pieces right now. I need help.

I consider just putting her down because I can't take much more of this and I can't imagine how she feels about it. She is 11 or 12 now, although she doesn't look it at all.

BTW...I dunno how much she weights, so I dunno how well the banamine is working.

She's gone.

So sorry ... **hugs**

I'm so very sorry! You did your best for her and she knew that.

Oh I am so sorry for you. I was hoping she would pull through for you. Just make sure you remember you did everything you could for her. **hugs**

I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe you should invest in a necropsy. I know it's hard to think of spending money on her now, but if you learn from what happened to her it could benifit you and your other goats in the future.

I thought of that, but sadly, I am not sure I want to know what killed her. The guilt would kill be if it was something stupid. Next time, the vet can have her much earlier.

It was fairly quick and not too painful. I am not even 100% sure my husband didn't just help her end it, I didn't have the strength to go over during the last minutes and normally I don't leave their side. My husband was really helpful this time, and of course, I let him know and thanked him! lol

Thanks for all your help, any volunteers to help dig a hole in 105 degree weather? :)

Oh Croenan, I'm so sorry. I was hoping you'd post back and tell us things were better.

I know what you mean about a necropsy, but knowing might make a difference if there's a next time, you know?

Oh dear...I am so so sorry!! :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:
Just wish there was more besides a hug that would help you..
Truly it is all a learning...

I am so sorry Snowflake is gone :( I'm sure she knows how much you love her and that you did everything you could. ((((big hug))))