Two does sick - help

[kidsngarden]

They are shrinking. I mean, not skinny like they aren't well fed, but shorter in length and it appears that they are shorter in the whithers than the hindquarters. I noticed this in my nubian this weekend, but I thought they were just getting fat and my husband cut back on the feed. I also was thinking it was time they were all wormed because she just didn't look right. My oberlahasi is not walking well. she is stiff legged in back. I felt her legs and they seem fine. I'm wondering if it is bloat? They do want to eat and don't appear to be in severe pain.

Stools are normal from what I can see in the droppings - all berried in there. And my daughter fed them a little hay just to see if they would take it and they did.

I've read up a bit on bloat and other things. They just don't seem to be in severe pain at all like it says with bloat. They have no browse in thier winter pen and and get local hay and alfalfa and some spent grain every day. I'm wondering if it was too much spent grain? I we give about 8 cups total to all five goats every day in the morning.

If it is bloat - what is the oil drenching I read about? I'm going out to try baking soda right now. I'll be checking soon.

I know the oberlahasi was bred two weeks ago and the nubian remains a mystery. She runs with a buck but hasn't shown any signs of heat - to us anyway.

I would love more help please!

kids

[dk_40207]

I wish I could help more....did they take the soda? Are there bellies huge and abnormally firm? Rumen sounds? I don't think that 8 cups is too much for 5 goats... Do they have hay all of the time? Grain and alfalfa w/out hay could, maybe, potentially cause problems.. Pictures?

[kidsngarden]

They took a bit of soda, I left the rest there.

My blasted camera is busted, but I took some on my phone - I don't know how to upload them off the camera.

My oberlahasi is getting more out of sorts. Staying in the goat shed. just being still though. not running up to greet me at all.

kids

[needstoknowmore]

What part of WA are you in??? Just wondering because of the wonderful weather we have been having lately!!! My goats have been fine but I did have a calf that was off for a couple of days.
How old are the goats? Could the difference in size be a growing spert?
Are you pens nice and muddy? UGH!! Could cause them to stay in the house, and or cause hoof problems.
Have you listened to their breathing? Put your head right up to their chests.
With this whacky weather I have been keeping close eye for pnumonia (sp is wrong!) Have you taken any bodys temps.
Just crasping as straws. But a few things to think about.

[kidsngarden]

I can take their temps. I will go do that. I need to find my thermometer for animals - with the dog stuff - they are the only ones I have ever taken a temp on before.

I am in Skagit county.

Yes it is wet. It's wet everywhere. they are on a dirt floor layered with straw, but that needs another layer (again!) and we can't get the woodchips into their pen fast enough to keep them dry. I was going to trim hooves tonight as they are two weeks over due, but now I'm worried about this. They are a little long, but no smells or swelling that I could see.

They are both about 18 months old.

I tried listening and didn't hear anything abnormal - but like I would really know!

kids

[HappyFarmer]

What's spent grain? Is it old or moldy grain??

By "shorter" do you mean hunched up? I'm not clear on your descriptions.

Bloat makes the left side of their stomach swell out, kinda like a ball, high on the left side. There are two kinds: Frothy bloat & gas bloat. Mineral oil is used for Frothy bloat(the froth has to be dealt with before the gas is released), baking soda for gas bloat.
In severe cases a stomach tube is used for quick relief, in an emergency a puncture would be needed(I don't recommend you trying this). There are some OTC products you cna buy like bloat release, but if you don't have them handy by the time you get them it may be too late.

Gently messaging the stomach area will sometimes releive some gas.
HF

[kidsngarden]

Yes, they are hunched up. reminds me of a someone with stomach cramps.

No, they are not bigger on one side or the other. I checked that first thing. Maybe they are in the beginnings of it all?

And spent grain is the grain leftover from making beer. It is 100% protein. not moldy. It goes on the garden at that point or in a compost pile. Though all summer they would get at the stuff that had been lying on the ground for like weeks and gobble it up with no problems. This is fresh stuff (as fresh as spent grain is anyway). They love the stuff and cry for it every morning!

kids

[needstoknowmore]

Happy farmer had some more good questions. I know more questions, not answers. I would get there temp and feed them nothing but hay. No grain. With this weather you are not going to keep their pen dry, just try to keep them out of the mud.

[needstoknowmore]

You could try some baking soda balls. Mix baking soda with a little water and form it into balls. Then put them in their mouths. They don't like it much but the more you can get down them the better. Did you get a temp?

[HappyFarmer]

I'm not familiar with spent grain. Could it make them gassy? Make their stomachs acidy? Did they get more than usual amount? If you press on the left side it would feel like a ball, and the other side not so hard or different. It could be the beginning of bloat. Extreme pain happens later in the bloat.

If they are not frothing I'd treat them with baking soda. The balls are good but I just make a past & feed with a teaspoon upside down on their tongue, while holding their mouth a little so they don't spit it out. You should hear them expelling gas within 5-10 minutes(sometimes both ends).

Is it possible the Oberhasi was butted in the legs? If I'm re-reading this correctly this started this weekend-it seems as though bloat would have come and gone-it's now Monday evening. Perhaps something else is going on here. A temperature would be helpful.

HF

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Are these yearlings by any chance...virgin does? I know from week to week mine grow in spurts, one day I am SOO IMPRESSED with myself with how much I like my kid crop the next day they are high in the hip, or narrow in the rear Any chance they are just at the gangly akward looking stage? Vicki

[kidsngarden]

They are about 18 months. I think it was definetely some kind of stomach upset. They looked like a person would if they had tummy trouble. Like they were just cramped and wanting to roll in a ball. I got baking soda to one and she ate quite a bit and is back to her old noisy nubian self tonight. The other not so well, but looking better. Got some baking soda in her (mixed with a teeny bit of molasses and water) and a bit of oil to be sure. My daughter walked her around a bit and she is better still. No fever. She'll be allright I think, but I will stay away from the spent grain unless I can watch them eat it. Turns out hubby was feeding more than I thought, but I bet they were being piggies about it and got themselves sick on it.


Thanks for all the replies!

kids

[HappyFarmer]

Glad it worked out.