4 Month Old Doeling Lackluster

[Hip_Shot_Hanna]

I have a question about a 4 month old doeling (Half Saanen, 1/4 LaMancha, 1/4 ND). She was at the bottom of the herd that we got her from, and as the owners were moving they were concerned she might really have a hard time in the move. That is why she was given to us.

She eats fairly well, we feed her cracked corn, soybean meal and oats. She also has free choice alfalfa hay. But she hasn't perked up much. She walks fine, etc. She just doesn't exhibit the "joy of life" that young goats have. No running, jumping, bouncing just because she's alive - and that concerns me. We have been giving her vitamins and she has mineral access. I have given her probios. Nothing seems to make a difference. I will say she seems stronger than she was, but she's just sort of lackluster. She doesn't appear ill in any way, other than the fact that she's not a bouncy happy goat. We haven't wormed her, and were told she would probably benefit from worming once we got her stronger. Well, I'm wondering if maybe that is the problem.. is it dangerous to worm if she's not exactly robust? Also.. could it be possible she needs BO-SE?

Thanks for any info you can share.

[fishhead]

A lot of posters have recommended worm as a cure for lackluster behavior.

[susanne]

do a fecal first to see what you are dealing with but i agree she would benefit from being wormed.
is she on coccidia prevention?

[Hip_Shot_Hanna]

Originally Posted by susanne

do a fecal first to see what you are dealing with but i agree she would benefit from being wormed.
is she on coccidia prevention?

No - she hasn't been on anything at all. We've had her about a week or two, and she has improved and grown a bit, just not perked up as I'd like for her to do.

[susanne]

with her age and moving from another place i would do cocci treatment.
i bet you will see improvement after that.
i would also worm her for example with valbazen.
where are you located? you might want to ask other breeders in your area what is still working and what not.

[Hip_Shot_Hanna]

Originally Posted by susanne

with her age and moving from another place i would do cocci treatment.
i bet you will see improvement after that.
i would also worm her for example with valbazen.
where are you located? you might want to ask other breeders in your area what is still working and what not.

I do know that her feces look completely normal and always have. I'm in North Central Texas, and I would love to ask other breeders - if I could find any! I guess I can ask one of the vets, but it seems that goats are the stepchildren of agriculture.

[Sbrock]

I agree that a fecal exam by the vet would be useful. I suspect a couple things in this case... Coccidia is usually a given after a move with a kid, just because of the stress. You may also wish to treat her for lice with a louse powder (since it's supposed to be winter For coccidiosis, I like to use Corid, but there are cautions with that product, and it doesn't always work in every location. Albon is another product (Sulfas are good for coccidia). The vet should be able to make a recommendation as to what works where you are. Worming would be a good idea as well, and again, the fecal would tell you what your are dealing with and which wormer would work well. White wormers tend to be rather on the weak side as far as being able to get the job done, I like to use Equimax here (Ivermectin/Prazaquintal). Quest gel (Moxidectin) is also a choice since the bottle of Cydectin would be outrageous for just one goat.

HTH! and good luck with her

[susanne]

Originally Posted by Hip_Shot_Hanna

I do know that her feces look completely normal and always have. I'm in North Central Texas, and I would love to ask other breeders - if I could find any! I guess I can ask one of the vets, but it seems that goats are the stepchildren of agriculture.

even though the fecal looks normal you noticed that this doe is not as active as she should be. coccidosis does not always show diarhea. sometime is can be the opposite.

[Hip_Shot_Hanna]

Well, I've wormed her tonight. Sounds like Coccidiosis treatment is in her near future - too many folks recommending that tells me I need to pay attention

Thanks all!

[susanne]

you are welcome
it is always nice if we can find a solution.
i hope this kid will perk up for you and i'm sure it has a nice future

[Gailann Schrader]

Um, she could be bummed out too...

Maybe show her a little more attention?

A friend of mine swears by gingersnap cookies - the really cheap and hard ones. At Dollar stores. Put some in your pockets (but don't overdo it. You can make them sick from too much)

She may be herd bound to her other place and it will take a while (and worming and ProBios isn't a bad thing either)

[Hip_Shot_Hanna]

Originally Posted by Gailann Schrader

Um, she could be bummed out too...

Maybe show her a little more attention?
She may be herd bound to her other place and it will take a while (and worming and ProBios isn't a bad thing either)

I thought about that, but she was just as pitiful over there if not more so. Being at the bottom of the herd, she was not getting to eat any grain at all I think. That's how we wound up with her - they were moving and afraid she might not survive the move.

I read somewhere that calves do much better if they are brushed - gain weight faster etc. So I'm thinking of getting a brush and just brushing her once a day all over. I know she'd enjoy it. She still wags her tail and lips at our hands when she sees us. She was a bottle baby.