Pregnant doe losing weight question

[tltater]

OK...she is aprox. 6 yrs old, LaMancha, never had any health issues, has normal temp., eyes are nice and pink, eating(free choice hay, about a month ago, started giving everyone small amount of grain and alfalfa pellets together so they are sharing) poop is normal, urinating fine, drinking....due end of April. She was bred to a pygmy buck. Had twins last year with no problems. I noticed about a month ago, she seemed to be getting thinner, so decided to start them on the grain/alfalfa mix. Oh, forgot to add, I put the loose minerals in with the grain other wise they don't seem to eat any of it. Today, someone must have bumped into her to get to the grain and she ended up in some deep snow. She didn't seem to be able to get out of it herself, so helped her out and then set up a stall for her(it's in the bottom of our garage). She is in there happily eating her grain/alfalfa/minerals and hay and acting totally normal.

So....is there anything else I should be doing/looking for?

Thanks ahead of time for any help and hope I provided enough info.

Tracy
Southwestern,NY

[Patty0315]

When is the last time she was wormed? Do not put the minerals in with the grain. They should be seperate.

Patty

[mygoat]

If your goats won't eat the minerals separate, they're not good enough. Probably too much salt. What kind of minerals are they? I've found that MOST (not all) equine, bovine, and sheep minerals have WAY too much salt involved. Try to get your hands on some sweetlix or bluebonnet minerals.

Oh, and has she been tested for CAE/CL/Johnes?

[goatkid]

If you haven't had a recent CAE test, I'd get one done along with a fecal to check for worms and cocci. Sometimes, if they aren't carrying a large litter, I've seen goats go through a phase in pregnancy where they look thinner along their topline. I'd have the tests and have the vet look her over. I'd also check for lice. A buggy goat can lose weight, especially when she's using some of her daily calories to grow babies. She should be eating alfalfa hay or pellets, grain and a good goat mineral.

[tltater]

I haven't wormed for a few months. I only worm when it's necessary(fecal, eye lid color) but will do again. Have not checked for John's or CAE but can do tomorrow. Didn't realize giving the minerals with the grain was a bad thing. I do use minerals for cattle because that's all we have available. Will try to find some other. They do have a block for goats but not loose. I don't see any lice...on her or any of the others. Should I treat for it anyway?

Thanks to all that have responded so far.

As far as a vet looking her over...there aren't any around here that know anything about goats. I do the best I can with symptoms and go from there. I have a vet I work with that will give me meds I need and look them over if I feel he may have a better answer but mostly on my own there.

Thanks again,
Tracy

[fishhead]

I wouldn't treat for lice or anything else unless it was needed.

DocM just had a thread about giving extra copper by bolusing(sp) if you can't find goat minerals.