Anyone around goat emergency

[gspig]

our goat kidded a week early. had 3, 2 are alive. one is dry and trying to walk, the other is damp and not trying hard to get up. I think they are less than 3 hours old. mother still has fluid filled placenta attached. it is 11:30 pm here and no way to get med supplies. first what to do about the placenta, will she be alright for 9 hours until the vet is around. second, how old before kids nurse?

[Cheryl in SD]

Get the kid dry. Use old towels and rub her down. Then get her up to nurse if you have to hold her.

DO NOT PULL THE PLACENTA! It will drop off on its own when ready. You shouldn't need a vet and she should be ok for meds.

Check in to let us know how it is going.

[heinola honey]

I would do what Cheryl said and add you have to get them warm if they aren't even if it means bringing them in the house.
I have twins in my house now born yesterday to a FF who refused them and I almost lost one to a unheated barn.
Ruth

[Jen H]

Kids nurse just as soon as they can get themselves up. You might have to help the kid do that. Hold the kid up and show her the teat. If she won't nurse, milk a little out of the doe and tube the kid to get that colostrum into her.

[Qvrfullmidwife]

if they sound real 'gunky' in their chests/throat you can swing them...support their head and holding them at waist heighth at a sl downward incline, swing them from side to side to encourage all of the mucous and such to come out...

hope they do wonderfully!

[gspig]

both are up and crying well. mother is passing placenta. I may have just caught her just after the last one was born. I have trimmed the umbilical cords and coated with anti-bacterial wash. still haven't seen them nurse, I have milked both of mom's teats and there is good flow. I have placed both babies at each teat. I have seen the babies search and heard them make sucking noises, they have been searching in the wrong end on mommy though.

[oberhaslikid]

Sounds like they are doing fine. I make sure mine nurse in the first 12 hours once .I see them latch on I dont worry any more.They will find it. Congradulations on the new kids.

[fishhead]

It seems that most people worm the doe right after kidding too. And give her a bucket of warm water with some molasses in it to give her an energy boost and replace the fluids she just lost.