eating mishap! will they be ok?

[rootsandwings]

last night my nubian goats broke the chain on their pen door (they don't like thunderstorms) and got loose in the barn. there are two of them - a dry doe and a pregnant doe due in 3 weeks

they ate (and this is my best top end guess) about 5lbs of goat feed, some small quantity of rabbit feed, 10 pounds of LAYER feed, 1/3 bale of alfalfa hay, and part of a paper bag.

they are quite round (the pregnant one looks like a huge barrel with legs, the other one looks pregnant) but acting ok. there is normal looking goat poo all over the barn. the dry doe looks very pleased with herself, the pregnant doe had the grace to look ashamed.

I am most worried about the calcium in the layer feed, but that might be because I don't know what *else* to be worried about. nothing was medicated

any thoughts or suggestions appreciated (I will be checking them often)

[topside1]

The first five pounds of goat feed should'nt bother them nor should the piece of missing paper bag. Seriously I have no idea, that's a lot of chow. How about storing your grains in an area that's goat proof. Right now I have 25 goats and would be having daily nightmares if they escaped and ate grains till they popped. That's why I keep my grains; goat, chicken, cattle, rabbit in a gated pen. Just something to consider???

[rootsandwings]

there were two gates between the goat and the feed. one with a (now) broken chain, and one with a slipped latch.

the goat feed was protected only by the feed bag (partly eaten) the hay was out in the open.

the other chow was in snap lidded plastic bins.

too clever for their own good!

they are lying around. but come up to the gate for ear rubs. they are walking as if their bellies are a little uncomfortable. I saw the pregnant one poop

[topside1]

Goats sure know how to throw a party...Lets just hope they walk it off...Wish I could be of more help.

[squeakers girl]

Maybe,and I may be way off here, you could give them some oil or a laxative to help flush it out.

[gccrook]

It won't hurt them any. They may have a little unsettled rumen for a while, but they will be fine. Watch for scours from the sudden change in diet, and if necessary, give some probios. Otherwise, just keep an eye on them. Goats are good at getting to stuff they want.

[fishhead]

I would watch to make sure they are chewing their cud.

[Sweet Goats]

Are they UTD on their CD&T shot? That is very important. If not give it to them now. Also, I would leave in several different area's some baking soda, so if they start to bloat they can eat it. If they start to bloat, make a baking soda ball and force that down them. Good Luck.

[rootsandwings]

they are so big and full I'm not sure how I'd see bloat?

I will put out baking soda.

fortunately they had CD&T a week ago.

[CritterLover]

May I ask what CD&T has to do with overeating? Just learning here and curious...

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by CritterLover

May I ask what CD&T has to do with overeating? Just learning here and curious...

The CD&T vaccinations cover "overeating disease"(Enterotoxemia).

[ozark_jewels]

If they were mine, I'd go ahead and drench them with a mixture of activated charcoal and mineral oil. You want to prevent bloat by passing that stuff through their system as fast as possible, not wait and possibly have to treat bloat. It won't hurt them either way, but it may just save their lives.

[rootsandwings]

it has to do with overgrowth of bacteria in the rumen from overeating.

The pregnant one is licking up the baking soda enthusiastically. they are still pooping normally. the non-pregnant one actually looks slightly less fat, I think.

[Sweet Goats]

Good to hear that the Pregnant one is eating the baking soda. Keep it out for her. I never use mineral oil when I drench, my vet said it messes with the ruman, but to use vegtable oil. Just a thought. Luckly I have never had to use anything.

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by Sweet Goats

I never use mineral oil when I drench, my vet said it messes with the ruman, but to use vegtable oil. Just a thought. Luckly I have never had to use anything.

I've used it with great success, but I've also used veggie oil when I was out of mineral oil. Both do the job they were meant to do, push the food through faster.

[Sweet Goats]

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

I've used it with great success, but I've also used veggie oil when I was out of mineral oil. Both do the job they were meant to do, push the food through faster.

Thanks, that is good to know. I hear everone say they use mineral oil but I have never heard that it works. I am glad to know it is safe and I will keep it in the tack box. Thanks Emily

[mygoat]

To tell if they're bloated, rap on thier LEFT side of the stomach, and if it sounds like a drum, they've got too much air in thier stomach. They may not even act all that uncomfortable, I barely noticed when one of my does bloated... besides that she was very fat, which was normal after a day of grazing... Got lucky by tapping her side and treated her early.

[Sweet Goats]

Rootsandwings, how are they today? Hope all is well with them.

[CountryHaven]

Let me see if I get this right, my vet told me once why mineral oil was the prefered method (in the case in question for treating colic in horses, but I assume it would apply to goats for bloat as well)--remember this is a 'paraphrased' quote from a long time ago, lol:

Mineral oil has no food value whatsoever and passes directly through the animal working well as a lubricant. All other food oil types work as well, but because they are food oils the animal's bodies digest them so there is less of it 'passing directly through' and the speed of the cure may be delayed, and/or the amount needed may be greater.

[rootsandwings]

they seem better today. I had to clean up a lot of soft poop (like pony poop) but no sign of scours. I didn't feed them yesterday and they chose not to browse. they are out browsing in their field now and I will give them just hay tonight and then their regular grain ration tomorrow I think.