stress ???

[hoggie]

OK - hopefully, the last of my goats will be arriving soon. I am waiting to hear from her current owner when she will be ready. She hsa been bred and they are waiting to see if she has taken. For anyone who hasn't seen her yet, here she is



That isn't me with her by the way - that is her current owner

Now she will be coming to me already in kid. After the way Wilfred reacted to his trip over, I am more than a little concerned about this goat and her kid(s). Her journey will be a little better than Wilfred's. She will come in a trailer not a crate. And she has been trailered before (she has been to shows) so she will be at least partly used to the idea.

Also she is in better condition to begin with so hopefully there won't be too many problems but......

My question is - is there anything I should have on hand here to give her, that may counteract the effects of stress? I am about to put in an order to the goat supply place, already have on my order, probiotics and a product called "stockaline" which is a general purpose drench/pick me up.

Is there anything else I should try to get?

I really want to be ready for all eventualities here

Thanks in advance

hoggie

[hoggie]

please nicely ?

hoggie

[oceanmist]

several things come to mind... a quiet, dog free, traffic free, kid free place to chill out upon arrival..

her normal feed, that should be switched gradually to avoid ruminal acidosis...

water with electrolytes in it, clean, fresh and always available... gradually lessing the amount of electrolytes until she is used to the taste of your water.

I would have on hand some poly serum, it's an immune system booster.. pretty spendy, but invaluable when dealing with a stressed out goat.
Some LA200 or it's generic equivalent... best to give prior to transport if possible..

hmmmm think that's about it for now,

Misty

oh ps B12/ fortified B complex ... they will help her rumen function properly, and it won't hurt to just give it to her even if you don't see signs of stress, she can't OD on it... B12 is from the vet, probably cheapest to just buy a whole bottle of the stuff and have it on hand rather than paying out the nose for individual doses of it. Fortified B complex is over the counter at your feed store, check the expiration date on the bottle, it's cheap.

Do you have Bo-Se for when she kids? You will need to give it to her prior to kidding and to the kid after it is born, if you are deficient in your area....

Misty

[beverrlly]

I don't really have anything to add but I wanted to say that she is a beauty!! Oh--maybe (if you are into herbal stuff at all) you could try Immune Support Tincture from Fias Co Farms/Molly's herbals. Otherwise, I think all of the above suggestions are good.

[susanne]

I would have on hand some poly serum, it's an immune system booster.. pretty spendy, but invaluable when dealing with a stressed out goat.

this is something that i would find absolutely not necessary.

S ome LA200 or it's generic equivalent... best to give prior to transport if possible..

antibiotic as prophylactic is not a good idea either.

oh ps B12/ fortified B complex ..

this is an excellent idea as this helps deal with stress. every animal that comes to my place is getting b-complex, bo-se, probios and getting de wormed. if possible get some food for her she is used to, so you can make changes slowly.

[beverrlly]

I didn't see the antibiotic in the first post...I would agree that prophylactic antibiotics are unnecessary and possible more harm than good.

[cathleenc]

how lovely! what kind of goat is she?

[oceanmist]

I was just wondering if you have your kidding kit ready?

some things that you should include are:

a blue ear/nose suction thingy from the infant department for sucking out the nasal passages,

K-Y jelly

lots of towels, for drying the baby off

iodine, for dipping the umbilical cord

make sure to worm the mother prior to kidding as their systems become very suseptible to worms once they kid...
also the Bo-Se for mom and kid...

calcium gluconate... for possible ketosis in the dam or hypoglycemia in the kid

shoulder length gloves in case you need to reach inside the mother...

all of this stuff can be purchased at your vet, the pharmacy or Jeffers

....there is other stuff I just can't type any more right now

Misty

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

A quiet place away from your other stock where she can eat in peace. Serums and ID-1 and the like are not from tested negative goats or cows. I would blood test her for CAE and pregnancy, do you have this where you are? We only pay $7.50 for blood testing for pregnancy and $6 for CAE. Helps to not have to buy goats who are promised pregnant, we now can know. Wilfred can have a girl friend if she is not Vicki

[Cloverbud]

She's very pretty! Is she a Golden Guernsey as well?

[hoggie]

Yes, she is a Golden Guernsey I don't have a clue what we are supposed to do with all that hair

Electrolytes - got those on the list.

B12 and B complex - will have to have a chat with the vet about that

Bo-Se I will have to look into as well - I have never seen it here. Maybe the vet again.


I avoid anti-biotics wherever I can - they are a "if we REALLY have to" medicine around here

I have a seperate pen for her to begin with - she will be able to see the others, but not be picked on.

Testing - I hadn't thought of that. Better to know in time for Wilfred to do the job if need be Would hate to not find out until the spring.

Kidding supplies, I have on my to do list. I will be putting in an order for those around Christmas time. I have started to collect old towels and fleece jackets from jumble sales and have a boxful in the tack room The rest of it I will order a bit later.

Trying to get everything else sorted and running right first

Thanks again

hoggie

[Mrs. Jo]

I second every body else's ideas... but I just wanted to say......
..................I SOOOOO want a golden gournsey! want, want, want!

(Hey, that sounds like my children!)

Thanks for sharing this picture anyway. Lovely, lovely hair. I suppose it must need brushing once and a while. perhaps a main and tail product for detangling horses hair would help keep it neat.

[hoggie]

LOL - now a goat is something I CAN'T send in the post

hoggie