12/19/07, 02:14 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 207
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I was debating whether to post this or not but feel I need to. We lost the first buck in this thread. We learned some things and feel we need to pass this on to others.
First of all, we didn't know when any of our does were due because the new buck kept escaping. Lily had already had her babies. We expected Daisy to be next because she was huge! Wilma was half her size. Wilma hadn't bagged up like Daisy. Wilma is very skiddish and was difficult to examine her. The last my husband had checked, her ligaments were ok and he figured another week. We were checking often and the last check was at 4 am.
I was shocked when I went out at 10 am and it was Wilma who had had hers. They looked fine, laying there with there mom. They weren't shivering. They weren't right by the door. They weren't completely dry so I blow dryed them and put them under a heat lamp. They both acted like normal kids.
The next day, we noticed they had poo caked to their butts. We brought them in and cleaned them off. On Tues., the one buck was fine but we had to clean the other one's butt again. He seemed fine other than that. As the day went on, we noticed he was lethargic. Also from birth, his lungs were rattling. This happened before with kids but went away right away. Other than that he had been nursing and gaining weight.
Before the kids were born, we went to TSC to try and get some stuff for just in case. Money has been real tight. In fact, we have had to borrow money. I have read about La 200 on here a lot and thought it was a good anti-biotic. The off brand was all we could afford. We got some electrolytes too. We gave him the La 200 and tried to get some electrolytes down him at 11 pm. At this point, he was still standing and able to walk. His breathing was fine except for being loud.
This morning, I went out around 9:30 and he wasn't able to stand and his breathing was shallow and rapid. I brought him in and tried giving him electrolytes. He took some.
I did more reading and found out what to give and went to vet's. He was gone by the time I got back. He died in my husband's arms. We had tried to warm him with rice bag.
Anyway this is what I learned:
Search the internet as well as these boards for info. On the internet, I found out that La 200 is good for pink eye, hoof rot and after a doe kids and you had to go in. It is NOT good for pneumonia! For pneumonia (which he had) you need Naxel or Excenel RTU. We are lucky we have an excellent vet who only charged us $20 for a small bottle of Naxel, instead of $70 for the normal bottle. We can keep the whole bottle in the freezer. Nuflor is good for pneumonia but it isn't good for baby goats. It's too harsh.
You must have meds before hand (I knew that.) We couldn't afford it but now we have vit. B complex and BO-SE. I know we need more stuff, but this is a start. We will have everything before we have kids again. We thought the La 200 was good. We were wrong. Giving it to animals that are on milk cuts it's effectivness too.
We will never have kids born in winter here again. We didn't want to this time but it was an accident.
We are not morning people. We aren't out there at 6 am. But, while most farmers are sleeping, my husband is out giving everyone a midnight snack. I should have set my alarm and went out earlier. My thought was that the La 200 would bounce him back. He wasn't that bad when we left him (or so we thought- wrong!) It takes me quite some time to wake up because of a car accident when I was younger. My husband is on so many meds, it's like waking up from a coma every morning.
Make sure the momas are keeping the babies where they belong. Wilma kept taking them to coldest part of the barn. She should have been locked in the stall.
Try and keep goats separated so you know when they are due. Again - an accident.
The vet said he probably aspirated after he was born and this is what caused it. He also said pushing fluids is more important than anything. If he would have lived, he said to push 1/2 to 1 oz. every hour. If he would have gotten any better, we would have milked mom and alternated between giving him milk and electrolytes. He also said to give him the BO-SE.
I am ok but my husband is tore up. I also lost a chicken last night. It just hadn't been right for a few months now. Everyone else is ok.
Please noone get mad at me. I have been reading so much stuff but it just wasn't enough.
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Selling blown, hatching and fresh (for eating) duck, goose, chicken and turkey eggs. PM me for more info. I live in MI but will ship through out the USA.
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Wilma's Twins and Daisy's Triplets!
Seriously, I am COMPLETELY dressed!
