Post Bloat return to Milk?

[joyceb]

I have an almost 3 week old kid whom I've had dramatic problems bottle feeding - she was left on her dam for the first 5 days and refuses a bottle with any sort of nipple. We have been having moderate success with feeding from a bowl. We recently lost her twin & I am trying very hard to avoid the same fate for her. Yesterday morning she started going down hill like her brother, hunched back, head down, very full feeling stomach, but no pooping and acting hungry.

I gave her a dose of Milk of Magnesia and haven't given her anything but goat electrolytes for 24 hours - with small feedings an hour or so apart. She seems much better this morning & has had 2 BMs that I have witnessed. No bloated belly this morning.

How much longer should I keep her off milk & keep up the electrolytes? Under what circumstances should I give more M.O.M.?

I would really appreciate help. This has been very difficult & I have learned a hard lesson about buying kids off their mothers to bottle feed. No more for me. The breeder sounded very surprised that we were having problems, but mentioned that she had been unable to get the kids to take milk except when nursing momma. Should have been a signal to me.

JoyceB

[mpete]

I think you have to put her on milk right away. They don't get the nutrients and stuf they need to live from electrolytes. Give her Gas X for bloating. Baking soda and yogurt.... I hope she makes it... I am sorry you are going through this....

[joyceb]

Do you mean a liquid gas med? I have some gas medication, simethicone I think, in a gel tab form. What doseage? She's only about 20#.

I have been adding a scant teaspoon of baking soda to 4oz electrolyte.

Am I doing the right thing?

[mpete]

Yes, that's the medicine. Give her one and if that doesn't work in say, 30 minutes, try another. You can give that to most animals including dogs. Get her on the milk. Switching from mom to bottle and then losing her brother probably has her a bit depressed. Lots of TLC for her AND YOU... you'll get through this. Bloat is actually a big problem... an unseen problem. It can cause damage to other organs that you can't see. What kind of milk are you feeding her? Don't give her replacement... give her goat milk, but if you don't have any, cow milk from the store will work. Sorry to ramble...

[joyceb]

Thank you for your advice. We're still plugging away. The last 2 feedings I've used a ratio of 1/3 milk (whole vitamin d cow's milk) and 2/3 electrolytes (ManaPro for goats). She was not near as interested in that as she was the pure electrolyte solution. I will try the gasX next.

Thank you again!

JoyceB

[susanne]

at this age, nothing but milk should go in their mouth and hay if they want to nibble. the little tummy can not handle all the other watery fluids. they need the milk. together with the stomach acid (kinda rennet) it becomes a form of cheese and can be digested. if a kid this young gets dehydrated here, it would get SC fluids, injected over the shoulder.
a kid does not get bloat from real milk. what did you feed this kid? sounds like you fed milk replacer? kids do much better on either goats milk and if not available, store bought cows milk.

[joyceb]

Thank you for your response. I have been feeding real milk - never replacer. She started on goats milk from her dam and we slowly switched over about 4 days to straight Vitamin D whole cow's milk. Always warmed. (edited to add: Also she has free access day and night to grass hay and has started nibbling at it.)

She is more alert today & active. We are having a nasty rain storm so I've brought her indoors to keep up the small feedings at about an hour and a half apart. She first took 2/3 c goat electrolyte solution (warmed) and the next feed was mostly milk with a bit of electrolyte (again about 2/3 cup & warmed). She has urinated twice & had one small well formed BM. She no longer has that tight swollen belly.

I will keep you all updated & will welcome any further advice!

Thank you all so much.

JoyceB

[mpete]

Glad to hear she appears better!!!

[mpete]

how is she doing?