Goat off feed, milk down

[longhorngal]

I have a 3 y/o Saanen 11 weeks out from her second freshening. Her babies have been gone for 2 weeks and she's been milking great. I dewormed her with Valbazen per the vet 1 week ago.
2 days ago her milk production was down about 1/2 in the a.m and she didn't want to eat. No other signs, just turned up her nose at food. She did eat some baking soda that I offered her.
Later, she ate a bit more. The next morning still picky. That evening (last night) she seemed like she had her appetite back and was feeling pretty good.
Today, back to the same lack of appetite. She doesn't grind her teeth or look funny, she's just really quiet. The first day her ears and tail were droopy. She's drinking and pooping fine. I'll get her to the vet tomorrow if no better but any ideas?
The day before she started acting off she did spend a lot of time in the pasture and I'm wondering if something made her sick from there.
Appreciate any help.
Cara

[TennesseeMama23]

Take her temp and let us know what it is

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

If she has a low temp she is likely in milk fever. Directly related to diet. Do you feed alfalfa, if not answer the question: Where is the dietary calcium in your does diet every day? Especially with does predisposed by breed, Saanen, to milk as much as they do.

I would wonder what worms your vet saw that they would have you use Valbazen. It certainly isn't a wormer for anything other than tapes and flukes. Ask the vet what worm they are seeing in fecal and if he says HC (haemoncus or barber pole) than use Cydectin. Vicki

[Freeholder]

I agree with Vicki, and if it is milk fever, you don't have much time to save the doe. Have to add, though, that the doe I lost to that two years ago was getting free-choice alfalfa hay, good quality stuff. I don't know if some does are just more prone to that problem, or what?

Kathleen

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Kathleen had you dealt yet with your copper defficency living in the pacific northwest which is the worst in the nation back then? Even with her head in the best alfalfa hay, they dont' absorb the calcium they need for heavy milking when they can't. I know for me it was both learning about copper, selenium, zinc, iron and the calcium issue that stopped all the metobolic disease in my herd, in it's tracts. Vicki

[longhorngal]

Her temp is 102 this a.m. She has gotten free choice alfalfa pellets all winter, can't find alfalfa hay around here right now. Was on bluebonnet minerals now on ADM cattle minerals. This morning her appetite is better and she cleaned up the pellets while I had her on the stand.
Have to go, doctors appt...