Need help/advice

stacygoats · #1 05/28/08, 07:17 PM

My friend just called about her 8 week old doeling (Nig. dwarf). She was acting odd yesterday, so she put her in a seperate pen, thinking the other goats may have been knocking her around. Today she noticed the doeling was not nursing and will not bend at the knees in order to reach the udder, it's like she is stiff legged. The vet gave the doe a single shot when he burned her horns off and she has had no other vaccinations.
I've got alot of supplies on-hand, so what should we try first?

Thanks for any ideas.

MissMenagerie · #2 05/28/08, 08:00 PM

She could have Tetanus. Can you lift up her back leg so it is up against her belly? Push on her stomach right behind her ribcage, it should be soft and "bouncy", can she get up on her own if you lay her down? if she is feeling stiff, and her legs won't bend well, I would guess it is Tetanus.
Get some tetanus anti-toxin and give it to her ASAP, every second counts. You can get a small 1500 unit bottle at the feed store. Give her the whole bottle, you can inject it subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Even if she doesn't have Tetanus, I don't think the anti-toxin will hurt her. You should also give her Penicillin.
Also try to get her to eat, you can feed her with a syringe(without the needle of course).
Call your local vet, ask them if there is anything else you should do.

MissMenagerie · #3 05/28/08, 08:07 PM

Doeling with tetanus

If this works, it should take you to a thread I started when i had a goat with Tetanus, lots of good information.

stacygoats · #4 05/29/08, 11:22 AM

My friend came over and got my Tetanus Anti Toxin, Bo-Se (In case it's white musle), CD& T (because she is two weeks late giving her the second dose) and B Complex.

I can't leave the house because my DD was just released from the hospital after back surgery, so she's going to have to give the injections herself.

Thanks for the Tetanus Anti Toxin information, because I had it on hand but have never administered.

Thanks Again!

crazygoatgal · #5 05/29/08, 03:42 PM

How is the goat doing? Let us know as soon as you can, please.

stacygoats · #6 05/31/08, 07:16 AM

Well, the little doe is still walking stiff on her front legs and was taken to the vet. The vet did a examine and could not find anything specific, so is thinking she may have got knocked around by the other does. He gave her a shot of anti-inflamatory.
She seemed to be doing a little better yesterday, but I guess time will tell. I'm glad it ended up not being Tetanus.