Sick doe?

[woodsman]

One of my does gave birth today just after 2am. She was laying down when we got to the shed and we dried and cleaned the kids while she seemed very passive. Her afterbith is still hanging after 5 hours though there is almost two feet more of it now than when we got to her. Also as she delivered two non identical twins shouldn't there be two afterbirths?

I lifted her up a few times and had the kids suck on her each time and she was straining to expel the afterbirth and would again lay down after about 5 minutes. It seems like she's barely able to stand on her own.

I gave her some oats with warm water and molasses, grain and some greens and she drank a bit and nibbled a little each time. It concerns me that she doesn't stand up on her own as after her delivery last year she was up and running as soon as she dropped the kids (both stillborn BTW).

Any ideas?

[Backfourty,MI.]

Does she get any alfafa pellets or alfafa hay? Through the pregnancy too? It is very important for doe's pregnant or nursing to get the extra calcium since the babies deplete so much of it from them.

She might just be extremely tired, maybe she was in labor quite awhile before you found her?
The babies nursing will also help her expel the afterbirth.
Sure hope all works out well & everyone's OK.

[Sweet Goats]

Did you go inside to make sure there are no more? I would do that. I had a doe expel the after birth and 20 hours later I went into her and pulled another baby.

I would give her some Molasses water for energy. If you have CMPK give that or else just some crushed up to powder Calcium pills, she will eat up all that she needs.

[Idahoe]

She probably needs CMPK, a calcium supplement, like very soon. Injectable form. A critical lack of calcium causes weakness and lack of energy, and it can really progress until she's completely down and dying without getting calcium.

I've not had this issue, just remembering my reading on this board and elsewhere

If I were you, I'd call a vet and either pick up injectable CMPK or have the vet come give it intravenously, and I'd do it very soon. Good luck!!

[woodsman]

No alfalfa in any form around here, though the goats have access to pretty good browse year round, get supplemental grain and minerals.

She pushed out a lot more since morning though it's still connected and she's still laying down mostly.

[woodsman]

Wouldn't the critical lack of calcium manifest itself before the delivery? She was quite energetic till yesterday.

Anyhow, thank you all for help - the vet will come to see her, hopefully soon.

[Idahoe]

Again, her "lying down" behavior is probably a symptom of calcium deficiency or "milk fever", rather than a retained placenta or incomplete birth.

Without a real obvious source of calcium in her diet (as you've described) she is at risk anyway.

If there's no vet or injectable CMPK, I'd really be poking calcium pills crushed up into her. They do have a CMPK paste at feed stores too.

[woodsman]

Originally Posted by Idahoe

Again, her "lying down" behavior is probably a symptom of calcium deficiency or "milk fever", rather than a retained placenta or incomplete birth.

Without a real obvious source of calcium in her diet (as you've described) she is at risk anyway.

If there's no vet or injectable CMPK, I'd really be poking calcium pills crushed up into her. They do have a CMPK paste at feed stores too.

I'm doing exactly this before she gets the shot.

[Idahoe]

Oh good

I think "milk fever" can manifest before birth, but it is more common in the immediate aftermath and in the first few weeks of freshening. This is not experience, just remembering what I've read here and elsewhere

I had a doe who had trips, and before they were born her poor udder was SO HUGE she could barely walk. I got the advice to milk her out -- maybe half way -- for comfort and to keep her udder from getting ruined from the stretching. But I was warned that a goat that filled up like that was at great risk for "milk fever" or calcium deficiency, so I started crushing up Tums in her feed as a preventative. I kept giving her Tums, four at a time, twice a day in her feed for a couple of weeks after she kidded.

But she wasn't going down, and your girl is showing signs and symptoms. That's why the urgency to get on it right away.

I've read stories about goats, or newly freshened cows, getting up and running around in hours after being down, after they've gotten CMPK injectable.

As far as how to continue to treat her, I don't know that part and hopefully a more experienced goat person will chime in

[susanne]

what is the temperature of this doe??????

with every animal that is down, our first step is to take the vital signs. although i agree, it sounds like hypocalcemia (symptom is lower than normal body temp)
it could also be just plain exhaustion or a pinched nerve.
what mineral do you feed your pregnant does?