Pregnancy Toxemia

[zookeepertomany]

Howdy, I don't believe I have ever posted on this board. We normally raise sheep but keep some Boer goats as well.

I currently have a a doe who is suffering from Pregnancy Toxemia. I maintained treatment here until yesterday when I realized I could no longer keep her hydrated well enough. She is currently at OSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and has been there since 11am yesterday. At her time of admission her blood sugar was 206, however she was not spilling ketones. They are attempting to keep her stabilized. She has an IV going and was given Dexamethosone to induce her labor. She began to spill ketones over night and they got that to stop with adding glucose to her IV. She is eating but does require to be made to get up.

The question I have is how long to wait until a c/s?? They told me I have to start making a choice tonight at the 36 hour mark on whether to continue to bring on labor or to do a c/s. As of the 24 hour mark she has not begun to dilate. There are 2 kids with heartbeats confirmed. Having not faced this to this degree I have no idea what should be done and how long to wait?

Here she is:

[Rockytopsis]

I have no idea as to what to tell you but I would like to keep up on this thread. I hope someone has the info you need.

[Bearfootfarm]

I'd go ahead with the c/s.
It's just costing you money to wait, and unless she's a high dollar champion, it's probably not worth it.
The sooner the kids are out, the sooner she can start to improve.

[susanne]

i would ask them if they checked her calcium level? she might need cmpk. (calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus)
when was/is her due date? what did you feed her the last couple of weeks?

[zookeepertomany]

Her calcium level was perfect I think 9.1 and the range was 7.8-?. Her magnesium was 1.9, normal range was 2.2-?. They where not concerned with that because she was dehydrated and being so close to normal that after re hydration it would go back to normal. Her bicarbonate was low due to dehydration, other than that everything was in normal range.

Her due date was yesterday based on her injection date and she was returned to us 3 days later after breeding. Although I was told to add 1-2 days. so basically between yesterday and tomorrow.

She was fed the same as the others, free fed loose minerals, goat pellets, alfalfa hay and she does have access to prairie hay as well. She was out in pasture too. She is the only one down. This was very quick onset. She slowed eating Saturday separated from the herd but was still very social with us. I assumed labor put her in a pen. Realized about 6 hrs later this was not labor and suspected milk fever and or toxemia and began treating her by Sunday afternoon she was bouncing around and eating and drinking like nothing happened. Went out Monday morning and she was down again and off to OSU we went.

Cost isn't so much an issue, this is a teaching hospital and rates are very cheap in my eyes. At this point even with a c/s I have not even reached $300. A c/s total cost is only $110. In fact with all they have done already my bill is only at $118 at this time. It's not about the money to me at this point, it is about learning, I have to take this opportunity to learn something. I need to figure out what is right for her. She is more like a pet.

[goatkid]

They should have given her 2cc lutylase IM as well as the dex to induce her. I would also be giving this doe calcium injections subQ because hypocalcemia can go hand in hand with ketosis. If they have given her the lute as well as the dex and she's still not doing well or showing signs of labor at 36 hours, a C Section may be best to be sure those kids will be OK.

[HappyFarmer]

I'd also opt for the C section. You have a definate due date, she's already admitted to the hospital, she'd be on the mend sooner, and it's very inexpensive.

HF

[susanne]

kathy why cmpk if the blood level shows that there is no deficiency?
a doe that is on her due date will get into labor with just dex. would not be my choice but since she is in the hospital? they will know what they are doing.
(hopefully)
what else besides the c-s can they do to speed things up a little bit?

[Pony]

If it were my doe, and the vetting costs were that inexpensive, I'd go c-section.

I'm probably identifying a little too much with your doe. Had pre-eclampsia when I was pregnant with my son. Not fun.

[goatkid]

Susanne, the reason I would do the CMPK is due to past experience. I had a doe who was carrying quints. She went off feed a couple days before kidding and I treated for ketosis with propylene glycol. That kept her going until she went into labor. She kidded and ate well that night. The next day, she was back to not eating again and really off. The vet treated her with Norcalciphos and within a couple of hours she was eating and on the mend. I think that once one metabolic problem sets it, it's easy for other problems. I also sometimes question the accuracy of blood tests for minerals. I know you can't test for copper deficiency through the blood. Deficient goats can show normal blood levels of copper.

[susanne]

kathy copper is stored in the liver why it is difficult to test the copper level with blood. it is very different with calcium. blood test will tell you exactly what you have.

how is the doe this morning? any kids?

[zookeepertomany]

Yes Hannah gave birth to two very large rambunctious bucks overnight naturally. She did require assistance to get them out as they said they are quite large. They are currently weaning her off her glucose and they should all be ready to be picked up this afternoon or evening.

[susanne]

congratulations, that sure is good news
hopefully your doe will be back to normal in no time.

[Pony]

Glad to read that all is well!

[zookeepertomany]

Here is Hannah and her yet to be named boys. They where 10lbs and 9lbs at birth. Hannah of course is not out of the woods yet, I still have to go out and get her up to nurse. She is weak and still waiting for her blood sugar to come down. She isn't eating well yet but will at least eat alfalfa hay. She is letting them nurse and does well taking care of them.

[Rockytopsis]

Good looking and big kids, hope mom continues to improve.