Help! Goats ate insulation!

Minelson · #1 03/02/10, 04:51 PM

Gretta, Frankie & Flossie broke into an outbuilding that had insulation laying in there and they ate some of it. It's the rolled batt kind. Also got into an excess of corn and BOSS. I'm mostly scared about the insulation. I just caught them so no signs of illness yet. What should I do

garyh141 · #2 03/02/10, 05:18 PM

First of all, did you say "bad goat"? Second, can you tell how much of any of the stuff they ate? Insulation you should be able to tell from what is missing in the rolls. (Mine tore up their camper roof and pulled the insulation down as they pulled down the ceiling, but didn't touch it (as far as eating). It was just laying around.) Not sure what to tell you about overeating. Have they been vac'd for CD&T? I know what I would try, but I don't want to tell you wrong. Hopefully, someone else will jump in quickly.
Definitely watch for bloat.
Sandra

#3 03/02/10, 05:22 PM

Sorry, but that's not covered in any of my goat books.... Ummm...call a vet?

Minelson · #4 03/02/10, 05:32 PM

I found pieces of the paper backing where I could tell they ate the insulation off of it...maybe 2 peices 12'' by 3" and then a couple smaller than that. Yes they are vaccinated. They have grass hay, water, baking soda and minerals with them now. I don't know if I should give them their alfalfa. Or if I should maybe force some oil into them. They are so naughty and they know it. There goes my nights sleep.

HappyFarmer · #5 03/02/10, 05:43 PM

Are those little pieces perhaps what they spit out?

Feed them some bread. The insulation pieces will get caught in the bread & help relieve the small particles & irritation. I'd follow that up with oil.

Easy on the bread, space it out a bit. Bread can form clumps in the rumen-why it'll work on the insuation..

Now, how much grain did they eat & why aren't you concerned?

HF

Minelson · #6 03/02/10, 05:46 PM

Because they didn't get that much corn and boss...I keep it in small containers just for that reason. At the very most they got 3 cups of corn and 1 cup of boss. There was still a lot on the floor. How much oil? Mineral oil?

HappyFarmer · #7 03/02/10, 05:49 PM

Yes preferably mineral oil if you have it careful they don't aspirate it-if adults I'd probably give the 3 tablespoons for nigerian sized goat, after the bread.
HF

ntjpm · #8 03/02/10, 05:53 PM

Minelson, first I am so sorry that is scary. Second you really need to get a call to a vet. They might need to induce vomiting. (can goats vomit)

Not sure I just know that insulation is made of Glass. Need to get it out like now.

Tracy in WA

Goat Servant · #9 03/02/10, 06:02 PM

Gosh Min I would go for a little bread & the oil myself. They probably didnt eat as much of it as you think.
Please keep us update ok?

Minelson · #10 03/02/10, 06:28 PM

Bread, oil and baking soda on board. They did drink water and have more baking soda available. Grass hay. I could hear gut sounds and so far poop is normal....but it hasn't been that long. There are no vets I can call that know anything about goats. I feel much more confident getting advice here.

wintrrwolf · #11 03/02/10, 06:50 PM

yeah woulda suggested using the bread to bind the fiberglass to it, and the oil to hopefully move it all through without damage to the digestive, intestinal walls. Maybe some yogurt to also help coat, the fiberglass shards are so small they can pierce through soft tissue very easily. I dont think that inducing vomiting would help could cause more damage, besides trying to get a ruminant to vomit would be....near impossible?
watch for trouble swallowing. I hate figerglass its horrible stuff.
Good luck

LaManchaPaul · #12 03/02/10, 08:14 PM

Minelson, they must have been having static during their phone calls; so they ate the insulation to wrap the telephone cables that they ate last year... Darn goats, would you please just feed normal goat food to the rascals??

I know that you are serious and stressed. Sorry for the plight, but others have said much more that I would know to say. I hope all is well and tomorrow they'll be looking for something else to run you ape####!

Minelson · #13 03/02/10, 08:47 PM

Well, I just checked on them...they are all bright eyed and happy...chewing cud, wondering why I'm waking them up. Looking for treats. I wonder how long it would take for them to show signs of distress and/or bloat??? It's been 4 hours. Should I be checking them every couple hours through the night?

Thanks for reminding me PAUL

I was more scared of my hubby when that happened than of anyone getting sick. When they ate his tractor manual it was even worse!

Tallabred · #14 03/02/10, 09:39 PM

Have you pulled their cud? Does it have insulation in it?

They should stay warm

GrannyG · #15 03/02/10, 09:45 PM

This too shall pass.....ours ate the insulation off one of our buildings...did not make them sick...hopefully, yours will be fine. Those darn critters can get into so much mischief. I now have tin on the building....

ozark mike · #16 03/03/10, 02:02 AM

Granny, here I sat white knuckled reading and hoping that no one would use my line... and... you did.....

as Granny said "THIS TOO SHALL PASS"......... mike

shiandpete.1 · #17 03/03/10, 08:33 AM

Some of you are just too funny! Minelson I hope they are fine this morning.

Minelson · #18 03/03/10, 05:28 PM

Well Granny & Mike...yes it is passing.... In the form of runny poop and doggie style poop! What a mess. I think they will be fine. They are on a strict grass hay/water/minerals/baking soda diet until things firm up and get back to normal. They are acting normal except for being very angry because they are in "lock down".
Thanks for all the help everyone.

Goat Servant · #19 03/03/10, 05:40 PM

Minelson so glad to hear that! Still chuckling re: "This too shall pass"
See? Everything is fine in the end.
May this event insulate you from further worry.

ozark mike · #20 03/03/10, 05:51 PM

I do some building demolitions and bring home any and all usable material... I did three trailer houses and had nowhere to put the batting so i rolled it up and put it in a back shed...no door on the shed... well all seven of the goat went in and had a feast... they didn't eat just a little but maybe like two rolls before I saw what was going on.... I just went on like business as usual, didn't do anything special for them...I had seven when they did it and still have the same seven... didn't hurt them a bit but they ruined about 100 rolls of batting beyond use....... mike