How bad should the bad stuff get? Post-kidding

[TxMex]

Can anyone tell me what to look for post-kidding in the way of what to get concerned about? I know that they will be cleaning out for a while. Since I tried to get the little kid turned around and had to go 'in' to do so, I am watching closely for signs of infection. One thing I've noticed is that she will squat quite deeply as if to pee but only dribbles....or at least she has dribbled when I've been watching.

Her backside is pretty nasty, but about what I'd expect with her kidding 3 days ago. I picked up injectable pennicillin yesterday at the farm store(along with some baby chicks!) just in case I need to give her a shot.

[Creamers]

I'd do Biomycin - anytime you go in - it is a good precaution. . .don't wait until there is an injection - 5 days over the ribs SQ

[pygmybabies]

Muffin, kidded last tuesday and we had to go in over and over and baby stuck with legs out, vet had to go in several times as well, tuesday it looked as if pink tissue was coming out of her. I wished I would have taken pictures for comparison and to share with someone else someday. She squat a lot too. So far she is doing good, vet gave her a uterine bolus. If she hasnt had any kind of antibotic i would give her something. I am thinking of giving Muffin more, than the 4 day the dr gave her as that was through last Friday. But she is hangin out in the pasture and seems to be doing fine, I am still keeping an eye on her though.

[mygoat]

Goat's bodies are pretty good at preventing infection themselves. I personally don't use any injections, and I've had some rough kiddings that were REALLY invasive.

I wash up the doe's hiney really good after kidding. Usually this is fairly easy when they have a birthing haircut. I then keep them fairly clean, and they tend to goop the most the first few a days after kidding. Anywho, I watch their hineys like a hawk - almost as bad as BEFORE they kid, LOL. It grosses some people out, but I bend right over, get real close, and take a nice deep whiff of the hiney area. A rotten smell means the start of infection.

OF course, if you don't clean off the hind end very well, some of the stuff ON her often starts to smell, so use judgement - is it her hooha or is it the stuff ON her that smells?

I love explaining this ideology to people. Other goat/livestock people tend to 'get it'. Other people... think I'm the creepiest thing ever.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I am one that doesn't give antibiotics unless they are really needed. If you had to be very invasive as with Pygmybabies & her vet, etc. I would probly do antibiotics but TxMex I'm not sure your is needed for your doe. Does she have a temp? Is she eating & drinking good? Also does she have a bad smell coming from her backside? I know that sounds gross to smell down there but I think you'd be able to tell the difference in what is most likely normal & bad smell. Hopefully someone else will jump in here too & help.

[Backfourty,MI.]

mygoat & I were posting at the same time. I agree with her.

[TxMex]

That brings up a good question. How on earth do you check a goats temperature and what do you use to check it with?

No foul odor. I haven't really detected anything wrong, just want to be prepared. I was unable to go in very far.....the pelvic opening was too small to admit my hand. This is a tiny goat! Since I wasn't expecting her to kid I hadn't done any birth trimming. By golly everybody got their backsides shaved the day after that!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Rectal thermometer.

http://www.goatworld.com/articles/he...perature.shtml

[ozark_jewels]

You didn't go in far enough to even worry, her expelling the afterbirth would have cleaned out anything you *might* have introduced.
I've been in past the elbow on many a doe and unless it was really rough I don't give antibiotics.
Most discharges are normal for two-four weeks after kidding. If it smells strong or nasty, thats an infection, otherwise its normal.