Do I need to call a vet???

[hengal]

Oh my, I suddenly feel underwhelmed with knowledge. I'm so glad you all are here. Now I'm getting a little concerned. The boys are acting fine, eating well and playing, but I've noticed a little cough in two of them. My husband also made a comment about the pooh. Yes it's in the pebble form, but the last couple of days we have found pooh "balls", for lack of a better word - geesh how do I describe this. Compacted poop - some a couple of inches in length - the pellets all sticking together, like it came out that way. Is this normal? They have fresh water inside and outside and they do drink - we see them, plus the water levels go down. They have free choice loose minerals and hay.
With the coughs - it almost sounds more like a little choking sound. I'm wondering if they do this sometimes when the are regurgitating their food before they chew their cud? They do chew - we see them doing that as well.

Thought I'd come here first before I called a vet. I've re-read sections on the book I have and frankly it got me really worried. Again - they seem to be doing fine otherwise. Thank you SO much.....again.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Yes, they hack up cud. Sounds chokey/coughy.

These are new goats, correct? Poo changes as their digestive systems adjust to new food, new hay, new browse, new water. Also, you were overfeeding them. Give them a couple of days at the new reduced feed rations, and I think poo will return to normal.

Take a fresh poo sample from each goat to the vet, drop it off for a fecal test for worms. Report back to us with results.

Take a deep breath.

[hengal]

Thank you Alice - I do feel better now.

Yes, the boys are new. They have been with us for about 10 days now. A major case of goat love has set in with both my dh and me and we really want to keep these guys healthy.
I'll have to figure out how to post pics of them when I get home tonight.
Thanks again so much.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Alice always has such good advice. Follow what she says & I bet they will be just fine.

To post pictures you'll first need to upload them to a photosite like photobucket then cop & paste the img code here in the reply box.

[hengal]

Thanks Katie -

I'll try that tonight. Also, to answer your question from my other post, the boys are wethers...or should I say, in the process. They were banded the day before we picked them up and things are progressing well.