hermaphradite goat

pop5 · #1 10/16/11, 05:52 PM

hello everyone i'm new on here, i was wondering if anyone could help me as there doesnt seem to be much info about hermaphradite goats on the internet and i've just found out that my 6mth old goat is one. i think she recently had her first season as she started behaving differently and had a discharge but then the next morning there was blood coming from it so i rang the vet who told me i that keeping a goat with this condition will be expensive and bring a lot of problems. she's always been very friendly and has started to rub her head on me a lot and push me gently, she only does this with me and not my partner, just lately ive seen her go to nip one of the other goats. the vet didnt say what problems i would get, he didnt have much time and also the language as i live in portugal. does anyone have or have had a goat with this condition? thanks in advance x

farmmom · #2 10/17/11, 06:19 AM

I'm not sure that a true hermaphrodite will go into season. I've known people who have kept them as pets for a long time with no problems. I'm not sure what your vet is referring to.
Just a question:
What physical signs are you seeing that indicates that she is a hermaphrodite?

There is an excellent thread here with pics of a normal vs a hermaphrodite.
Updated pics of Hermaphrodite Compared to Normal Doelings

Alice In TX/MO · #3 10/17/11, 06:40 AM

I think your vet gave you incorrect information. There shouldn't be any expense or problems other than not getting kids out of this goat. Very often, hermaphrodite goats are kept to help determine when the does are coming into heat.

pop5 · #4 10/17/11, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmmom

I'm not sure that a true hermaphrodite will go into season. I've known people who have kept them as pets for a long time with no problems. I'm not sure what your vet is referring to.
Just a question:
What physical signs are you seeing that indicates that she is a hermaphrodite?

There is an excellent thread here with pics of a normal vs a hermaphrodite.
Updated pics of Hermaphrodite Compared to Normal Doelings

Hello Farmmom, thanks for your reply, i looked at the photo's,with my goat it actually sticks out of her vulva more and is bigger, since she was born it has always been a pale pink and has only recently started going an angry red colour and now its always dirty. I bathe it with warm water only to keep flies away. Instead of being smooth like the one in the picture its kind of like a bump with another bump on top, also her teats are very small like the one in the pic but then she is only 6 months old, and she is quite round headed too. I'll go and take a photo and hopefully try and post it on here. I'm wondering if the vet means that she will become more aggressive as she reaches adulthood, i'm new to keeping goats and have aquired them as pets only, i have 3 other doe kids and a 2 yr old who's about to kid any day now

pop5 · #5 10/17/11, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I think your vet gave you incorrect information. There shouldn't be any expense or problems other than not getting kids out of this goat. Very often, hermaphrodite goats are kept to help determine when the does are coming into heat.

Hello Alice, thanks for your reply, I suppose the thing i'm most worried about is if she starts becoming aggressive, also i forgot to mention the vet did say also that they have a shorter lifespan, and here in Portugal the farmers get rid of them. Along with my other 3 doe kids and a 2yr old who was already pregnant when i got her i wont be breeding them, i will be keeping her offspring and if he's a buckling he'll become a wether, i do hope the vet was wrong, thankyou

pop5 · #6 10/17/11, 10:19 AM

Also yeh i did read that hermaphradite goats are infertile and this also puzzles me as she had a white discharge from her vulva then blood, keep watching for the photograph i'll upload it as soon as i'm allowed (with being a new user)

CarolT · #7 10/17/11, 12:12 PM

Pop5, where are you located, maybe someone on here can help you find a vet who can tell you more about your goat. If the vet never looked at her, I think you need to get a second opinion, also.

Maybe the vet meant to say he thought she had pyometria and needed a hysterectomy (from the bleeding) which would be expensive and make her somewhat like a hermaphrodite? Just grabbing at straws here, but that's all I could think of...

pop5 · #8 10/20/11, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolT

Pop5, where are you located, maybe someone on here can help you find a vet who can tell you more about your goat. If the vet never looked at her, I think you need to get a second opinion, also.

Maybe the vet meant to say he thought she had pyometria and needed a hysterectomy (from the bleeding) which would be expensive and make her somewhat like a hermaphrodite? Just grabbing at straws here, but that's all I could think of...

Thanks CarolT i spoke to another vet yesterday and he said there was nothing to worry about having a hermaphrodite, he also said she was coming into season which can happen from the female side of her but this morning she had white mucus coming from it again...and its only been a week since the last time! also she's stopped playing with the 3 younger one's and seems to prefer being on her own and looks slimmer but she's eating and drinking as normal.

mpete · #9 10/20/11, 10:37 AM

Some people use hermaphadite goats to tease the bucks/does. Its hard to find a vet who is knowledgable about goats in the US and I am going to assume it is similar to other parts of the world.

BTW: WELCOME!!!!!!!!!

pop5 · #10 10/20/11, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpete

Some people use hermaphadite goats to tease the bucks/does. Its hard to find a vet who is knowledgable about goats in the US and I am going to assume it is similar to other parts of the world.

BTW: WELCOME!!!!!!!!!

thanks mpete, yeh i think you could be right, i live in portugal and so far each vet i've spoken to has said something different. I've just been out to them all and poppy has definitely lost weight even though i see her eating, she's suddenly stopped playing and keeps going off on her own. the vet said he would come out and see her...days later and i'm still waiting. i need to ask him about worming them too.

CarolT · #11 10/20/11, 11:51 AM

If your vets are all saying something different, find the one who agrees with the old-timers on here and go with that one.

BTW, my doe was in heat, bred and 5 to 7 days later acted like she was in heat. _But_, this time she won't let the buck near her. I know she's not sterile, this will be her second kidding for me and know she has had at least one more batch :-)

Fowler · #12 10/20/11, 11:53 AM

This was a "made you look" thread wasnt it?

you got me....LOL

pop5 · #13 10/21/11, 07:01 AM

good advice thanks CarolT, sounds as if your goat is bred, let us know how she gets on :-)

pop5 · #14 10/21/11, 07:02 AM

still not able to attach a photo of 'poppy' thought i would be able to by now :-(

pop5 · #15 10/21/11, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fowler

This was a "made you look" thread wasnt it?

you got me....LOL

lol!!

Alice In TX/MO · #16 10/21/11, 07:38 AM

On this board, photos aren't attached. What you do is upload the photo to an online service such as Photobucket.com, then copy the IMG link into your message.

More detailed instructions:
How to post pics....

pop5 · #17 10/24/11, 06:49 PM

hi all, well the vet came out for 'poppy', she had a high temperature and a urine infection, he gave her injections and they all had a worming injection apart from 'gypsy' the pregnant pigmy because he said it was better not to give her the worm injection til after she kidded... i've since read its better to worm just before they kid?? 'poppy' is playing again now and putting the weight back on. this vet said a hermaphradite will live a normal life and she wont become aggressive as she gets older, hope he's right x

pop5 · #18 10/24/11, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

On this board, photos aren't attached. What you do is upload the photo to an online service such as Photobucket.com, then copy the IMG link into your message.

More detailed instructions:
How to post pics....

will try that thanks.

Alice In TX/MO · #19 10/24/11, 07:10 PM

Worm injection? Doesn't know much about goats, does he?

In the veterinary college textbook, Sheep and Goat Medicine, it SPECIFICALLY says that goat dewormers are given ORALLY.

Sigh.

pop5 · #20 10/25/11, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Worm injection? Doesn't know much about goats, does he?

In the veterinary college textbook, Sheep and Goat Medicine, it SPECIFICALLY says that goat dewormers are given ORALLY.

Sigh.

really! i would have preferred that!, it really hurt them (and me!!!) they really cried the poor little things, I asked the portuguese vet if it could be done orally and he said no and this has to be done every april and october, he gave me the worm injection which i have to keep in the fridge and give 'gypsy' after she's kidded but i know i wont be able to administer this because it hurts them so much. I wonder if i could get the tablets online in the future and do them myself, do you give the medication yourself?