pregnant doe not getting up

[kandmcockrell]

One of my goats, a Nubian, who is due the end of this month, is laying down. She is not overly large, her first time, we did not even realize she was pregnant. We thought the breading did not take. This is her second breeding. She is eating, chewing cud, and drinking. She just will not get up. Her eyelids look normal so i don't think it is worms. Temp is normal as well. She is not shaking and talks to me when i come in.

What should i do? They all have free choice minerals, baking soda and hay.

Should i give her a dose of B? Maybe some calcium? molasses in the water?

[FrogTacos]

I have one that has been down for just a touch over 3 weeks now. One day past due. Ive been consulting with other goat owners and a veterinarian - here are my suggestions (others will certainly have more!) on a good area to start looking:

1) Get some keytone test strips and make sure she isn't going toxemic on you. They are inexpensive, about 50 to a bottle. Good luck catching urine! The strips will be the fastest way to tell, and this would be easy to treat if it is the case. (If there is any swelling of her ankles I would highly suspect it as well)

2) Make her get up - at least twice a day. Try treats to tempt her up. Spray her feet with hoof solution, see if that will get her up a bit. Gently pull on her legs to see if that will get her up. Failing all of that, force her. (I am assuming you have already checked her over for injuries?)

3) She needs alfalfa - pellets or 'fresh' - free choice. (She needs the calcium it provides)

4) If the other goats are bullying her, might be a good idea to put her in a kidding pen, keep her stress level down. I found mine shivering one morning so have given her a heat lamp, she spends a bunch of time under it, has plenty of room to move away if she doesn't want to be.

5) Make sure she is staying hydrated - carry the water to right up under her nose every couple of hours if at all possible.

My vet said so long as she is laying mainly on her sternum instead of her side, attentive and bright eyed, good appetite and rumen activity, eliminating as she should (essentially healthy in every other way) to just keep a very close eye on her and let her carry out her pregnancy.

[kandmcockrell]

a close friend of mine is thinking the toxemia. I will check what you suggested.

I know i read somewhere you could give vitamins with extra calcium, the kids kind, should i do that? Would tums work?

I will have to order the strips, no where around her carries anything. Really. The hay they get is alfalfa hay, good quality.

Should i give her grain or wait until she is up?

Where would i get the test strips?

[FrogTacos]

You can get the strips at WalMart or any of the larger pharmacy stores, probably in the pharmacy section of larger grocery stores too. They are in the diabetic section.

Someone else will have to chime in on starting grain, mine has always been getting it so I don't know on that one.

The alfalfa 'should be' providing enough calcium - I believe most folks here are going to suggest getting some BoSe and CMPK from a vet?

[kandmcockrell]

Vet does not have CMKP nor any of the "farm" stores either. Not even our local (1 hr away) Tractor Supply. I will order it, that is the best i can do.

what is the name, or what description for the strips do i look for?

[kandmcockrell]

what is the dose for the CMPK injectable?

[mpete]

A shot of B will not hurt.
I am thinking she may just be tired... pregnant does will laze around a lot:

Here is a link to Ketosis/toxemia
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/ketosis.htm

hypocalcemia:
http://www.goatworld.com/articles/mi...calcemia.shtml

try to get her up and see what she does.... what are you feeding her? I hope not the "breading" ... sorry, couldn't resist a bit of humor

[kandmcockrell]

should it be given SQ or should i give it orally?

[kandmcockrell]

i tried to get her up this morning. She tried also, but seemed weak. She wanted to while i was trying, but when i stopped, she settled down and started eating again. I did not try very long, because i did not want to stress her anymore than i had to.

They have free choice alfalfa hay.

[mpete]

When you say temp is normal, what is it?

[FrogTacos]

The bottle I have is:

ReliOn Ketone Test Strips

Little white bottle with a blue and white label. Cost $6.64 at WalMart.

[mpete]

yes, you can give a goat tums.
Since she is talking to you, I am assuming she is alert?

How do you try to get her up?
Yes, you can introduce grain, but you always have to do a feed change slowly over a couple of weeks to avoid goat polio.

For her I would give the vit B complex... both ways,

[kandmcockrell]

just shy of 102 early this morning. Yesterday early evening it was 103. i guess it is a little lower this morning after her laying all night and it being cool and damp. But that is still in the "normal" range right?

[FrogTacos]

*IF* she is positive for keytones in her urine you would want to put the molasses in her water as well as drench her with "magic" (one part molasses, one part corn oil, 2 parts corn syrup) 20cc 3 times daily. If her ankles are swollen you might as well make sure you have that stuff when you make your run for the strips, save a trip.

Side note, mine seem to prefer honey in their water vs molasses.

[kandmcockrell]

i tried to entice her with hay, which she reached for, and then tried to pick her up and help steady her. She is a Nubian, i am 5'3. She weighs more than i do so i can't pick her up like i can my dwarf Nigerians.
She is totally alert. Looks around and talks to me and the other goats.

[kandmcockrell]

what is the best amount of molasses per gal of water?

[mpete]

If you ever worry about your goats temp because it's right on the "normal" line, take a pen mates temp as well...
Check her rumen, make sure it's still working.
http://thegoatspot.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=87

Get some calcium into her... Give her the B. Has she had her other shots? Such as Bo-Se, CD&T, etc.

[mpete]

Do you think she would fall over if she stood up?

[kandmcockrell]

Not sure, she is kinda clumsy anyway. Maybe after i give her the B shot. I heard her gut when i was checking her out last night. Can't remember if i heard it this morning or not.
How many tums should i give her?

[Backfourty,MI.]

I always give electrolyte water when someone feels a bit off or after kidding.
It may help your girl too.

It's 1 liter warm water
2 Tablespoons honey or sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Also if your vet doesn't have the CMPK injectable, you can get CMPK paste at feed stores. I think TSC carries it in the cattle section.

Also Probios paste won't hurt her either & will help her tummy if not getting enough to eat.

Even when my goats have alfafa/grass mix hay I still give them alfafa pellets. Wonder if that would help your girl out too?

Have you ruled out her hooves or an injury?