Pregnant Goat Ketosis?

Lschmidt · #1 03/28/12, 12:31 PM

My very pregnant nubian/boer 3-time mother goat is causing me concern. She exhibiting signs of possible ketosis. She has lost her appetite, doesn't want to move around, limping and swelling of feet or walking tenderly. I just thought she needed her hooves trimmed and I didn't want to torture the poor thing being this pregnant since she does not particularly enjoy that. Anyway, I think it is much more than just her toes that are bothering her. Home remedies anyone?

IndyGardenGal · #2 03/28/12, 03:37 PM

Sounds more like milk fever. She needs CMPK if you can get it. I'm not sure about home remedies.

Hollowdweller · #3 03/28/12, 03:44 PM

Tempt her with tree limbs and other green stuff and hit her with some propylene Glycol.

chamoisee · #4 03/28/12, 06:07 PM

When is she due?

Lschmidt · #5 03/28/12, 09:31 PM

Thank you for your responses! Tree leaves are her favorite...I'll get right on that! I also have some clean Timothy Hay for a guinea pig I'll give her. She should be due this week or next as the buck was very busy when we got him before Thanksgiving. Her bag is full but doesn't look engorged and tail is down.

This is a 4-H project and not a farming endeavor so my supplies are limited. I have 3 pregnant does. This one has had two previous sets of twins so I'm expecting at least twins this time too. She has always been a "boney" looking goat compared to the other more Boer does. She has been tender footed for several days but I've only noticed a loss of appetite for 2 days. This morning she was walking in circles and panting heavily so much that I thought she would hyperventilate. I've never been around during actual beginning stages of labor but this seemed abnormal.

Where do I get Propylene Glycol and CMPK? A vet or Rural King?

Jyllie63 · #6 03/28/12, 09:41 PM

There's good info here

Fias Co Farm- Goat Health Care- Ketosis & Pregnancy Toxemia

I believe my doe had the beginning of this. I gave her karo/molasses water and then switched to the cmpk drench that I found at TSC. I have stopped treatment on her and she seems much better. I'm hoping she delivers soon so that it doesn't rear it's ugly head again.

Lschmidt · #7 03/28/12, 09:55 PM

One site that discussed "milk fever" mentioned Calcium Gluconate...which at 10 p.m. I don't have either. First light means a quick goat check and a trip to Rural King. Is it too much to do the calcium gluconate injections (site recommended 10 cc in 5 places sub Q) AND Propylene Glycol? I'm guessing the PG is oral. What about CMPK? Over doing will stress her even more. Even the bossy goat Queen is babying this poor mama and cuddling with her...that alone is odd for them.

Lschmidt · #8 03/28/12, 09:59 PM

For Jyllie63 - molasses/water mixture? Enough to sweeten water or are we talking more syrup-y like by the spoonful? Was it a force or did she take willingly?

Jyllie63 · #9 03/28/12, 10:05 PM

The mixture was on that link I posted. I really don't remember off hand. I drenched her with it but she probably would have drank it on her own since she was licking her lips afterward. I would give her some tonight and then head to the feed store in the morning. Will she eat tums?

Alice In TX/MO · #10 03/28/12, 10:09 PM

Tums are good.

Lschmidt · #11 03/28/12, 10:12 PM

Sorry I didn't see that link - it's a good one. I'm headed to the barn with tums, molasses mixture and a few tree leaves. The others will be so jealous I'll have to take a bucket of leaves for them too. Thanks! I'll post back in the morning.

LoneStrChic23 · #12 03/28/12, 10:33 PM

Propylene glycol is caustic, and very harsh on the oral membranes & rumen flora.

Go to TSC, buy a $5 bottle on injectable Dextrose.... It's labeled for IV use in cattle...... Be sterile, draw 30cc into a syringe, warm to body temp (heating pad or wrapping in hot towels) & inject SubQ. Personally, I'd do 30cc on one side, 30cc on the other. You can also drench her with it orally. Taste great, and gets the sugar up faster, with no harsh side effects, much faster than PG.

Repeat every 4-6 hours, more frequently if needed, until shes back to normal.

LoneStrChic23 · #13 03/28/12, 10:37 PM

For calcium, you can inject the calcium gluconate if you don't have CMPK, just warm to body temp first. Give 30cc every 4-6 hours. Won't work as well as injectable CMPK, but in a pinch it will do. Tums work also if she'll eat them.

Google "Sue Rieth homemade CMPK recipe" & it tells you how to make an oral form of CMPK from vitamins that you can crush, mix with water, & drench her with.

LoneStrChic23 · #14 03/28/12, 10:49 PM

Sorry, double post.

Ford Zoo · #15 03/29/12, 07:45 AM

Here's a link with a homemade recipe. In the menu to the left is a ketosis article explaining why they need calcium first, then glucose/dextrose with toxemia. Hope it helps!

Hypocalcemia - CMPK Kitchen Recipe - Dairy Goat Care and Management

Lschmidt · #16 03/29/12, 03:23 PM

Thank you all for your help. I will write these instructions down for faster medical help if this should happen again. I gave her a few leaves last night, mashed up 2 tums and put in with molasses mixture. She was none too happy and we were both pretty sticky after that. Same treatment this morning plus I pushed water with electrolytes too. I went to 2 Rural Kings (like TSC) and they knew nothing and had none of the mentioned supplies...but they certainly have plenty of wormer...apparently they believe that's the only problem goats get. I got some calcium/magnesium tablets at Walgreens to mix instead of tums. Unfortunately when I got home I found her dead. I really wish goats would show their signs of illness a few days before it's too late to fix it. "Charm" was our favorite gentle goat. Thanks again for your knowledge and concern, I really appreciate it.

Ford Zoo · #17 03/29/12, 04:02 PM

Hugs to you. So sorry.

Alice In TX/MO · #18 03/29/12, 04:18 PM

I am so sorry!!! Yes, they need to be able to talk to us.

Huggs,
Alice

Jyllie63 · #19 03/29/12, 06:55 PM

I am so sorry