Thoughts on my first goat loss?

Ford Zoo · #1 04/30/12, 02:42 AM

Several years ago an ole guy had me check his goat. Extended belly, straining to the point of pushing out his rectum, labored breathing so bad his tongue was purple. I drenched with veggie oil/baking soda and gave a mineral enema. My first bloat experience and the goat was fine the next day.

Fast forward to today with Mattie, my most sweetest 4 year old ND, my first-got her as a bottle baby with her sister, last freshened 11 months ago and never ill in her life. Dewormed and CD&T update in March. Fine late last night, I found her down at noon with grunting respirations (I'm working a stretch of PM shifts and feed at 12 and 12 during these times). Eye lids and mouth nicely pink, belly firm, I had to get her up. Syringed her with veggie oil, baking soda, and a bit of molasses-this is the girl that always takes a bottle but wouldn't today. Mineral enema with a tummy massage followed and she passed quite a bit of gas.

I had to go to work, so I left my DH on goat duty. He checked her and massaged often. Found her up a few times and reported the belly was getting softer and grunting varied. Mind you we have no goat vet in the area. He last checked her at 11pm, found her up again and acting a bit more herself. He put her in the barn and watched her bed down.

I was planning when I got home to retreat for bloat and dose with PCN just in case it was pneumonia, however we have had unseasonably warm weather here. Sorry, I broke the thermometer today so no temp.

Got to the barn at 12:30am and found her bedded down 10 feet from where he left her. Weak pulse and barely breathing. There was nothing to do but hold her...And her sister Dottie kept checking on her and I could see the pleading in Dottie's eyes...

Da*# the job! The next sick animal gets all my time and attention.

Any thoughts or ideas will be greatly appreciated. Did I misdiagnose? Does it always happen this fast? They have had access to fresh greens in their yard since the spring thaw but get good hay and their yard is spindly. Free choice minerals and baking soda. The only thing different is that I took them off their winter grain a month or so ago but have been offering Diamond yeast and they have never had that before.

Jyllie63 · #2 04/30/12, 05:48 AM

I'm so sorry you lost her

Alice In TX/MO · #3 04/30/12, 06:20 AM

If you haven't disposed of her body, I'd highly recommend a necropsy. Otherwise, you'll never know.

Sorry for your loss.

Cliff · #4 04/30/12, 07:46 AM

Sorry

The only thing I would've done different is walk walk walk. But nothing will help a twisted gut... I recommend necropsy also just so you will know.

Backfourty,MI. · #5 04/30/12, 07:49 AM

I do think a necropsy can tell a lot. Our old vet used to say that every dead animal tells a story.

I am so sorry for your Loss, I know it's very depressing & all the questioning of Why & what did I do's since we lost 1 of our bucks a few weeks back, he wasn't bloated, UTD on CD & T, worming, etc.
We opened him up instead of the taking him to a vet & everything looked normal to me on the inside. There was blood coming out of 1 ear & a couple folks here said anuism, brain tumor, etc can cause that. It was very hard to do it myself but I thought at least he wouldn't die for nothing if I could figure out the "Why" part.

thaiblue12 · #6 04/30/12, 09:24 AM

Sorry you lost her

Pneumonia is not a Winter problem, it can crop up in the Spring. You can use a human thermometer on them if you cannot find yours or the battery is dead, just make sure you do not forget and use on on yourselves after, eww. I write on mine with a sharpie. It does not have to say rectal to work. The one I use is digital, for humans and it does not say oral or rectal.

I do not often use a vet, but when I need one and quick I am happy that they are 20 mins away. I would find one or a vet college, something within in an hour or less in case you ever need one. Maybe someone on here knows of one in your area.

Unfortunately we have to go to work, someone has to buy all those goat treats

You had someone with her and you both worked on her and checked on her, you both tried and while the outcome stinks it sometimes happens.

"SPIKE" · #7 04/30/12, 09:27 AM

I am so very sorry to hear.

SPIKE

Ford Zoo · #8 04/30/12, 06:06 PM

Thanks for all the kind thoughts. I read all I can to be prepared, but until one experiences something first hand, one never knows. I did not have the heart to get a necropsy on her.
We live in a rural area with few goat people.The closest goat vet we have found is about two hours away, so we have not gotten established with him, but I'm now thinking I should just so I can at least call if needed. We had a darling, Doc Peterson, who would see them only in his office, but he recently retired, finally. He is in his mid 80's!

Thanks again and hug your babies!