Chronic Bloating

rdhdstpchild · #1 07/25/12, 09:50 PM

Need you wonderful goat whisperers! Bella, our 3 year old pygmy, is chronically bloating. Usually it's a mild case however we've had to take her to the vet before and looks like she's headed there again.

Her herdmate, Woogie, has access to the same foods Bella does with no problems. We think perhaps she's just an excited eater - doesn't know when to stop??

Guidance to help avoid disaster is greatly appreciated!!

mpete · #2 07/25/12, 11:11 PM

What do you feed her? Alfalfa can cause them to appear bloated.
Does she look uncomfortable?
Does she stand in the corner?
Has she been dewormed?

There are some goats that just have huge rumens, and I know that pymies and nigies will appear bloated.

Backfourty,MI. · #3 07/26/12, 02:15 AM

I'm also wondering what your feeding them? A good grass or grass/alfalfa mix hay is really all they need unless nursing kids along with good loose minerals & baking soda out for them 24/7. I do like to give mine a little grain anyways even when dry but I only give 1/4 cup, they Love it & of course they are spoiled.

Mylanta Gas crushed up & dissolved in a little water, get that down her & Rub her sides vigorously. See if that helps.
I do agree that Pygmies though do tend to look like little barrels with legs.

Laverne · #4 07/26/12, 02:41 AM

Ever since I got the worms and Liverflukes under control no one is blowing up, even on spring grass.

Cliff · #5 07/26/12, 08:11 AM

Has the vet actually diagnosed her with bloat?

What do you feed them and how much? Has she been wormed? Has she had a fecal check done to make sure the worming is working? How old is she?

If everything is ok and she keeps doing it it could just be something about her physiology that's causing it or possibly she ate something she shouldn't have. That's something the vet would have to tell you though.

Sherry in Iowa · #6 07/26/12, 08:37 AM

I have 2 or 3 goats that look like they are pregs when they are really just "full". They aren't bloated per se..they just have big rumens. I hope that's all that's wrong with your little girl.

rdhdstpchild · #7 07/26/12, 09:03 PM

The vet has diagnosed her with bloat. Last time he had to puncture her left side to release some of the gas or we'd have lost her. Yesterday she was unable to get up and we had to force her to walk. Poor Bella was HUGE and high on the one side.

Feed is mostly forage on our land. At night only a teeny bit of grain to entice them to their enclosure for the evening.

Backfourty,MI. · #8 07/26/12, 09:56 PM

Do they have access to a good quality loose mineral & also Baking soda 24/7? If not I would make sure they have that available all the time. I'm also wondering if some good grass hay available for them while in their enclosure at night may help Bella too as grass hay helps to settle & keep their rumens healthy, may keep her from getting so gassy.

Alice In TX/MO · #9 07/27/12, 06:25 AM

I agree with hay at night and in the early morning before turning her out on grass.

Cliff · #10 07/27/12, 07:36 AM

You didn't answer my question about worming and fecal checks. If that hasn't been addressed that's where I'd start for sure. If there are no issues there maybe the vet could x-ray her to see if she has ingested something that's sitting in there causing her problems. Idk if this happens much with goats but it does with cows.

Otherwise no ideas except to say that sometimes animals will just have a weird physiology that makes it hard for them to survive long term. Sorry you're dealing with this and good luck with her.