Appetite is Off

Whisperwindkat · #1 10/19/12, 09:39 PM

The past two milkings I noticed my doe doesn't seem to really want her grain and then she picks through it which is odd since she has never done that before. Her milk production is slightly down also. She gets oats, alfalfa pellets, BOSS and calf manna on the milk stand. She has access to loads of browse during the day and in the evening before bed she gets a bagged hay mix which is alfalfa, oat and timothy hay along with a flake of Bermuda hay. She has lost a bit of condition also, but that is normal with her. She doesn't seem to have anything else going on with her other than she isn't real enthusiastic about her grain. She was de-wormed with cydectin, up to date on copper and vaccines. Any ideas or am I worrying for nothing? She is one of my best girls and while she is a pain and a half to milk I don't want to lose her. Thanks, Kat

Whisperwindkat · #2 10/19/12, 09:40 PM

Oh and our weather has made a dramatic change in the past few days if that makes any difference. Thanks.

Backfourty,MI. · #3 10/19/12, 09:42 PM

I would take her temperature. Wondering if it could be pneumonia with all the crazy weather we've had lately & you don't have to see a runny or snotty nose to think pneumonia.

Whisperwindkat · #4 10/19/12, 09:44 PM

I will take her temp in the morning. We have had a sudden drop in temperature following a heavy rain. Two days ago we had all our windows open at night and tonight they are all shut tight. Thanks.

mrs.H · #5 10/19/12, 10:58 PM

Is she in heat? My does act a little off when they are in heat, but then bounce right back.

CaliannG · #6 10/19/12, 11:41 PM

Don't you love goats who only show the symptom of being a bit "off"? ~sighs~

B-Complex injection stimulates appetite. There are lots of things that will cause a goat to lose appetite, but the main thing is anemia and B-vitamin deficiencies. How are her eyelids? How long have you been using Cydectin?

April · #7 10/20/12, 06:55 AM

I like to give Tums and chewable Vitamin C tabs any time "off" is all I have to deal with. I have a suspicion that sometimes they get bellyaches from overeating (just like I do). I never consider that to be the solution, though, because what if it's not! But, if the temp is normal, mucous membranes are nice and pink and she's cudding like normal/normal rumen sounds, then all you can do is wait and watch like a hawk for additional symptoms.

Whisperwindkat · #8 10/21/12, 07:10 AM

Just to let everyone know, Dolly is back to her normal self. No temp, membranes were fine, nothing other than she just picked through her grain like she really didn't want it. I think maybe she just ate too many acorns and had a little bit of a stomach ache. She ran into the milk room hopped up on the stand and chowed down on her grain like she hadn't eaten in days. Back to normal. Thanks ya'll

Backfourty,MI. · #9 10/21/12, 07:40 AM

Glad she's back to normal. Sometimes I think they just want to make sure were on our toes!