Skinny doe

Alaska_farm_mom · #1 01/07/13, 11:21 AM

I have a 4yr old sanaan doe who is due to kid in a few months. She normally is a healthy round goat. But this time during her pregnancy she dropped a lot of weight. She is current with deworming. Other then being on the skinny side she is perfectly normal. She eats just as much as any other goat out with her. Help?!

KrisD · #2 01/07/13, 11:28 AM

What and how much are you feeding her? Has she been disease tested? Has she had fecals done? What are you worming with and how often?

Alaska_farm_mom · #3 01/07/13, 12:26 PM

I free feed them hay. She gets grain twice a day,Which is about a scoop a day.She is tested and clean. No fecal test done. I plan on calling the local vet here soon to see if they will do it. Her stool has been normal. . Her gums are normal, no coughing, no fluffy coat. Her next dewormin will be on the day she kids. She hasnt acted any diffrent other then the weight loss.

Cyngbaeld · #4 01/07/13, 01:34 PM

Can you drizzle some corn oil on her grain?

CaliannG · #5 01/07/13, 02:18 PM

Has she been tested for Johne's disease? Also, was she raised by you? Do you know if, as a kid, she had coccidia prevention?

Alaska_farm_mom · #6 01/07/13, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliannG

Has she been tested for Johne's disease? Also, was she raised by you? Do you know if, as a kid, she had coccidia prevention?

Yes she was tested for Johnes. Not raised by me. and yes she had coccidia prevention.

CaliannG · #7 01/07/13, 02:55 PM

That being the case, it could be that she is carrying multiples and they are sucking a lot out of her, or she has a tapeworm problem.

Fecals won't do you much good at this time of year, as parasites don't drop much in the way of eggs in the winter...and fecals are about counting eggs. Weird body stress can cause a worm bloom in a goat's system.

IF she is AT LEAST 100 days past her breeding date, then I would go ahead and worm her again, especially for tapes. I would also up the fat and protein content of her grain mixture. (You can do this by adding BOSS or other high fat, high protein top dressing. Rice bran mixed with soybean meal is good as well.)

Frosted Mini's · #8 01/07/13, 03:12 PM

Some beet pulp may help as well. Second the deworming and fat to the diet. Be sure to use something that is working for parasites in your area (there is a lot of parasite resistance in some areas).

Backfourty,MI. · #9 01/07/13, 03:16 PM

Make sure if you decide to worm her that you use something safe for pregnant does' & that she is at least 100 days bred 1st like Caliann said.

Hollowdweller · #10 01/07/13, 03:26 PM

I wouldn't worry as long as she's eating ok and she's actually bred.

Wouldn't really rush to give her a bunch of stuff either.

If I was you though I'd watch when she kids, if she starts acting like she's got ketosis or doesn't bounce back right then it may be a sign of some problem.

As long as she seems otherwise OK though I wouldn't worry at this point.

Laverne · #11 01/08/13, 04:55 PM

Here's some famacha charts for checking eyelids for parasite anemia. Gums aren't a reliable predicter like the eyelids. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...53&FORM=IQFRBA

Alaska_farm_mom · #12 01/14/13, 01:08 AM

Thanks so much for the help. I have been giving her more protein/gain and she seems to be gaining a little weight on her. Im thinking she has triplets or two big kids again and she just wasnt getting enough grain.