Toxemia/Ketosis/Hypocalcemia-Sticky?

[Shayanna]

Can we have a sticky please? This comes up so much, I myself have lost a doe to it because I just ASSUMED it was something trivial. What signs to watch for, the causes, treatment.

What I know:
-Act quickly. Your doe is not just walking funny because she is fat and pregnant. No matter how big they are, they should never FALL. And if your goat goes down, the outlook isn't good. (IMO)
-Check your does over regularly. Watch for swollen ankles, painful feet/legs.
-Especially watch your goats if you have recently switched to a new feed.
-When introducing a pregnant goat to grain in late pregnancy, gradually increase to milk-stand rations, rather than starting off at full amount.
-If your goat is shivering on the milk stand, do not ASSUME your goat is chilly. Check for other signs of milk fever.
-Teeth grinding means pain. Find out why they are in pain.

[Ford Zoo]

I think a sticky on this is a great idea!! I see questions about this time and time again on every forum I read. This should be the top subject in GOAT 101 for people BEFORE they breed any does!!

[creekmom]

I think the sticky is a good idea also. Going through this right now with my doe. One thing I probably missed early on before she went completely off feed was that sweet smell I have read about before. She probably had that and I just didn't recognize it. I'm kinda slow but I didn't realize that "sweet smell" would smell exactly like nail polish remover. Boy will I be able to recognize that now.

[Shayanna]

I never noticed it on my doe's breath. I just noticed the pee smell. I now have a jar of ketostix in my goat medicine cabinet though.

[Shayanna]

Ketosis:

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/ketosis.htm
http://www.goatworld.com/articles/pr...ytoxemia.shtml
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/U/UNP-0106/UNP-0106.pdf
http://thelazybfarm.com/dairy-goats-...g-with-ketosis
http://www.motesclearcreekfarms.com/...es/ketosis.asp
http://goat-link.com/content/view/148/156/

Milk Fever

http://allthingsgoat.com/2010/02/milk-fever/
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/milkfever.htm
http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/ar...milkfever.html
http://www.goatworld.com/articles/milkfever/
http://hoeggerfarmyard.com/the-farmy...th/milk-fever/
http://www.ubisimail.co.za/pdf_files...ever_goats.pdf

[Ford Zoo]

I personally have never been able to smell ketones on any breath as evidenced by the years of caring for people in diabetic ketoacidosis. Some people just can't smell them.

I think this bit of info can be misleading for people unaware that they cannot detect them olfactory wise, and that should be noted with the info as well.

[Ford Zoo]

I'll add these sites as a good resource, especially if someone does not have access to CMPK when they need it:

http://goats.wetpaint.com/page/Hypoc...Kitchen+Recipe

And another good explanation why goats in ketosis need calcium and not just glucose:

http://goats.wetpaint.com/page/Ketosis+-+What+is+it%3F

[Shayanna]

Originally Posted by Ford Zoo

I personally have never been able to smell ketones on any breath as evidenced by the years of caring for people in diabetic ketoacidosis. Some people just can't smell them.

I think this bit of info can be misleading for people unaware that they cannot detect them olfactory wise, and that should be noted with the info as well.

I agree. And relying on smell, whether of breath or urine doesn't seem like enough. Fern (my goat that died), didn't start to get the smell (to her urine) until she was down for about a week. So it was a little late to rely on smell to diagnose.

[Shayanna]

anybody else have anything to contribute or think this would be a good idea?