preemie help

chma4 · #1 04/21/13, 08:40 PM

Just got a kid today. It was born at day 135, was bottled up until now using powdered "Save a kid" Every time the previous owner tried to switch to milk, the kids scoured severely. She nearly lost them several times. The kid was born March 10th, and weighs probably about 1- 1.5 lbs (no joke), she is that small. She is al bones, and has a swollen looking belly. She is not as active as I would like to see, but it is not surprising. My kid who was born here, on March 16th, is easily triple her size. I added about 1 ounce of milk to her 4 ounce bottle of formula, and she will not eat it. I dont know what to do for this kid. I am afraid I will kill her. She is so frail. :HELP:

CJBegins · #2 04/21/13, 09:49 PM

My first bottle baby was fed milk replacer and did very well on it. No issues of any kind. There is no reason why this baby can't do well on this replacer. It is 100% milk with adequate protein and appropiate nutrients. I know many people say to get them off of replacer but if that is what she tolerates, keep her on it.

What breed is she? Even the tiniest nigerian should be much bigger than 1.5 lbs at a month old. How many bottles a day is she getting? Does 4 oz fill her up? Does she hold her own body temp independantly or does she shiver? How does she get around....is she bouncy or quiet?

I would love to see picture of this tiny baby.

I am just trying to ask lots of questions so that it stimulates conversation. It is amazing that a baby born 15 days early has survived. She must be a real go getter!

chma4 · #3 04/22/13, 06:42 AM

ok, this is a Nigerian.
this is the mixture the breeder told me to use. 4 ounces of warm water, to 1/2 cup powder, plus two Tbs powder, and shake. I have been measuring the temp at 102 degrees, but feel that thicker replacer is not better. I want to fix this, while transitioning her, without making her sick. If she cant tolerate it, of coarse I won't, but my other bottle babies are on my milk + half and 1/2 combo, and do so well.
this morning, I realized that despite what the breeder said, this is NOT 4 ounces. After I mixed it, I put it back in a measuring cup and it was nearly 8 ounces!
So this morning I gave her 4, and will give her 4 more in a few hours. I added just a touch of my mixture. Tomorrow, if all goes well, I hope to add a touch more.
She keeps her own temp (102.7) last night. The breeder had her in a barn full of Boer babies 10x her size.I have her in a plastic tote in my dining room, and she cannot jump out. She is 1 month and 11 days old. She has NO horn buds, and is a bag of bones, with a round belly. She is not lethargic, but does not play at all.

I will attach a picture of one of my babies, that is a quad who is 6 days younger, and you will see how much bigger mine is, than this little one. you would never beleive they are the same breed and that the little one is actually older.

chma4 · #4 04/22/13, 06:51 AM

I just found a pamphlet online that says you should mix 1 part powder with 2 parts water. Is this right? Was the breeder making the formula too thick? Could this be the cause of the problem? I have a ziplock of powder, no real instructions.

Sherry in Iowa · #5 04/22/13, 08:12 AM

Since she is in transition..I would not change any of her diet until she is perfectly accustomed to your place and things.

chma4 · #6 04/22/13, 08:59 AM

I ran a fecal, but cant see anything. microscope is not working right. I am starting her on dimethox 12.5% for 5 days anyway. She has dark grey smelly stools. I found a scale that would register her weight. She is exactly 3 lbs.....I was wrong, but still really small for 1 month 11 days.

Sherry in Iowa · #7 04/22/13, 09:06 AM

I know this probably doesn't matter to ya, but again, I would do exactly what the previous owner did. Was her poo a tad gray at her house? Is it the formula that does that? You added milk..she doesn't want to eat it. Feed her the usual for her. She has been moved and is a premie..I don't know that I would expect her to be too bouncy right off. Early kids of all breeds and animals sleep alot..especially if they are born early.

I wouldn't start medicating her if you are not 100% sure something is wrong with her.

chma4 · #8 04/22/13, 10:17 AM

"I know this probably doesn't matter to ya,"
Of coarse it matters. I asked for help/opinions. And I thank you for them.

I have had kids on formula before, they didnt stink like dog poop. This ones poops are fowl. I can not beleive it is normal. Plus, if left untreated, coccidia can cause permanant damage. It is my understanding that dimethox is safe for all ages.
I am considering leaving her on the formula, but I don't beleive that it is what is best for her. If I can not safely transition her, I won't. I am worried that the formula being proportioned incorrectly is causing damage for one. I have been told with humans that messing with the water/solid ratio is not safe, so am worried the same holds true for goats.

Another concern is an untreated illness. besides being preemie, this kid is unthrifty. I felt the intense conditions she was raised in may be contributing to her current condition.
Also, I just put out a big bowl of water, and she downed it. I have seen kids interested in water, but not like this. I am really worried that formula was mixed too thick.

Sherry in Iowa · #9 04/22/13, 11:08 AM

Follow your gut and do what you think is best.

Minelson · #10 04/22/13, 04:29 PM

I have no advice but just hope you can get her strong and healthy! She is just so small it's scary! Sending out prayers and vibes for the little one.

CJBegins · #11 04/22/13, 05:21 PM

Here is a link to their website that includes mixing directions. Hope this helps.
http://www.savacaf.com/assets/produc...58/pdfFile.pdf

She is a tiny cutie!

myheaven · #12 04/22/13, 10:58 PM

See when I had grey nasty poops in my cattle it was roto virus or crypto. Best thing we were able to do was fluids. Sometimes . Iv fluids sometimes. You can do pockets of fluids under the skin if they won't take electrolyte

Crazy Farmgirl · #13 04/23/13, 05:24 AM

Seems she was mixing the formula way too thick according to their instructions. Tht is the main reason people have bad experiences with milk replacer..they don't follow directions!! I would mix the formula according to the websites instructions and let her get used to that before trying to switch her over to milk. That is probably some of the issue with the foul poop also, it is probably not digesting porperly and could be causing upset belly! I would go ahead and do the cocci treatment, especially for kid that already has issues the last thing she needs is an outbreak of any kind.

chma4 · #14 04/23/13, 11:38 AM

UPDATE: I have been mixing the formula the way the breeder said, and then adding 1/4 of my milk mix, and feeding little bottles all day. She also has free choice hay, browse, water, and caprine challenger feed. I have also been dosing her with dimethox (second dose this morning). Today i found perfect little brown baby pellets this morning!!!!!!! So excited! I will keep up with this.

mammabooh · #15 04/23/13, 12:06 PM

Woohoo...that is great news!