skywalker has bloat... am i doing this right?

Shayanna · #1 04/25/13, 06:42 PM

posted about it in that other thread, but i want to make sure im doing this right. he is lethargic and very uncomfortable. grinding his teeth and having slightly labored breathing but no wheezing. he was eating hay fine today. i separated him from the big does and put padme with him to keep him company. dh got him to lick some but not much baking soda today but it must be pretty bad. we didnt have mineral or vegetable oil so we used an olive/canola blend. he sucked down about a tablespoon. we massaged his rumen and got two small burps out of him. i heard maybe one good rumen sound in 5 minutes. his poops have been perfect berries all day. how soon should he recover? we are going to town shortly. anything i should get from tractor supply?

Shayanna · #2 04/25/13, 07:26 PM

kept massaging his belly. i dont want to leave him. he burped twice more and ate a handful of hay. he is very cuddly.

Minelson · #3 04/25/13, 07:32 PM

I would drench him with the bakingsoda at least a 1/4 cup mixed with water. and get CD Antitoxin into him ASAP. I would do at least 1/4 cup of mineral or vegetable oil making sure he doesn't aspiriate it.

Shayanna · #4 04/25/13, 07:58 PM

i can drench the baking soda and he just lapped up a little more than a 1/4 cup of the oil. why the cdt antitoxin? we have the vaccine one. tsc is now closed but if i had to go in the morning i will. i have tomorrow off work (which is a good coincedence). is the burping a good sign? Should i let him eat? should he get any vitamins/electrolytes, or probiotics? sorry for all the questions. i know i used up my quota a long time ago, but you are appreciated even if i am stupidly bullheaded at times.

mammabooh · #5 04/25/13, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shayanna

why the cdt antitoxin? .

That is what the anti-toxin is for...over-eating/bloat emergencies. The toxoid is for long-term protection.

Bearfootfarm · #6 04/25/13, 09:02 PM

Quote:

is the burping a good sign?

Yes, and if Bloat was the only problem there's no need to do anything else.

Shayanna · #7 04/25/13, 09:06 PM

so if he keeps burping... and i keep giving him baking soda, he should get better? how long does that take? if he does should i vaccinate and how soon after he recovers? i will vaccinate everyone else tomorrow.

Backfourty,MI. · #8 04/25/13, 09:28 PM

C & D Antitoxin is not the CD & T Vaccine. Yes, you can still go ahead & vaccinate all your goats with CD & T but that isn't immediate protection for goats that have never been vaccinated every year.

If he is burping good & you can get him through the bloat he'll be fine but you should always keep antitoxin on hand for emergencies.
Get 1/4 cup baking soda down him wether he likes it or not, the same with the oil. make sure he doesn't aspirate it. If that doesn't help then do it again, keep him walking & rubbing his sides. As small as he is even bend down & put his front legs up on your shoulder & rub his sides, keep getting him to burp.

Clovers_Clan · #9 04/25/13, 09:29 PM

A bit of yogurt never hurts to help get their tummy back in order. Cheaper than probios and you can get it at the grocery store. I've mixed the baking soda in with the yogurt, easier to get them to eat it. If he's eating hay that will help with the bloat too.

Shayanna · #10 04/25/13, 11:32 PM

thanks everyone. he is doing much better. we took him out and walked him around the yard for a couple hours. he was letting them rip the whole time. burps and farts. he ate more hay and chugged a large bowl of baking soda water. and even ran back to the barn when it was time to call it a night. we are still watching him closely. neway.. to o tired now. night all.

Bearfootfarm · #11 04/26/13, 03:38 AM

Quote:

so if he keeps burping... and i keep giving him baking soda, he should get better?

Baking Soda is for Acidosis
Oil is for Bloat
If Bloat was the only problem, there's no need to give him anything at all

Shayanna · #12 04/26/13, 11:13 AM

update: skywalker is at 100% this morning. he went out with the herd when they went out for hay and he is back to his happy self. all kids got cdt vaccine this morning and it is on the calendar to do the booster in 4 weeks. i am so happy he is okay. i love that little buck.