Freaking out a bit here!

harvestmoonfarm · #1 06/09/13, 10:44 AM

After losing my yearling doe yesterday to a mystery illness (possible G6S?) and being told that she was severely anemic (I knew and had been treating that for 4 days, watching her decline and being in contact with my vet), but all of her organs were perfect and there were no parasites to be seen during the necropsy. However, she had absolutely NO internal body fat and, in essence, starved to death!

We moved 2 months ago from a 64-acre farm with lush pastures, where the goats could graze at will and hardly ever needed hay, to 5 acres of woods, where they're pretty much dry-lotted and only getting free-choice hay, baking soda and loose minerals, as well as occasional browse and Chaffhaye. They all *look* healthy (shiny coats, nice bellies), but so did she, so now I'm freaking out and wondering if they're all secretly starving to death. It's been running through my mind all morning and, to be completely honest, I'm wondering if selling them wouldn't be the kindest thing to do

Cyngbaeld · #2 06/09/13, 11:00 AM

Hon, you are in shock over what happened. I'd suggest waiting for test results and in the meantime, start giving your goats a cup of whole oats twice a day.

Cannon_Farms · #3 06/09/13, 11:01 AM

look at the home butchering thread that is a sticky at the top of the page, see how chunky that buck kid looked even having a bit of milk neck? Notice once hes naked you dont see very much body fat on a goat, just like chicken and fish goat is a lean meat, if you vet isnt a goat vet then its possibly they where expecting the same fat levels on sheep or other livestock. If she was in the same condition that she was in the pics then she didnt starve to death and as I said her muscle would have been digested as well.
Johnes is known as the wasting disease for a reason. I do hope that the lab reports give you some answers.

Cannon_Farms · #4 06/09/13, 11:09 AM

this is what a starved goat looks like on the brink of death notice you cant see any muscle hardly and how prominent her back and hip bones are poking out and you can see the shoulder blade

Cannon_Farms · #5 06/09/13, 11:21 AM

another one that shows a bit more detail. Both of these goats made it but will never be "normal" the nubians twin sister is one of my easiest keepers and a good 3 inches taller than that doe. The Saanen Tinia now has is her kid and at 2 months old was as almost as big as her dam.

harvestmoonfarm · #6 06/09/13, 11:40 AM

That's what's even more puzzling. This doe was actually the only one I *wasn't* worried about after we moved, because she never lost condition and continued to look really good. From what I've read about Johne's, but she definitely wasn't emaciated and had no diarrhea. I had wondered if maybe she bled out after the dewormer (from a quick detachment of parasites), but there were no signs of blood in her stool and her eyelids were actually pinking up with use of the Red Cell and fortified vitamin B. This one has me scratching my head, and I'm seriously worried about my other goats. Maybe it was just some weird genetic or congenital thing. I'm really hoping the tests give some answers.

Cannon_Farms · #7 06/09/13, 11:46 AM

well to throw another piece in the puzzle if she didnt look like the above goats then she didnt starve to death.
Now, red cell contains lot of good stuff but too much of a lot of things on a stressing body can become toxic quickly thats why I really am reserved in the use of it I prefer injectable iron.
Nothing seems to really fit with this, but a goat doesnt have to be emaciated to die from johnes as we all watched this past winter, NONE of us expected that to be the culprit that killed poor Gretta whom was a bit ok maybe a lot over conditioned (saying it in a loving way).
Go love on the remaining goaties and try to enjoy them hopefully you will get your answer's with the lab work.

Minelson · #8 06/09/13, 11:52 AM

OH Trish! ((((hugs))) Many many many goats live on hay alone. Free choice hay and there is no way they would starve to death. Mine would starve to death every winter! You did nothing wrong and your other goats don't want you to sell them. Honeysuckle may had some kind of condition that kept her from being able to absorb nutrients. But I think that Cannon is right and the vet might of been used to seeing animals more fatty. Johnes would have showed up in the necropsy. There is definite sighs of it in the intestinal walls that they wouldn't miss. Accordian looking and thick. Wait for the test results and talk to the vet about your other goats. Your a great goat mama who has had some terrible luck lately. I'm so sorry you feel so bad but please don't think this was your fault. (((((more hugs))))