Suggestions Welcome!

[nehimama]

My little ICU patients -both doelings, both weak. Workin' hard to save them!





Both doelings have very congested lungs and are very weak. The tan one is worse than the black one. You can hear her "gurgling" from across the room! I've swung both, no apparent help there. Both have had 1/4cc BO-SE and 1/2cc Maaxi B 1000. The black has managed to stand - once, and not for very long. The tan one has not yet attempted to stand. Both will nurse willingly, but only a very few swallows at a time. Both are in the house and are warm. They were born late this afternoon, so are only a few hours old. What else can I do???

[dozedotz]

Hones to GOD! I would call Emily Dixon. She is a miracle worker with sick kids. I know you have her number!

[Alice In TX/MO]

The only thing I can think of is massage....and call Emily.

Hang in there goatie kiddos!

[Clovers_Clan]

If they are premies, I found this:
http://kinne.net/saveprem.htm

"cortisone preparations such as Dexamethasome or Betamethasone that can be given to the kid that tell the cells to start producing the necessary surfactant"

also this:
http://www.barnonemeatgoats.com/drugs.html

"Brand Name: Dexamethasone
Active Ingredient(s): dexamethazone (2mg per ml)
Availability: veterinarian prescription
Withdrawal: days before slaughter
Indications:
Dosage: 1 to 2 mg per 100 lbs.
Goat Notes: Dexamethasone is effective in treatment of listeriosis along with penicillin. Use in any indication of brain damage (over heated disbudding iron), or used to relieve congestion in udders due to mastitis. Use sparingly Dexamethasone is a steroid and over use will cause a decrease in the immune systems ability to function. Also can be used to induce labor, doesn't cause quite as hard labor as inducing with Estramate or Lutylace, also will help development of lung tissue if the kids are premature. Give PO to premature newborns to stimulate lung function."

Hope they turn around for you.

[coso]

Dex, keep them warm, they have trouble regulating there body temp if the are premies, and a humidifier. Something about there lungs sticking. Tube them if they aren't getting enough colostrum.

[nehimama]

They are full term; not preemies.

[MDKatie]

They were born this afternoon or yesterday afternoon? Swinging them doesn't help anything, and it can compress their lungs (with the force of their organs putting pressure on them) and make it harder for them to breathe. It's not a suggested practice anymore.

I've had babies born gurgly but after a little while (a day or so) they're fine. I've also had gurgly babies I went ahead and gave some LA-200 or Biomycin and they cleared up.

I'd give them a little while to come around, and I'd try to help them stand up and get the hang of it. Some Nutri-Drench or something like that wouldn't hurt either.

Good luck, they sure are cute!

[Frosted Mini's]

You could try a little coupage. Lots of colostrum, as much as you can get them to drink, and if they aren't drinking enough, for sure tube them. Work on their legs to get them going. Don't think you are missing much here, they are either going to recover or not at this point, I think. I hope they do though! And of course they had to be girls....

[Pony]

Can't get on FB to check things, Loretta, but wondering how they're doing.

[nehimama]

Originally Posted by Pony

Can't get on FB to check things, Loretta, but wondering how they're doing.

Thanks for asking, Pony! Breathing issues seem to have subsided significantly. All have taken to the bottle like champs, and are getting plenty of colostrum. The floppy doeling has been trying to stand. There is hope!

[yarrow]

when I have babies that are weak and needing TLC.. I always keep them well hydrated.. (warmed ringers sub q, between the shoulder blades).. I also tube them (even if they have a suck reflex and can eat a little)..The tubing doesn't wear them out, like trying to get enough food via a bottle does.. I however do try to get them to take a couple sucks after I tube.. wanting them to associate the full tummy feel with sucking.. I keep my NICU kids, in a playpen on towels on top of a heating pad (and in coats) don't want any energy/strength going toward keeping warm.. I want them to sleep and recover.. lungs sounding like that.. I know me.. I'd be reaching for the nuflor.. just a couple 10ths of a cc.. just to really knock out anything that might be going on.. (I had this exact same thing happen to a set of twin does a couple years ago.. full term.. nothing seemed overly off at birth..but soon both were flat, gurggly and weak.. took 4 days for one, 5 days for the other of tubing and fluids and nuflor and LOTS of quite warm sleep time..(it was like they just both NEEDED some more womb time.. even tho by calendar days they were at a full 150 days).. but both survived and thrived. Wintrrwolf owns one of them..

good luck, it's always so hard to have sick little ones
susie, mo ozarks

[motdaugrnds]

Nehimama, it sounds like you're doing an excellent job of caring for those kids.

I'd second the warmth, the tubing and getting each to stand (even with your holding them up somewhat) some often so as to help them get some strength into their legs and get them off their sides.

[nehimama]

I did a very minute examination of the floppy kid, and have discovered that she has joint/skeletal issues. It isn't a muscular issue. Strange. . . . All her joints (hips, leg joints) pop in & out.

[Alice In TX/MO]

UH OH. I hate to ask, but will. What are you going to do?

[nehimama]

Not sure yet, Alice.

[Squeaky McMurdo]

I wonder of she has an overabundance of relaxin hormone from her mama in her system?

[coso]

I wonder of she has an overabundance of relaxin hormone from her mama in her system?

That's what I am wondering. I think I would give a shot of BOSE and give her a couple of days to see if things "tighten up".

[Squeaky McMurdo]

I know in humans relaxin can stay in the system for several weeks and joint instability affects girls moreso than boys because estrogen also plays a part in allowing mama's hips to loosen.

Severe cases of joint instability can lead to dysplasia if not treated. The people treatment is a harness to keep the baby's hips flexed toward their chest so the ball joint stays firmly in the socket...could get interesting with a goat but might be doable. Hopefully your little goaty's case isn't severe and will resolve on its own.

[nehimama]

She went home with a neighbor who has dealt with this kind of affliction before.

[nehimama]

Originally Posted by coso

That's what I am wondering. I think I would give a shot of BOSE and give her a couple of days to see if things "tighten up".

She's had BO-SE twice; once SQ, and once orally on a different day.