[Beeducked]

Sorry if this is all a bit vague and waffly but worried about one of my goats and not sure if I am over reacting.


I rehomed 4 goats just over 3 months ago. 2 are older girls who are currently milking and 2 are 18 month old girls. They all came to me a bit skinny and with pretty poor feet but have come on really well since I got them. All have put on some weight and are healthy and bouncing about. I have had a little problems with scald in one of the older girls but currently under control. They were wormed and spot on'ed before I got them but I haven't repeated this since I got them.


This evening one of the younger girls is just not right. Know that is really non-specific but hard to put a finger on it. She is a bit lethargic and had to be encouraged to stand where usually she would run up to me however no limp etc. Looks bright and wants cuddles but not interested in food, nibbled a bit but really only a couple of grains. Breathing normal, no evidence of any pain on examining all over. Not formally taken her temp but doesn't feel warmer than the others. She just looks a bit fluffed up if that makes any sense. The only other thing that was a little unusual is that she kept stretching a lot.


Do goats sometimes just get a bit under the weather and she'll bounce back or could this be a sign of something more serious and should get the vet out? Anything basic I should be doing?

[Melmarsh]

Hi ! Sorry you have a problem, sound like a gut problem with the stretching. Has she done a poo! Is she cudding, and can you hear gut sounds?? If you put your ear and o her stomach you should hear gut sounds. Is she bloated at all ?? That would be a starting point for me. Good luck

[Roxy]

First of all, don't panic!!  I have spent many hours in our goat sheds watching a goat that does not look her normal self, believe me

Has this goat been out on grass during today?  Does her sides look bloated, and feel hard?  If so, it could be just a matter of getting her to belch!!  Can you hear her tummy rumbling if you put your head close to her side?  Bicarb of soda  given on a spoon on her tongue, or  put some in warm water and give as a drink, then massage her sides, and try to walk her round, it usually does the trick, and they burp and start eating.

If she looks fluffed up, it could be she has caught a chill.  A dog coat is good, but failing that a blanket, and plenty of bedding round her.  If it is a chill, be prepared for her to scour as well, and have a runny nose.  A sick goat looks very sorry for itself.

Quite often, if they are under the weather, they refuse feed, but will eat hay, so offer her some hay and see if she has that.  Willow leaves are usually liked in situations like this, mine strip the bark off.

Finally, you are sure she has not eaten anything poisonous while outside?  Or pigged out on feed?

If she looks really ill, or you are unsure, then I would call the vet in the morning, even just for reassurance over the phone.

Oh, and do you think she is coming into season?  I have a couple of goats who go off their food a day or so before they start bleating and tail wagging!!

[Roxy]

I see Melmarsh has replied while I was typing - and suggested bloat too.

[fiestyredhead331]

Ditto Roxy

check ruminating, bowel movements, urinating etc
She does sound a bit off but let her have hay and water or maybe some natural yoghurt?
let us know how she is in the morning but you might even just feel better calling the vet then too for some over the phone assurance or suggestions 

[Beeducked]

Thanks for the replies.


She has been out on grass during the day in their usual field. Never shows much interest in grass and have hay ad lib and spend most of their time browsing the hedges. No sign of bloat, abdomen soft and non-tender, no unusual noises coming from it. Not seen her poo this evening but haven't been able to spend every minute with her. Will keep a really close on her tomorrow for that.


She certainly could be coming into season, the right age and hasn't before.


Only other thing that has changed recently is her best friend who was always an underdog with her has come on amazingly since we got her and over the last week has decided to challenge the second in command for her place in the herd and this has lead to a bit of friction but the little one has not been involved in any of the spats. Could the change in the herd dynamics be causing any upset?


If she is not better tomorrow will give the vet a ring. Was planning on getting them out next week anyway for CAE testing and some advice about managing the scald and vaccinating etc and whether the youngsters are in good enough to kid next year (that might get put on hold now!).

[Roxy]

Hopefully in the morning you will see she is up and about again.  It could be she is just full up.  Mine came in tonight, after being out in the field, two of them ate their feed, but ignored their hay and lay down.  This unseasonal weather we are having means there is more to eat outside than there usually would be.

[Beeducked]

Thanks for all the replies, she seems much better this morning and back to her usual behaviour. Still seems a bit fluffed up but it is colder here than it has been and she and the other togg cross have been getting their winter coats so maybe she is just keeping warm.

Will keep a close eye on her but think I was anxious unnecessarily. Still getting the vet out this week so can have a check over then 

[Anke]

Have your goats been recently vaccinated/boostered with Lambivac and Ovipast? If not - do it soon!

[Dogwalker]

The behaviour change could be them coming in season.  Mine are having short head butting sessions every now and then and lining up to flirt with the ram in the next field - although the sheep aren't yet.

A few weeks ago one of my young milkers was 'off' for a few days.  Not interested in bucket feed, ate willow leaves and bramble but not much else. 
Her glands were swollen in her neck and she kept stretching her neck and resting her chin on the side of the pen.  A couple of days of tlc and she was back to normal.

[shygirl]

They were wormed and spot on'ed before I got them but I haven't repeated this since I got them.

this seems very common. I would worm all stock as soon as you get them. whatever the seller says, you don't know for sure if they were wormed at all, got full dose, spat some out, withdrawal period etc plus its not cheap to worm properly so why would they worm something they had already sold.

[goosepimple]

My money is on bloat which could last for a while.  You can give bicarb of soda or Epsom salts, either mix with some warm water and olive oil and syringe down throat or use a turkey baster which works well.  It will make her fart and will help out anything making her constipated.  Bloat can make it difficult for them to get up and the stretching is as we would do if we had cramps.
 
And just a note (don't want to offend any vets out there) but they don't always know what is wrong even if they have some experience of goats.
 
Bet she'll be fine in a week or so.  Don't get over stressed, you sound like you are taking good care.

[Beeducked]

Well she is almost back to normal today Bombing around in the field, causing trouble, eating like a horse and mugging me to see if I have treats but demanding cuddles more! She did have scours overnight and this morning but they seem to have settled so hopefully it was just something she ate.


I'm still going to get the vet out next week as got a load of little maintenance things and advice needed. Would like their advice as a newbie especially as so many thing not lisenced for goats. I agree with what has already been said about worming etc from the previous owners. I am inclined to believe them as is was information they volunteered when I went to visit before as they checked the dates in their meds record book. Could have faked it of course but they seemed genuine. No vaccinations so another thing to sort with the vet.

[Anke]

ALL of your girls will need a vaccination with Lambivac (2ml under the skin, two doses 4 weeks apart) and preferably a separate vaccination with Ovipast (against pasteurella) again 2ml under the skin 4 weeks apart. Then boosters every six months minimum for the Lambivac (single shot of 2ml) and annually for the Ovipast.

The usual vaccinations used for sheep (Heptavac) don't work as well in goats and the current advice from the Goat Veterinary Society is to use the regime I have described above.

The issue with using only small quantities of the vaccine at a time and then storing it have been discussed on here before.

Good book to get.: John Matthews "Diseases of the goat" - 3rd edition, 2010

If your goat is intermittently scouring I would test for worms/faecal egg count asap. Goats do well with the usual sheep wormers, but need different doses to sheep - again John Matthews book has got it all in.

Hope your girl improves

[Roxy]

Not all vets are good with goat problems.  Previous vets were hopeless.  You need to find a vet who specialises in farm animals.  My vets now have small animal vets, horse vets, and farm vets, so I have different vets coming to my goats and sheep than the horses.  To be honest, on maintenance and general care, you will probably get better advice off goat owners on here - who after all have had goats many years and see most things.  Obviously if the goats are really ill, or need proper medical treatment, then yes, a vet   Its awfully costly to get vets out, we have a £20 call out, then £30 to look at the animal, plus another £23 to look at any additional animal, then there is the jabs, etc. etc.  plus the VAT.