The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Brucklay on March 09, 2012, 09:44:51 pm
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I so thought all was well - FeeBee showed signs, got to her due day and I was ready - no panic - she lost her first kid, missed last year and I was sure all was well this year - but the kid was just not coming out - I thought I could feel 2 front feet and a head but as time passed I called the vet - it transpired that the twins were coming out at the same time - not a wise move in a small goat and after trying to sort things out with no luck and FeeBee getting very stressed it had to be a c-section - so lucky OH arrived home to be on water duty (he don't like the blood and guts bit but when push come to a shove he's just great) So FeeBee had her op 2 female kids - the first was still born - took a breath but didn't make it but the second is still alive.
Feebee has taken bad to all the trauma and won't let the kid near her at all, even with encouragement and although I left them for an hour I went back to find her shaking under her bench.
She point blank refused to be milked so kid has been fed artificial colostrum and brought into the house so FeeBee can settle under the heat lamp - she looked so unhappy.
As I have another goat with young kids I plan to milk her tomorrow and the wee kid will have goats milk soon.
QUESTION - should I feed colostrum a couple of time for go for goats milk asap - what a day!!
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I would feed real colostrum as soon as you possibly can. sorry to hear you have had such a tough time, but well done for getting the vet out in time :bouquet: :bouquet:
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Sorry my dyslectic typing is not saying things right - I have no real goat colostrum available - The mum is not looking very good - very stressed and shaking but she is now sitting under the heat lamp at least - the kid has had 2 'packet' colostrum meals and I plan feeding that throughout the night and milk Piper who kidded on Monday to get some real stuff - it may not be perfect but it's the best I can come up with - the kids Daisy seems to quite like the bottle and her bed of my Christmas present fleece!!
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Is FeeBee on pain killers and an anti-inflammatory, as well as antibiotics? She will be very sore and that would explain her lack of interest in the kid.
Probably not a good idea to try breeding from her again?
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Brucklay - is it worth asking the vet if they know any other newly kidded goats that might have some goat colostrum? just a thought.
I know the lamlac manufacturers suggest feeding a mix of colostrum for more than the first 24 hours (so just colostrum for first day then milk/colostrum after till day 3 i think it was) so this said it could be worth going for it and tryign to get some of the real stuff. I know its a long shot but there just could be some cubes in someones freezer somewhere nearby
really sorry to hear of the stresses and poor FeeBee.
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Fleecewife - yes she did get pain killers, anti-inflammatory and antibiotics - and I will definitely not breed from her again - poor wee girl - Just hoping the next couple of days go ok for her and she make take a little more interest in the kid once she feels a bit better
Thanks for the info PE - I did read the 'suppliment' info on the tub - at least the kid Daisy is taking feed from the bottle and seems quite strong, hopefully luck will be on her side
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Colostrum can only be absorbed by the system in the first 6 hrs of life... after that the valve closes and stops the absorbtion.
Only colostrum taken from a goat within 6hrs of birth has any value. Goats stop producing colostrum after 12 hours ..... the milk is then normal.
Artificial C is better than none at all..... if you have any concerns re the kid, your vet can check its blood plasma for antibodies.
The nanny will require long acting antibiotic daily for 5 days + pain killers....usually metacam but Vets sometime have preferences.
She will breed normally next time.
I too have had a ceasar this year, due to one huge kid who was never going to come the usual route..... thank god it was a girl. !!! My girl has just finished her course of drugs but may have to have a bit more because her lungs haven't cleared all the fluid.... we had to do the C section with her on her side which is not desirable, normally it is done standing and this is why she has fluid in the wrong places !!
She won't recognise the kid and it is not worth trying to get her to accept it.... simply because the kid had artificial colostrum, it does not smell of her.
Your biggest problem may be pneumonia....so the het lamp is an excellent idea. Put a coat on her as well...it will stop her getting to the stitches.
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Thank you Wytsent - FeeBee spent the night under the heat lamp and I'll leave it on as long as she wants it - she is looking better this morning and had a wee nibble of some ready grass so that's a good sign. I had to use artificial c for the kid as FeeBee was so stressed out, shaking and looking terrible so letting her rest under the lamp seemed the best for her. The kid has done a good poo and a pee so things seem to working there but I agree I don't think there's any hope of her accepting it as OH had to dry off the kid to keep it warm so there was no licking and bonding.
Can anyone advise on the best way to rear the kid - I think my options are
leave with mum and bottle feed it so it knows it's a goat
it's own pen but with the goats
bring it into the house so it have company and sounds
Thanks again for everyones advice
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Sorry for tagging this on to your post, but it got me thinking......
In a situation such as this when a kid has received no natural colostrum, when would be the appropriate time to heptvac/lamivac vaccinate?
I am assuming it would be much sooner than with kids who received natural colostrum?
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yes at about 2 weeks but check with your Vet first...
Brucklay....take the kid indoors ....it will go outside fine with the others in about a week. ALL my kids come indoors for their first night.... I separate mine almost immediately after birth cos I don't want them to bond so the distress factor is minimal.
One or two stay a little longer but I have never had a problem with them being unsure as to their identity.
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best of luck for you , Feebee & the baby :)
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Oh Clare, I am so sorry to hear about your stressful time. Poor FeeBee, I hope she is doing ok.
What does Sasha think about having a little goat in her home?
Have you any more babies due?
Sending you and your goaties love and get well wishes.
Alice x
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Hope Feebee is soon back to normal and the little one continues to thrive.