The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Daisys Mum on May 11, 2014, 03:05:10 pm

Title: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: Daisys Mum on May 11, 2014, 03:05:10 pm
Went out this morning to find poor little fellow lying in a corner unable to move, my initial thought was that he had been squashed as he seemed unable to get up at all. I took him in and put him under a heat lamp before getting the vet out. He checked him over and could find nothing wrong but gave him a vit injection and a painkiller, as I am here on my own I couldn't get mum to let me milk her so a 30 mile round trip to friends with goats got some colostrum and some milk. When I got back he was up on his feet and trying to get out of the box, tubed him a little colostrum and then gave him some by bottle, I have put him back in with mum for now but not leaving them alone for more than an hour at a time. He weighs in at 840 g so not much of him. Vets not too hopeful but will just have to see how it goes.
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: benandjerry on May 11, 2014, 04:07:03 pm
Big hugs for you and Digger :hug:
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: Penninehillbilly on May 11, 2014, 07:09:29 pm
Good luck with the little chap, I suppose as he is so small he will need feeding little and often? maybe his little body can't hold enough fuel/ heat so that's why he perked up under the lamp.
So Tiny  :(
If you can give him a small top up I wonder if you can add something to the milk to build him up quicker, honey, glucose? (I seem to remember my dad use to give glucose 'D' to calves).
I wonder if someone else could come back on that thought?
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: jaykay on May 11, 2014, 07:51:11 pm
Fingers crossed for the little fella  :fc:
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: Anke on May 11, 2014, 08:51:40 pm
Milk - little and often if he is this small. He probably also needs a heat lamp, as he is so small, eats very little and then looses body heat very quickly...

 :fc: he perks up, if mum isn't letting him feed regularly I guess bottle is the only solution.

I am maybe a bit far away, but I do have spare milk if you really do need some. I can freeze it in 1ltr quantities and then transport should be ok. Get back to me if you want to discuss.
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: Daisys Mum on May 11, 2014, 09:24:35 pm
He is still with mum and feeding from her I have just been out again and tried to give him a bottle but he refused it, his little tummy seems full, I have set up the heat lamp for him and he seems to be staying under it. Thanks for the offer of milk Anke but I now have a freezer full.
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: shygirl on May 11, 2014, 09:29:22 pm
has anyone tried the little jackets lambs wear? would one of those help keep him warm?
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: Lesley Silvester on May 11, 2014, 10:09:45 pm
Hope he picks up. This cold weather is not what the little ones need.
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: Mammyshaz on May 11, 2014, 10:17:44 pm
Poor Digger, he does sound like he has improved from earlier so  :fc: for him and  :hug: for you.
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: jaykay on May 11, 2014, 10:29:51 pm
I would make him a warm jacket - the sleeve of an old jumper or a woolly sock work. Cut clear of his bits underneath cos little boy goats pee in their jackets  :)
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: plumseverywhere on May 12, 2014, 07:49:04 am
Hope he's ok  :( fingers crossed for you xx
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: Daisys Mum on May 15, 2014, 04:27:09 pm
His breathing seems a bit fast today so vet has given him some antibiotic and some metacam but he has put on 200 grams.
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead
Post by: goosepimple on May 15, 2014, 04:40:06 pm
It's funny with the wee pygmies, they just seem to take a teaspoon of milk from mum at a time and it gets you all worried they're not getting enough etc.  The breathing on my girls was very quick too Anne, making me worried, but they are in tip top shape now and the smaller of the two has caught up. They're nibbling the hard food now at 2 weeks old.  :fc:
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: Daisys Mum on May 16, 2014, 07:17:47 am
Poor little Digger lost his fight , to say that I am gutted is an understatement,  :'(
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: bloomer on May 16, 2014, 08:09:02 am
 :bouquet: :bouquet: :bouquet: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: Mammyshaz on May 16, 2014, 08:19:05 am
 :bouquet: so sorry, you did your best for him  :hug:
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: Anke on May 16, 2014, 09:53:20 am
Oh no, what a shame. So sorry...
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on May 16, 2014, 11:35:13 am
So sorry  :hug:
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: Penninehillbilly on May 16, 2014, 05:49:38 pm
Sorry  :bouquet:
It's harder when you've tried to fight for them.
Maybe try and console yourself he may have always had problems?
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: jaykay on May 16, 2014, 08:19:16 pm
Poor little Digger. You gave him the best chance, I'm sorry he didn't make it  :hug:
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: Lesley Silvester on May 17, 2014, 04:32:24 am
So sad for you  :bouquet: :hug:
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: tattycat on May 17, 2014, 09:26:38 pm
So sorry. It's always heartbreaking....:(((
Title: Re: Digger has a tough fight ahead update
Post by: shygirl on May 17, 2014, 10:04:46 pm
 :hug: :hug: :hug: