The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: westcoastcroft on January 30, 2017, 10:34:52 am

Title: Ill goat advice please.
Post by: westcoastcroft on January 30, 2017, 10:34:52 am

Hi everyone

Our goat Pia is normally happy and active.

On thursday she had a walk on the common but we often do this and she enjoys the heather.

On saturday she was scouring a bit.
On sunday her milk production was down 50% and although  she was eating she wasn't  having that much and not excited about it (unusual!).
 Today she is down another 50% i.e. from about 1.3 ltrs every morning up to saturday down to  .6 yesterday and around .2/3 today. She seems very down but she is still going out and about and eating slowly today just not with the usual relish.

Any advice anybody?

Thanks

Title: Re: Ill goat advice please.
Post by: Sbom on January 30, 2017, 10:39:55 am

Any lumps or discolouration of the milk?

What's her temperature?

Maybe give the vet a call?

Title: Re: Ill goat advice please.
Post by: harmony on January 30, 2017, 11:09:07 am

Take her to the vet

Title: Re: Ill goat advice please.
Post by: Talana on January 30, 2017, 11:42:19 am

I would consult vet, take in poo sample to ask them to check for fluke cocci.worms. Ask if could be bacterial infection another possibility. Keep her in warm as if rumen not working properly she will get cold quickly make sure shes drinking plenty, warm water will encourage this also calf aid if she will drink(or drench) will help replace fluid and lost  minerals due to scouring . She may have just eaten something different or too much of something which causing scour or even something poisonous. Don't give her concentrates til better just encourage her to eat hay any leaves /heather etc you can get. Drenching her with some yogurt or pro rumen /goat probiotics will help get her gut going again. Some people give kaolin powder to help dry up scour but will only help if no underlying problems. Milk drops dramatically if goat unwell.
Reasons my goats have scoured over the years - Fluke, overate ate too much something not used too,  cocci in kids /bacterial infection in kids.

Title: Re: Ill goat advice please.
Post by: westcoastcroft on January 30, 2017, 08:55:44 pm

Thanks for replys everyone.

She seems to be on the mend. Eating hay, straw and heather and drinking well. Scour seems to be going away.

Will keep her in and monitor.

Thanks all.

Title: Re: Ill goat advice please.
Post by: Talana on January 30, 2017, 09:33:33 pm

That's good to hear they don't half worry you at times. She probably just ate something or too much of something.