[nihicib2]

Hi all
Our Alpine, Heidi kidded two days ago, two lovely male kids. She had scour yesterday but was eating and moving about fine and I put it down to the fact that I had her and the kids out on the lawn for a few hours (it was a lovely warm day).  However this morning she was very listless and not interested in her feed and lying down a lot, the kids seem fine but she's not right at all, her temperature was 40.3.  She didn't seem to have scour this morning, Im now at work and OH is looking after her.

 I gave her a dose of electrolytes and glucose in the morning kept the heatlamp on and the vet is coming soon. One thing Im concerned about is that after she kidded and we made sure the kids were suckling we had to leave for a few hours (another animal emergency and nobody at home to keep an eye on her) so Im wondering if she passed the afterbirth, there was none in the stable with her.  Would she have eaten it and if so would this cause her to be ill?

 Our vet hasn't dealt with many goats so if any of ye have have ideas/advice please let me know

Thanks

Brid

[doganjo]

Possibly placenta not passed so vet may give her oxytocin.  Unlikely eating it would harm her - that's the natural thing to do. 

I never let my bitches eat ALL the placentas though, as it is like liver and makes them scour if they eat too many.  If they have say 8 pups I only let them eat 3 or 4 and remove the rest, no matter how clean it makes the nest.  Just not good for them if they get too many.  But that's long experience breeding dogs that taught me that. I know some people just let them have them as it makes for a clean house   I'd rather have a healthy bitch than a clean house.

There again I wouldn't have thought two in a goat would cause scouring.

Hope she's OK.

[jaykay]

It's likely that she ate the afterbirth if she's passed it - but a good idea to get the vet to check. It shouldn't cause her to be ill I don't think, it's a normal thing to do. A goat's normal temp is 39-40, so hers isn't too raised.

Things that may tempt her to eat. Ivy, hawthorn branches, cream crackers, flaked maize, chicken corn, sultanas. Plus lots of very fresh water.

Hope she picks up soon 

[wytsend]

Brid,

The most likely cause is MILK FEVER..... she needs Calciject as quickly as possible,  as much as 200ml depending on severity.

Caused by putting everything into the kids and basically robbing her bones/muscles of any available calcium.

Not passing all of the afterbirth rarely cause problems in goats..... horses are the major issue on that score.
Your Vet should give Oxytocin to make sure if he can't do an internal examination (unlikely after 2 days)  Followed by big doses of antibiotic.. essential at this time.

[nihicib2]

Thanks a million for the replies, vet been delayed but should be here in an hour so Ill pass all the info on

Brid

[Anke]

Yes I would also think milk fever, possibly combined with ketosis, so a shot of Calciject (if the vet can do this straight into a vein it will wirk so much quicker) and also some energy drench, like propylene glycol unti, she is eating again.

One of my nannies was off food for a few days after a difficult and vet assisted kiding, but would always eat fruit and veg, some oats and some goat mix (but even now 2 weeks on she is not touching her dairy nuts!)

A long acting antibiotic would also just mean if there is any infection it would clear it up.

Stuff to try from outside: ivy leaves, dock leaves, dandelion leaves (and flowers), comfrey, some willow branches.

Hope she is on the mend soon, Anke.

[nihicib2]

Just a quick update on Heidi, vet came yesterday and thought either that she retained the afterbirth or has an infection, she had a higher temp as well so he gave her a strong dose of antibiotics and also (according to my OH, I was at work) gave her an internal dose as well, so she's on antibiotics all this week and seems to be on the mend today, seemed a lot brighter this morning and is lapping up the ivy, hawthorn and williow (and a few sneaky ginger biscuits  )

So thank you all again for your advice 
We're out here in the wild north west of Donegal and the t'internet and this site is invaluable at times   


Brid

[jaykay]

Oh good, I'm glad she's picking up    on the ginger biscuits - hey, whatever works 

[Lesley Silvester]

Glad to hear she's on the mend.  I never give my goats ginger biscuits.  They get Rich Tea and Bourbons cos we don't like those.

[suzanne@waterfall]

I was pleased to read that your goat Heidi likes ginger biscuits so does my girl Faith. (I'm down in Co Limerick do you think its the Irish biscuits.)
Faith is also unwell so I am pleased to read some of the reply's you had as I hope they might also help me.
I do hope Heidi continues to improve.
I am putting baby Martin to Faith a couple of times a day and supplementing with a bottle. She is not producing much though!
Suzanne.