[Daisys Mum]

Really sorry to hear that you lost her, hope the kids are ok 

[Anke]

Oh no that is so sad. And she was only 2 years old too...
 
It really is a shame that the vet didn't consider milk fever, it is definitely a common thing to happen to freshly kidded goats, and also cows and ewes.
 
Hopefully you will be able to rear the kids ok...

[wytsend]

Its a very hard way to learn the symptoms...................any goat that is dull after kidding, give calcium.  Dont wait.........it is usually fatal.
You can insist that your Vet gives calcium.......................Milk Fever is so so common.

[ballingall]

Really sorry to hear of the loss penninehillbilly 


Calcium doesn't do any harm, so if a freshly kidded goat is sick, even with something else it's always a good idea to give it. We carry a bottle with us to shows (and needle and syringe obviously) just in case a heavy milker doesn't travel well (transit tetany).


It doesn't sound like your girl just had milk fever, as there were other things wrong too though.


Beth

[benkt]

Just found your update and am so sad for you. Hoping the kids are doing ok. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Ben

[Violetsprite]

So so heartbreaking for you - i really feel for you. It's really tough to be out in the sticks and trying to learn as you go - thank god for the knowledge on this site - what a resource it is - but such a pity so few vets seem to know or care just as much - especially when it comes to goats!

[Lesley Silvester]

So sorry for your loss.   

[Penninehillbilly]

Sorry to come back to this, haven't been able to face coming on here for a while, been on a bad guilt trip, there were things I should have picked up on - she had a sore teat, I thought the other goat had stood on her, maybe panicking when she kidded ( didn't have a kidding date and missed it, was having to dash to a hospital appointment when I found she'd kidded so had to leave them together).
she wouldn't let the kid suck but would let me milk her, I tried the udderlyeze(?) milker on her but she had a sore round the top of the teat, I thought I'd caused that with the suction. then I saw the kid feeding off her, so I just presumed everything was OK and left them to it. Maybe the kids vigourous sucking brought the infection to a head, thats why there was blood there.
It was only later I remembered the dog running in the field, about 10 days before she kidded, they'd all panicked and gone through the electric fence, some forcing their way through the gate (I'd got there and opened it but too narrow for 2 goats at once) some scrambled over the drystone wall. I am guessing this was the cause, but as she'd kidded OK I'd forgotten that, but she could easily (probably) have bumped herself on the wall, though they all seemed OK when they'd calmed down.
Her sister has kidded, one female, but she isn't a patch on Abi.

[Dogwalker]

It's difficult isn't it getting over all the 'what ifs' when an animal dies but it's happened so all we can do is learn lessons for next time.  I think anyone who keeps animals has probably been in that situation at some stage, I certainly have a couple of times in the last few weeks.
 
 

[Roxy]

So sorry about what happened. Its human nature to go back over things  and say "what if" and "if only".  These things happen with livestock, and sometimes we think its one thing,and then it isn;t, and then we feel guilty. Don;'t beat yourself up.  The loss is terrible of course, but please try and move on. 
 
I speak from experience here.  Last year was horrendous for me with my goat herd. One minute all was fine, the next I had sick goats, and kids.  In 40 years of goat keeping this was my worst ever year.  After cocci and listeria struck, and I lost some goats and also kids, I decided I did not want to carry on.  I thought about it long and hard, and then decided to take a step back, in that I did not breed any kids for this year.  I am now looking forward to getting my females in kid again, this Autumn  and putting the horrible events behind me.  Do hope you can do the same.

[Lesley Silvester]

Peninehillbilly, you did your best for Abi by getting her to the vet. He should have been aware of milk fever even if he's not that used to goats. Having said that, it was probably masked by his finding the problem with her teat. Just shows you should look beyond the obvious. Don't beat yourself up about it. Another time you will recognise the symptoms and act accordingly.