Author Topic: bloat? (Read 5473 times)

little blue · « **on:** October 27, 2010, 09:30:22 pm »

I think our milker may be bloated... she's not enormous, but is quite depressed & not cud-chewing.
there is some signs of (not diarrhoea but) loose poos.
she has been lying down & refusing to be milked - Max the baby managed a quick slurp, but she wasnt very tolerant.

I have encouraged her to walk about, and tried massaging her side - is there a particular way to do this? so the gas is going in the right direction?!

I tried giving her bicarbonate of soda in warm water, but she wasnt very co-operative. So havent even attempted to give her oil. would Sunflower oil be ok, we only have this or olive oil in the house.

any other advice much appreciated....

Anke · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2010, 09:29:37 pm »

Could she have eaten loads of (wet) grass? Or got to the feed bin by accident? If it only the left side that is sticking out, then it is more likely that it is bloat.

any kind of vegetable oil should be ok, but it probably needs drenching, she will not want to drink it...

If you are really concerned bringing her to the vets should probably be soon, as they could put down a stomach tube and see if they get the gas out that way??

ballingall · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2010, 10:14:19 pm »

You can use gripewater as well, it helps with bloat. You used to be able to get it quite easily. Still might be better to drench though!

Beth

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2010, 09:48:58 am »

How is she today Little blue?

little blue · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2010, 06:27:49 pm »

hi all,
well..... Geraldine is Soooo much better today thanks

Wednesday she didnt eat at all and only got up with persuasion. At 11pm I was out making her walk round & rubbing her side. She eventually poo-ed, so I let her get some sleep!
Thursday she had a very occassional nibble of hay, and was a bit livelier when we encouraged her to stand up. We squeezed a few drops of milk & she let Max drink little.

Today, she is much happier, her side is less bloated, she has eaten & let us milk... not alot but she will at least be more comfortable. The photographer for the Sunday Telegraph article has been today - it was noticiable that the goats were not their usual show-offs!

I was worried after poor Avocet, and also quite humbled by how the other two were. Ok, Max was worried about his mum (and perhaps hungry!) but Cesar was very subdued too, and both cuddled up to her.
empathic goats?

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #5 on:** October 29, 2010, 06:35:29 pm »

Definately! I think they are more empathetic than we give them credit!
I was worried too, when you first described those symptoms it did make me think of avocet. I am so pleased to hear that she is feeling better

little blue · « **Reply #6 on:** October 29, 2010, 06:47:57 pm »

me too....

langdon · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2010, 07:22:23 pm »

avocet

please can you explain to me

langdon

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2010, 08:07:10 pm »

Avocet was my milking goat that died a couple of weeks ago Langdon x

Hermit · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2010, 10:31:49 am »

When I kept goats years ago my vet recomended a drench of 1tsp ginger powder, 1tsp bicarb of soda and 1tsp of epsom salts in some warm water. Worked for my young nanny but if it was a bad case I would definately call a vet.

langdon · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2010, 06:52:05 pm »

SORRY
i misunderstood what you were saying and thought avocet was a cause of bloating

im really sorry, i know she was special, i would have never have done that if i had known.
langdon

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2010, 07:26:56 am »

Oh Langdon, don't worry

I knew that avocet was an unusual name and could easily have been mistaken for an illness so please don't feel bad

jinglejoys · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2010, 12:32:00 pm »

Another thing I try to do is keep them moving,quite often that gets things moving internally too.

bloat? - The Accidental Smallholder