[fifixx]

I am pretty sure that I am worrying about nothing....one of the triplets has weak back legs and they don't seem to be strong enough to hold her up.  She is feeding fine, will they sort themselves out and if not, how long do I wait before getting worried?

[ballingall]

They can be weak on their legs for the first few days- some are worse than others. Anglo-Nubians are worst at this, but it may be that the Boers are similar in this. They should come right. Can she stand up on her own? If she can get up and stand, then it should just take a couple of days for them to strengthen up to allow her to bounce around!


Bethy

[fifixx]

Yes, she can stand, with the 2 back legs going in and out!  she looks fine, so it's probably just me looking for something to panic about!

[jaykay]

probably just me looking for something to panic about!

They certainly provide us with plenty of that 

[wytsend]

It probably is nothing to worry about,  BUT,  if the kid is more than 3 days old then be watchful.

It is about this time...3 -10 days old that 'floppy kid syndrome' strikes.   The early symptoms are weakness, tiredness etc.

There is a simple magic cure !!!   The condition is caused by acid imbalance in the gut.   Give a teaspoon 5ml, of Gaviscon in a tiny syringe straight down the gullet.  Another way is in a bottle with a similar anount of warm water.... they seem to love it !!!

If you haven't got the liquid form,  crush 1 tablet into warm water.

The results are very quick... within 3 or 4 hours  the kid will be almost normal.

I had a floppy kid last year and lost it before I realised what was happening.... the Vet told me about Gaviscon.
So when it happened a second time ,  I recognised the early symptoms and duly dosed with Gaviscon.  Kid recovered in hours.  Vet did say keep kid in the warm whilst the recovery was happening because the body has one less thing to worry about !

[fifixx]

Thanks for the info - I will certainly get some gaviscon in today! 

[Roxy]

Thats a good tip I did not know about - the Gaviscon.  Drink gallons, for my acid reflux, so have plenty in stock.

Last years pygmy kid, had wobbly back legs for about three days, but I have seen it before, and knew it would right itself, and it did. I am sure your kid will soon be running round with the others.

[Merlinn]

I have a saanen kid that has the 'wobbly leg syndrome'. Vet has given me a cocktail of drugs for him
but he is about 10 days old now and even though the kid can stand and wobble about 6 paces - down he goes.
Do you think the Gaviscon idea would work at this stage? But then I have nothing to lose and neither does the kid!!
It was a breach birth, maybe this is a contributing factor.

Regards

[wytsend]

As I said before 'Floppy kid syndrome'  is completely due to acid imbalance in the gut.   I think there are other events such as birthing trauma that can contribute.

You have nothing to lose by giving gaviscon and possibly a lot to gain.  Only once have I ever had to repeat a dose and that was on a kid that was really bad.

If the gut acid is wrong , then the muscles/blood is not getting the right 'feed' so to speak.  You may be experiencing a mild form of FKS.   A multi Vit injection will help but the real answer is getting the gut right.

[Merlinn]

I have dosed my kid with the Gaviscon and there is a small change. But I think he is a case where he will
need another dose. How soon can I give the second dose?

Many thanks

[wytsend]

Approx 6 -12 hours gap.  You have got to give the gut a chance to stabilise.

Keep bottle feeds very small, max 200 ml,   very frequent,  3hrs apart during the day.  Leave overnight.
This way the proper curding process will start again.
Muti vitamin injection would be good.

[Merlinn]

After taking the Gaviscon my kid has now completely recovered. At one stage we thought of
it as a hopeless case and that we should have him put down. But now he is walking and running around!!
Yesterday he came for a long walk in the woods with me and the dogs.
All I have to do now is to 'wean' him off us and back to the other goats, which is not going to be easy.

Many thanks for the Gaviscon advice.

[wytsend]

So very pleased to hear this.