Author Topic: dogwood and my goat (Read 4067 times)

shiv22 · « **on:** August 05, 2011, 02:03:54 pm »

Hi everyone,

I was hoping for some help with my poor baby cinders. She is a pygmy cross nubian and usualy a very energetic and lively goat (more like a puppy labrador, chews everything and jumps up at anyone)

She is in and enclosed area that has no plant available to chew on that could harm her, I usualy give her cuttings from when I do a bit of gardening. About 3 days ago I gave her some dogwood, she ate it happily and seemed fine until today. Shes off her food, dry and hay. She is also very lathargic and sluggish. I gave her plenty of water but she has now been taking on more water than usual and regurgitating it, it looks a little thick and mucusy when it comes back up. This happens within minutes of her drinking the water (maybe half a litre at a time)

Any help or advice would be great, i'm terribly worried about her.

Thank you
Siobhan

tizaala · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2011, 03:31:05 pm »

"Some dogwoods produce larger fruits than others, and some are tasty and some are not. The fruits of our native flowering dogwood, Cornus florida, are not poisonous, but they do not have a very pleasing flavor. The Chinese dogwood, Cornus kousa, has spherical fruits about the size of a quarter. When ripe in midsummer, they turn coral red and develop their full flavor and sweetness, with a flavor comparable to some melons. The cornelian cherry, Cornus mas, produces a tart, elongated fruit with a hard pit in the middle and a thin layer of flesh. These bright red fruits are sometimes used to make preserves, jam, or jelly with a flavor similar to cherries."

I've just looked this up and it looks like it is not toxic.
talk to your vet.

little blue · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2011, 07:17:56 pm »

our goats have dogwood sometimes, though not very much at a time.

3 days seems a long time for it to be causing her problems, I think you need vet advice...

hope she's ok

Anke · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2011, 10:12:40 pm »

The one plant to cause vomitting in a goat is Rhododendron, possibly some other evergreens may do the same.

However listeriosis has possibly similar symptoms? Is she lethargic, drooling saliva, spilling cud, pressing her head into the wall/corner of pen?

Vet I would say, asap.

shiv22 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2011, 02:21:05 pm »

Hi all,

Just to let you know she is fit and healthy!!! she seems to have pulled round with alot of attention and extra treats (expensive fruit always does the trick hahaha)

I have a feeling she may have eaten some toadstool, I did catch her munching on one from the goat run, I took it off her and proceeded to remove any fungus from the pen and she seems to have picked up.

Thank you for all your advice much appreciated.

Siobhan