Author Topic: injecting calcium for milk fever (Read 4053 times)

fifixx · « **on:** February 28, 2012, 05:50:07 pm »

One of my goats possibly has milk fever, we aren't sure and we have already dosed her for twin lamb, but she is still eating. Symptoms are wobbly legs and lying down - but she isn't stargazing or weak or off feed/hay/water. She is expecting triplets any day now and is clearly uncomfortable with the pregnancy.

I just measured out 40 mls calcium from vet into 2 syringes and started on one side of the shoulder with the first injection. 10 mls in and she really didn't like it, so I managed 2 injections of about 15 mls each and then have stopped to get some advice! It just seems such a huge amount of liquid to inject into one space under the skin - am I just being a bit wet? - first time I have had to do this.

She also had a bad time last year with triplets presenting with a breech and the vet having to help. Could this have any bearing on this pregnancy?

Anke · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2012, 08:56:58 pm »

I have done it over the ribcage (as goat was down at the time), in two to three lots, as my GG last spring had it (in combination with pregnancy toxaemia) and was really slow in getting up and wobbly. But with the calciject she should be getting better quite quickly. If she is expecting triplets any day now I would possibly discuss with the vet to induce her if she doesn't show any real improvement soon?

Not sure if and how often mis-presentation is repeated from one to the next pregnancy, this would be a question for a long-term goatkeeper, vet specialising in goats and with lots of them in his books...

ballingall · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2012, 10:37:33 pm »

Mis- presentation would have no effect from one pregnancy to the next. One thing to remember with caliject is to warm it up slightly. Injecting that amount of cold liquid is going to be uncomfortable. We put the bottle into a pan of hot water (once taken off the ring) and let it warm up. Make sure its not too hot though, you want it slightly cooler than blood temp. They mind it less then. We also inject it over the ribcage, as Anke said. Make sure you rub the lump well afterwards to disperse it in.

Beth

fifixx · « **Reply #3 on:** February 29, 2012, 06:31:06 pm »

I called the vet out today - he tested her on the spot for Twin lamb - and she has it. He also took blood back to test for calcium deficiency and she is Ok - so thankfully no more injecting!

So twice a day drenching with glycerol and he's going to check her on Friday and perhaps induce her if she hasn't already kidded.

Next year I'm giving her a rest - 2 x triplets in 2 years - poor thing!

Anke · « **Reply #4 on:** March 01, 2012, 01:47:42 pm »

Quote from: fifixx on February 29, 2012, 06:31:06 pm

I called the vet out today - he tested her on the spot for Twin lamb - and she has it. He also took blood back to test for calcium deficiency and she is Ok - so thankfully no more injecting!

So twice a day drenching with glycerol and he's going to check her on Friday and perhaps induce her if she hasn't already kidded.

Next year I'm giving her a rest - 2 x triplets in 2 years - poor thing!

Hope your girl stabilises, it's such a nightmare drenching them several times a day... but hopefully not for long. As long as you can keep her eating treats, like bananas, fruit, toast or anything else she likes, ivy leaves or even some willow branches she should be ok... I did make mine get up several times a day and took her out for walks last year - if she wanted or not, 20 minutes exercise twice a day. She did deliver twins on her due date and was very well straight afterwards. So hopefrully all will happen naturally - at least you know what to expect!

fifixx · « **Reply #5 on:** March 01, 2012, 11:24:50 pm »

Ha ha - just reread the last post and I have remembered I put some bread in the Aga to toast when I first read it - this morning! i'm not even going to have a look and see how black it is till tomorrow!!

Thankyou Anke - I have been feeding her shredded carrot, molasses and oats and some veg - just now I gave them the last feed and she wouldn't touch it in the bowl - then I sat down and hand fed her some so I am happy she has some food in for the night, left her munching some hay - success!

One thing I did today was get a new salt lick - theirs ran out a few weeks ago and I never replaced it. they all licked it straight away and I took it into the poorly ones pen and she has had a good lick too - and I made sure she had some water too. So many things to remember at this time of the year!

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2012, 12:02:57 am »

What is Twin lamb?

fifixx · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2012, 01:13:00 am »

here we go http://www.threeriversvetgroup.co.uk/Twin_Lamb_Disease.html

i was so worried - she was literally wasting away

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2012, 11:59:35 pm »

It sounds horrendous but she looks good now.

countrywoman · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2012, 10:22:58 am »

So glad to read that she is responding. I'm just about to phone my vet for some Lambivac for my two and, now, I'm going to ask about Botonic Energy paste after reading the twin lamb link above. This is a brilliant resource for me, I'm learning a lot from all the posts, just as well mine aren't due to kid for a few weeks, gives me time to pick up hints...

wytsend · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2012, 02:28:12 pm »

For the first time in the last x many years I havenot had a case of milk fever....maybe luck but I really think it is all to do with the Mineral Supplement from Brinicombes.

All my kids have been much better boned, good size etc etc. Even the multiple birth Nubians are much better animals.