AVERAGE OF SERIOUS ILLNESS

[babsbag]

How many and what are you getting, and from how far away? Are you going after them? Many people doing preventative treatment for "shipping fever" when transporting goats. While I hate giving antibiotics to healthy animals it is something to think about. It is the stress that brings it on; showing can do the same thing. It is really not the shipping, it is the stress of a new home, new herd mates, and/or the actual transportation. Watch for depression, fever, loss of appetite and pneumonia. Many people will give an injection of Duramycin or Oxcytetracyclin when the goat gets to their new home. I have had a few new goats get sick, not an uncommon occurrence at all.

 

[Southern by choice]

Reading and researching is great, I'm a big fan. LOL Just remember that sometimes it can lead to panic too. When anyone gets their first goats they are nervous and there is so much info and many differing opinions which can lead to confusion too.

We were all newbies at one time too and we remember what its like. The first time you hear a goat sneeze... UH OH and off to find out what serious illness, sometimes a sneeze is just a sneeze.

Just make sure you are relaxed enough to enjoy them! They are great therapy!

I just saw Babs posted! Great reminder, also they can have a parasite bloom and cocci bloom from the stress. Fortunately we have only had a 3+hour drive with a goat and no issues. We haven't needed any intervention and all was well. We have however had a 3 month old doeling with 0-EPG and a few cocci end up with a bloom but we were watching closely (we run our own fecals) she started showing increase in cocci eggs so we did a 1x treatment of toltrazuril. We still watch her as she has not been readily accepted into the herd and I think it is stressful for her.

Babs is right on here... this is one area you will want to be very careful with.
Have you been researching vets for your area?

 

[Southern by choice]

Nite!

 

[kinder]

Babsbag..Because of travel , I'm starting out with 2males ( 1 a year old , the other buckling ) and 3 doelings ..
Kinders are my choice of breed , ( Nubain female , and pygmy male ,combo) about 28 years now. And I'm renting a cargo van to go from Vermont to pa. and back , my sister is coming with so she can drive and I'll do my bonding thing in the back on the floor of hay.

 

[kinder]

Sorry I type 1 key at a time ..soooo slooooow

 

[babsbag]

I have heard of Kinders, but don't know that I have ever seen one, but I do know a breeder out here, she lives right by the school where I work. Other than the 1 year old, will the others all be really young kids? I don't know that I would want to ride in a van full of goats unless they are very small. Those little hooves can hurt. Sounds like an adventure.

 

[kinder]

As soon as they are weaned . The 1 year old I got earlier this past spring and rather than make multiple trips ( because of no females he could breed left that were lings.) My breeder offered to hang on to him for me , until next spring birthing . Of course I was told that if I wanted all babies this year I could . Because they would have kept the buck. I fondly refer to him as JED. The breeder said he is a good boy and would do good for me If I was to put him in a dog crate , for the trip. As far as the little ones , well I hope It wont be uncomfortable for either of us . Oh I'm sure I'll be learning the hole trip. And it most certainly is an adventure ! A hole lot of firsts. And I will have a lot of eyes on me. and I don't mind , because I believe in what I'm doing and in my abilities .And most of all I believe in these wonderful creatures .

 

[babsbag]

It will be a fun trip with a van full of babies. Baby goats are the best. Will they be bottle babies or dam raised?

 

[kinder]

I'm so excited..... Dam Raised !!!!!I think I'll start a member journal today.

 

[babsbag]

Journals are fun.