Baby goat help

[Brandi]

I have never had a goat before today. But it needed help and I knew I could learn fast and help her out. Here are more detail if anyone is interested. She has been away from her mother for 3 days, the mother had 4 babies 1 died and 3 remained so the lady gave this little girl to a friend of mine, and she had a death in the family and was unable to care for her, she called me knowing I was a vet tech for awhile. I agreed to try my best, but I have only expertise with dogs cats and chickens. The baby has not pooed all day today and does NOT want the bottle. I bought milk replacer and soon read this may not be the best option, I did do an enema with no luck, not horribly dehydrated at this point, but assume this will come with out more drinking. I did force her to eat about 2 hours ago, give some goat probiotics, small dose of pepto bismal, and then bathed her because i noticed a pretty good infestation of lice, i just used a natural dog shampoo, NO pesticides. Any info would be appreciated. Can a young goat eat hay? I have heard NO, and yea it is fine. She was grinding her teeth when I got her and now is not doing it as much. Please anyone, I am willing to learn and not grossed out by much.

 

[elevan]

Grinding teeth is a sign of pain.

How old is she? You said 3 days away from mom but does that mean that she is weaned or not?

Pepto could be the reason that she hasn't pooped today. IMO you shouldn't give a goat pepto, it causes them to bind up.

Goats as young as a day old will start mouthing at hay, but when they start eating it regularly is usually just before weaning.

I'd give a dose of Vitamin B to get the appetite going.

Whole cow's milk is generally considered a better solution than milk replacer.

 

[Brandi]

Sorry she is 10 days old. I gave the pepto 3 hours ago, she was bound before that, I was told by another person to give her pepto, now I feel bad. I knew teeth grinding is a sign of pain. I went and bought nipples, probiotics and milk replacer a little while ago, and then did read that whole milk was probably better than milk replacer. Is there anything I can do for her? to help her a little. I don't have any vitamins on hand, just poultry nutri drench, and the probiotics

 

[Brandi]

She is a pygmy goat.

 

[MissFitFarm]

I had a bottle baby that did the same thing, my vet told me to give 1cc veg oil and 1 hr latter do the same if no bowel movement. make a sugar water mix thick enough to put on the nipple and let her taste it might get her started eating. you can offer her some hay but she is too young to actually eat it, but I have found that some times it will make them hungry enough to take a bottle. Have you tried putting some milk on your finger and rubbing is on her gums or on her toung if you can?
Get you some goat drench as soon as you can, it has been a fix all (almost) for me.
Hope something helps. good luck keep us posted please.

 

[Southern by choice]

Great job on getting her de-loused as that can cause anemia. It may be that she hasn't pooped simply because she is not eating.

The other posters have given great advice already.
Some nutri-drench and B-vitamins probios are all great!

I would recommend taking her temperature and if at all possible get her to a vet in the morning.
The grinding of teeth is a real concern.
Heep trying the bottle.

...and welcome to BYH!

 

[elevan]

How is your kid doing today @Brandi ?

 

[goatboy1973]

I would get the goat a B-12 shot and some Nutridrench. I also use about 3cc of warm strong coffee mixed with a drop or 2 of honey or something sweet as an oral drench. The caffeine will perk them up a little and possibly get the little fella moving which will help get the GI system moving and the warmth will help raise the temp a bit.

 

[goatboy1973]

Definitely keep the little guy in an inside environment and wrap the baby in fluffy old towels or similar material to help prevent loss of body heat.

 

[goatboy1973]

BTW, welcome to BYH!