Buckling Issues *Pics Page 2*

[cmjust0]

Hmm..

So, would you describe the way he's looked in the past few days as being "potbellied?"

I've seen the potbellied look before, and it's usually accompanied by a fair-to-middlin' level of parasitic anemia. I don't know *why* they get potbellied with parasites sometimes, but they seem to..

I do know they launch an immune response to parasites, and any kind of immune response to something like that would be a cellular response...which means inflammation...so I personally take those things to indicate that the potbellied appearance is some type of gastroenteritis due to an ongoing immune response intended to expel barberpole worms.

That's just me thinking, though..

But if that's it...could this be some other form of gastroenteritis? And if so, could it be due to some kind of toxin or poison plant which also may have caused him to be a little bit hemolytic?

Toxins and poisons do that sort of thing...

Not that you can get a goat to pee on cue -- and I know you've already tried this -- but is it completely unreasonable to expect that you *might* be able to catch a little pee and run it to the vet for a urinalysis?


I'd check his eyelids, too.. Only problem with that is that if they're way pale, you won't necessarily know if he's anemic/potbellied because of parasites, of if he's anemic/potbellied because he's hemolytic from some kind of toxin..

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I doubt it's worm load. I dewormed him with tramisol a couple weeks ago. I always check eyelids, and his aren't very pale at all. Do you think there would be a delayed response if it was worm load?

I was also thinking toxin, and I was going to give him some charcoal last night, but it was a fight to get that god awful bloat treatment in him, and I didn't want to add anything to interfere with the bloat treatment.

And I know tricks to get cows to pee on cue, but I'm not sure about a buck.

I guess I could always deworm him again, and give him some charcoal just in case. I really don't like to be a "throw everything at them", I'd rather keep trying things and eliminating possibilities. I'll re-evaluate him when I get home from work today. It's not like he's weak and lethargic. If he's still acting like he was this morning (normal) then I'll one thing at a time.

 

[jodief100]

Well, my experience in humans would indicate an internal injury of some sort. Don't know about goats, just transfering here.....

A good swift butt to the side could cause a minor internal injury with a little bleeding and some swelling. Is he point tender? Is his breathing shallow? If it is mechanical and not pathological he might be sore in the sides.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Well, my experience in humans would indicate an internal injury of some sort. Don't know about goats, just transfering here.....

A good swift butt to the side could cause a minor internal injury with a little bleeding and some swelling. Is he point tender? Is his breathing shallow? If it is mechanical and not pathological he might be sore in the sides.

He's not acting tender. I've really been prodding and massaging his rumen. No shallow breathing.

Yesterday he did do some yawns/jaw stretches, but that was after I gave him the bloat treatment.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Got a reply on the other forum and she said it sounded like just a full rumen. She said the urine could be because of something he ate. She said her girls are eating lots of oak leaves and the tannins cause dark uring. Hopefully that's the issue.

 

[Roll farms]

I haven't seen anything posted yet that would set off alarm bells.

If he's peeing ok and acting ok and eating ok....I wouldn't worry.

If he were down / lethargic / teeth grinding AND seemed bloated / had odd colored urine, then I'd worry.

But if he's acting ok, no evidence of a worm issue, and pooping ok....I'd stop fretting.

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

Im with "Roll" It dos'nt seem like there is any alarming issues...I lost my buck to UC and he was not a happy guy...he was down, grinding his teeth and when he would stand up to try to pee...it was really obvious he was distressed.

I would just keep an eye on him. You can get a PH urine test and test his urine. Or like "CM" said catch it and bring it to the vets for tests.

My guys seem to fill up on too much hay sometimes..and I just message the air out and then chase them around to mix that rumen up. Excercise helps when they get a little bloaty.. I must look like a crazy person running around with my goats...but they love it!!! Its a game to them...Good Luck...hope his belly goes down for you?

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Well, he seems normal this afternoon. He just had a ginormous rumen I guess. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Well, here are some pictures I took a few minutes ago. See why I worried? I still don't think he's quite normal. The urine is back to clear though, I tried to take a picture but you can't see it (second pic).

He looked fairly normal before I gave him grain, and I only gave him a handful. Could he be sucking air when he eats or something? I've never heard of them doing that, but it makes sense that he might while gobbling down the grain. I dewormed him again today, just in case.

 

[ksalvagno]

My goats look like that after they have been out on pasture and I have a couple girls who like their hay and look like that most of the time.