Contredanse is a hussy!

[lilhill]

Or a big tease ... I'm trying to figure out which. She had a heat cycle August 13th and was bred to my buck, Kings Courier, with a projected due date of January 5th. Then she had a short cycle and was rebred August 19th. Then she had another short cycle and was bred again on August 25th. Well, to make a long story short, she has been rebred six times and still returns to heat. She will stand for every breeding. I've used Courier on two other does so far and both of them are bred.

Contredanse is penned next to my senior buck, LTE Valentine, and has never shown any interest in him during these "cycles" so I'm trying to figure this girl out. I hate to put her with Courier for three weeks because he just chases her constantly when she's in there and I don't want her worn to a frazzle.

I read somewhere that a cystic doe will have a foul odor eminating from her rear end, but Contre doesn't. Any suggestions on getting to the bottom of this, or is putting her with the buck for a few weeks going to have to be the answer and let him run her ragged before I take her to the Vet for hormone treatments? She delivered quadruplets February 2nd with no problems at all. I'm getting tired of walking her down to Courier's pen every few days!

 

[kimmyh]

I have never known a cystic doe to have an odor. They cycle, cycle, cycle, and never settle. Some will act bucky, others just cycle. But I have also seen does who will stand every 28 days or so to be bred. If I suspected she is pregnant, but was concerned about behaviors, I would give 1/2 ml of GNRH/Cystrelin, it won't hurt any possible babies, and it may settle down her behaviors. If she isn't pregnant, you won't hurt anything.

 

[lilhill]

That's about where I am at this point, Kimmy. I don't know if she's actually bred but still cycling (and acting bucky, too, at times), so looks like the best option is the GNRH. Looks like a call to the Vet is in order to get this girl settled down. Thanks!

 

[kimmyh]

You're welcome.

 

[helmstead]

My doe Holly will accept a breeding throughout her pregnancy...she's a hussie for sure!

I have another one I'm concerned about - my polled doe TS. She usually takes on the first breeding...however this time she didn't settle for late Oct, and she's been acting bucky for the past three months. I don't know if it's pertinent, but she's also gained weight to the point of being overconditioned. Gah.

 

[lilhill]

Doesn't it drive you batty! Contre did have one short heat last year and bred on that heat. This time it is just continuous. I talked to Dr. Cobb this morning and he's ordering me the GNRH so I should have it Friday or Saturday. Hopefully it will settle her cycles and we can move on.

 

[ksalvagno]

Do you ever do ultrasounds with goats? An ultrasound could tell if there is a retained CL or something. Also the vet should be able to look at ovaries and uterus and verify everything is looking good. I'm assuming the vet would have to use the rectal probe instead of the one that just goes on the outside. My vet is able to tell if there is an infection going on in the uterus as well with the ultrasound.

I have to admit I'm a huge fan of ultrasounds since that is best for pregnancy/ breeding problem diagnosis in alpacas and I'm just plain old used to having ultrasounds done. I'm guessing that a vet wouldn't be able to rectally palpate a Nigi even with small hands.

 

[kimmyh]

Yes, ultrasounds are used in goats, with an external probe. Depending on the machine you are using, the pictures can be awesome, too snow filled. You can see the uterus and ovaries, but I have yet to see an ultrasound diagnostically useful in that area. A vaginal exam seems to be a better way too go, with cultures, if the doe is consistently having issues. GNRH can turn things around, as can a course of other treatments, but in this case, first things first.

 

[lilhill]

Yes, ultrasounds are used in goats, with an external probe. Depending on the machine you are using, the pictures can be awesome, too snow filled. You can see the uterus and ovaries, but I have yet to see an ultrasound diagnostically useful in that area. A vaginal exam seems to be a better way too go, with cultures, if the doe is consistently having issues. GNRH can turn things around, as can a course of other treatments, but in this case, first things first.

I'm a firm believer in starting with the easiest fix first, and see how that goes. Hopefully the GNRH will do the trick. If not, then it's off to the vet for a vaginal exam, but maybe it won't come to that. We'll see.