Dead baby, what next?

[Gatorpupsmom]

It's a long awful story, and I had a long awful night. Too tired to explain the whole thing, but I haven't been able to contact my vet today. Give me a little advice so I'll know where I am headed with this.

Went to check Esther at 2:00 am and discovered that she had a dead baby stuck. Tip of nose and tip of one hoof sticking out was all she get done. Baby was really big, had died before she ever started trying to give birth. She and I together got the baby delivered. Not sure she has ever passed the placenta. Don't really think she has.....

What antibiotics are recommended after baby has died in utero, and what does one do if doe doesn't deliver the afterbirth?

Thanks

Kim

 

[ksalvagno]

If you have Penicillin, that would be a good antibiotic. If she hasn't passed her placenta, then she is going to need a hormone drug like Oxytocin to help her pass it.

I would definitely get her started on the Peniciillin. The Oxytocin you have to get from a vet. I would also probably put some molasses in her water to make sure she doesn't get ketosis.

I would say to give her a pain killer like Banamine but you really can't do that until you know that the placenta passes. Banamine has the potential to stop contractions so unless you are administering Oxytocin along with it, I wouldn't give it.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[Gatorpupsmom]

K. I don't wanna sit around waiting for vet when I can get started on something to help her. What dosage of Pen will she need?

K.

 

[Gatorpupsmom]

Besides, you guys here know a heck of a lot more about goating than my vet does anyway.

 

[The Egg Bandit]

I'm a newbie, but if you don't get any better advice soon ...
I'd give her some b-complex at the very least - it really helps to "jump start" the system. I'd do .5 cc/ml sub-cut. Then some oral "go juice" - I use Nutri-Drench. But that's just me. Maybe an oldtimer will come on here with better advice...

 

[warthog]

Not experienced enough to give advice on this. But sorry for your loss and hope she does well

 

[Gatorpupsmom]

Egg Bandit, haven't done this goat thing very long, but I agree. My thought is that you can't go too far wrong with B-complex and a good drench. I usually throw in a dose of Probios to go with it.....

What is the time frame limit for passing the placenta after birthing? Our other Saanen passes hers within a couple of hours, but when our Nubian last kidded, I was freaking out cause it had been several hours. She later passed it with no issues. I was freaking out for nothing.

Thanks guys...husband was out of town on a fishing trip and I have had to do this all by myself, and due to A LOT of other stressors I have going on, I was VERY ill prepared for this. Live and learn.....it WILL all get better!!!

 

[The Egg Bandit]

Like I said, I'm a newbie - only three births so far. But don't think that the placenta hasn't been passed unless you have been watching your doe constantly. One of my does - a Saanen - ate the placenta while I was drying off her kid. Another one (also a Saanen) buried it in hay, and I only found it days later (ick). I'd pay more attention to how the doe is doing. If she's acting distressed (pawing, crying), then I'd be more worried. Watch the doe, feel how she's doing.

 

[Gatorpupsmom]

After we got the baby delivered, she and I leaned up against the wall together and dozed for an hour or so. At 4:30 am, after she and I kept waking each other up, I decided to come in and go to bed. She very well could have eaten the placenta after I came in, but since she has been distressed for several days anyway, I doubted she would. Seeing as I haven't had a good night's sleep in almost a week anyway, I am a raving lunatic as it is.....so who knows.

On a side note, I have a summons for Jury Duty and I have to go in the morning to see if I get picked. As crazy as I am, I don't think anyone wants me on their jury. On the list of reasons one can be excused from jury duty it doesn't say anywhere "been dealing with sick pregnant goat for a week and don't have enough working brain cells left to make rational decisions." You think I could write it in?

 

[The Egg Bandit]

Gatorpupsmom- You are a trooper. Been there myself. These goatie girls can slowly make you nuts.

On jury day, I would be very careful to be polite, but show your exhaustion. Tell them you can't focus appropriately because you are so worried about your little lady at home and all the sleep you have lost. Surely they can find someone else to replace you. If not, I hope it is one of those quick trials that only last an hour or so.
When it rains, it pours! And I have discovered that having goats seems to generate thunderstorms. Not sure why, but I'll keep them anyway.
Good luck! (With the jury duty AND the doe)