Depression in a month old goat

[TAH]

Your welcome. Please keep us updated.

 

[Sandy christen]

I will just hope he comes out of it soon

 

[TAH]

I will just hope he comes out of it soon

X2

 

[Southern by choice]

IMO you have just made a big mistake.
I see this often with newbies and it is very understandable but I strongly think you need to slow down before you compound your issues.

First, you just lost a kid and without a necropsy you really still have no idea to what.

Second, the kid you have would not act in this way in 24 hours... his response would be very different... he may be crying, pacing the fence etc looking for his buddy. At this age it is common for breeders to sell kids and separate siblings etc... if it was that traumatic no one would be doing it. So this guy needs to be monitored because this is not usual behavior.

Third, adding stress by bringing in two goats that are now trying to assert the pecking order is only going to exacerbate any underlying issues and could send this kid into a rapid downward spiral.

Fourth, you just put two, hopefully healthy kids in with him. No quarantine, no biosecurity etc. So now you will not know if they brought something in or if there is another issue... as well as because of the first goat and not knowing what was the issue the new kids are now exposed.

Fifth, buying from a responsible breeder. Let me just say no way a responsible breeder gets a call and within 24 hrs you have 2 new goats. A responsible breeder would have asked lots of questions and hearing your story would never have recommended you just run out and get a few more.

 

[Sandy christen]

Yes we are newbies...and unfortunately lack knowledge... We have good intentions... Our little Gus was sick when we got him... He was put on abtibiotics from the start... He died of his lungs not being fully developed.

 

[Sandy christen]

IMO you have just made a big mistake.
I see this often with newbies and it is very understandable but I strongly think you need to slow down before you compound your issues.

First, you just lost a kid and without a necropsy you really still have no idea to what.

Second, the kid you have would not act in this way in 24 hours... his response would be very different... he may be crying, pacing the fence etc looking for his buddy. At this age it is common for breeders to sell kids and separate siblings etc... if it was that traumatic no one would be doing it. So this guy needs to be monitored because this is not usual behavior.

Third, adding stress by bringing in two goats that are now trying to assert the pecking order is only going to exacerbate any underlying issues and could send this kid into a rapid downward spiral.

Fourth, you just put two, hopefully healthy kids in with him. No quarantine, no biosecurity etc. So now you will not know if they brought something in or if there is another issue... as well as because of the first goat and not knowing what was the issue the new kids are now exposed.

Fifth, buying from a responsible breeder. Let me just say no way a responsible breeder gets a call and within 24 hrs you have 2 new goats. A responsible breeder would have asked lots of questions and hearing your story would never have recommended you just run out and get a few more.

So what's your advise to us new owners

 

[Sandy christen]

So what's your advise to us new owners

Yes we made the mistake of not wise quarentine. And we know better. We were so distraught over losing guss. And two worried about meril. Being alone. Now that they are together what do you recommend? As far as preparation of putting them in all grass pasture.

 

[Southern by choice]

Well the vet said it's proubley pneumonia. And no I haven't him checked for coccidia yet band the weather here is up and down one day 80 and the day 50 and rains a lot if it's nice outside I'll try and take him out for a little bit just to give him exrise and would I treat him with probious now or wait till he's better....

I would not bring in another animal until you have adequate outdoor shelter where the goats can be better acclimated to their environment. Also until you know the kid you have now is healthy and not having issues.

When you do finally bring in another goat please, do yourself a favor and buy from a responsible breeder that can mentor to some degree.

Sorry you lost your lil guy.

My best advice is to slow down and take a deep breathe. Go slow, be methodical in all you do. The first issue was and still is the health of the first goat. I think sometimes people jump into action and get another goat thinking it is best to do immediately... but not so. You had a health issue with a kid and that kid died. That is where going slow and being methodical comes in.

Sadly we have had many a calls from people wanting goats... the first goats they got came from somewhere else and died ... some 7 days some 10 days.... anyway they weren't told anything about cocci checks, shipping fever, what to watch for etc. I am not going to put the breeders down, some are newbies as well... some just sell goats and it is the end of all contact. Everyone is different.

NOT condemning you at all ... it does bother me that two breeders now and neither have given you any practical advice... maybe that is not fair- as far as I can tell they didn't but sometimes a breeder will and people don't listen.


So far you have "probably pneumonia" & "Underdeveloped lungs".
It is not a definitive diagnosis and no necropsy so that means best guess.

Since you have already brought two new goats in I would separate those two from your one. Monitor the one closely.
The two new ones should of course be monitored as well in case there is any "shipping" fever. Fecal/cocci check at 4-7 days after purchase.
Vet check all goats to have heart/lungs checked- fecals on all 3 to check for cocci and parasites.

The breeder you just got 2 new goats from... what are their recommendations?

What are you feeding? Do you have minerals?

Your little guy could have had a defect... you can only do so much. Some things aren't seen from the outside. You care very much and are doing what you can.
Be encouraged. Be observant like you have been. Get them acclimated to living as goats.

 

[Sandy christen]

My best advice is to slow down and take a deep breathe. Go slow, be methodical in all you do. The first issue was and still is the health of the first goat. I think sometimes people jump into action and get another goat thinking it is best to do immediately... but not so. You had a health issue with a kid and that kid died. That is where going slow and being methodical comes in.

Sadly we have had many a calls from people wanting goats... the first goats they got came from somewhere else and died ... some 7 days some 10 days.... anyway they weren't told anything about cocci checks, shipping fever, what to watch for etc. I am not going to put the breeders down, some are newbies as well... some just sell goats and it is the end of all contact. Everyone is different.

NOT condemning you at all ... it does bother me that two breeders now and neither have given you any practical advice... maybe that is not fair- as far as I can tell they didn't but sometimes a breeder will and people don't listen.


So far you have "probably pneumonia" & "Underdeveloped lungs".
It is not a definitive diagnosis and no necropsy so that means best guess.

Since you have already brought two new goats in I would separate those two from your one. Monitor the one closely.
The two new ones should of course be monitored as well in case there is any "shipping" fever. Fecal/cocci check at 4-7 days after purchase.
Vet check all goats to have heart/lungs checked- fecals on all 3 to check for cocci and parasites.

The breeder you just got 2 new goats from... what are their recommendations?

What are you feeding? Do you have minerals?

Your little guy could have had a defect... you can only do so much. Some things aren't seen from the outside. You care very much and are doing what you can.
Be encouraged. Be observant like you have been. Get them acclimated to living as goats.

Breeder recommend getting a companion for me 'til right away and. A hand full of others that are raising goats also said it would be ok. They are eating calf feed oats and goat med pellets mixed together at three quarter cup per head hay. Salt and mineral block and now are on probios. Ready to Deworm vet gave us a syringe of liquid Dewormer. Can we give that to them now.? And as far as hay how much? Bedding with pine shaving and straw. Heat lamp on 31 degree tonight. Barn is at 49 degrees. 50 gallon drums cut out huts large pen no draft. Clean. Can these goats go into 5 aces grass pasture??

 

[Ferguson K]

How old are they? At only a month they should still be in milk replacer.

I personally would be worried about cocci. It's fast acting and lethal.