distended belly

[Cheryl Petree]

Thank you all so much for the responses. I only have him so I can feed him for 3 months. So this morning, he drank his bottle excitedly. Then later he choked on some pellets to the point I thought I was going to lose him. Got over that and he was back to normal, just a little off, but following me and walking and alert. I gave him a bottle at noon and he drank only a little and had what looked like a seizure, went COMPLETELY rigid (like a board), couldn't breathe, tremors, finally got a bleat out and kinda came back, but was very weak and wobbly after that. And his stomach was a lot bigger. Took him to the vet (who apparently is not big on goats, didn't know what floppy kid syndrome is) and told me he thought just mild bloat, to watch him and take his temp regularly. Brought him home, gave him some pepto, which seems to have helped the gut. He still can't walk very well, and is sleeping now. Vet said the alfalfa might be too rich, and recommended pulling him off all feed for today, and start him back on just milk tomorrow for a day, and then just grass hay, no alfalfa. But what would cause the rigidness? I hope it's not seizures. We've worked so hard for him to be alive, I would hate to lost him now. I am very attached to the little guy. I do have some electrolytes I could give him tonight, but kinda afraid to give him anything for fear he will have another 'seizure'. Has anyone experienced that with their young ones? Please help!

 

[B&B Happy goats]

Cheryl i haven't had the seizure experience, lets get some help @Southern by choice @goatwhisperer @OneFineAcre

 

[Goat Whisperer]

How big should an 8 week old goat's belly be?

Can you post pics of your kid?

How much does the kid weigh? What has your feeding schedule been? What was the max amount of ounces you were feeding/daily?

My 10 week old doe is 20#
My 8 week old buck is 16.5#
Both Nigerians, both bottle raised.
I don't have a front shot, but here is a side pic of the doe.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I have more to add but need to go milk my goats

 

[Southern by choice]

How much does the kid weigh? What has your feeding schedule been? What was the max amount of ounces you were feeding/daily?

x 2

 

[B&B Happy goats]

@Southern by choice can you read her above post about the vet visit and goat having seizures please

 

[Cheryl Petree]

I have more to add but need to go milk my goats

He is 8 weeks old. 7 lbs. I have been feeding 3oz, and was told to drop him to 2x a day, then today I was told that's not enough milk. Pretty sure he was preemie. Besides the milk I was giving him about a tablespoon total a day of goat pellets, free choice alfalfa/grass mix, and water, and he wanders around my yard nibbling. After talking to one of my goat friends here, she said it sounds like maybe miotonic goat, the thing that looked like a seizure. She also said it may be goat polio, so I have given him 1/3cc of thiamine which seems to have helped. Also he has been shaking his head. The vet looked in his ears and didn't say anything. When I got home, I looked in his ears and it looks like someone stuffed a piece of tan colored gum in his ears. Both ears. That's not normal is it? This afternoon I gave him about 2 oz of electrolyte solution from the bottle, no problems drinking. 3 hours later I gave him 2 oz of milk/water, and again no problems. When I put him out to pee, he nibbles but I don't let him nibble much and bring him back in quickly. I can't download a picture as this is my work computer and it won't accept a picture from my phone. And THANK YOU for your help! I have had goats, but got them when they were 4-6 months old so well past this critical stage!

 

[Goat Whisperer]

So he is only getting 6 oz daily, but what has your feeding schedule been? Prior to dropping him down to 2, 3oz bottles.
What was the max amount of ounces you were feeding/daily- At any point of his life. What was his birth weight?
Will he take more than this?

He sounds very underfed. He should be much bigger than what he is. My newborns get more than what he is taking
I am NOT beating you up, sounds like you are doing the absolute best you can for him.

Where are you located? Can you find another goat/livestock vet? There could be several things going on here, but it is difficult to diagnose over an online forum.

 

[Cheryl Petree]

So he is only getting 6 oz daily, but what has your feeding schedule been? Prior to dropping him down to 2, 3oz bottles.
What was the max amount of ounces you were feeding/daily- At any point of his life. What was his birth weight?
Will he take more than this?

He sounds very underfed. He should be much bigger than what he is. My newborns get more than what he is taking
I am NOT beating you up, sounds like you are doing the absolute best you can for him.

Where are you located? Can you find another goat/livestock vet? There could be several things going on here, but it is difficult to diagnose over an online forum.

Oh I don't take it as beating me up! I got on here for information! I called a vet that I truly trust, she is a country vet to the core, and we have a plan!(Didn't call her earlier because I thought with the info I had I had it handled, especially after taking him to local vet) I am not going to turn him out except for just a little while, I think he was gorging himself. I am going to increase milk consumption, decrease the roughage. He is on probiotics, and baking soda (I give him 1/4 tsp 1-2x/day, is that enough? too much?) He is doing so much better already. He has never lost his appetite. It is ravenous, like a feeding frenzy when he gets his bottle. The most I have given him is 3oz 4-5x/day, so 12-15oz per day. Yes he would definitely take more, but I am afraid he would explode! I am now giving him 2.5oz every 3-4 hours, and will increase that back up to 3. Is that enough? When he is outside he is constantly eating, which makes him even bigger in the belly. But I hate to keep him penned up all the time. He needs to get out and run and buck and be a kid! Like I said, PLEASE beat me up with information, I am really attached to this little guy. He weighed 1 pound when I brought him home, and I covered him up 3x thinking he was dead! He is a fighter, in spite of my lack of knowledge! This is so much different than bottle raising a dog or foal! I can't post a pic from this computer, it is my work computer and won't accept a pic from my phone, firewall and all that.

 

[Cheryl Petree]

Oh I don't take it as beating me up! I got on here for information! I called a vet that I truly trust, she is a country vet to the core, and we have a plan!(Didn't call her earlier because I thought with the info I had I had it handled, especially after taking him to local vet) I am not going to turn him out except for just a little while, I think he was gorging himself. I am going to increase milk consumption, decrease the roughage. He is on probiotics, and baking soda (I give him 1/4 tsp 1-2x/day, is that enough? too much?) He is doing so much better already. He has never lost his appetite. It is ravenous, like a feeding frenzy when he gets his bottle. The most I have given him is 3oz 4-5x/day, so 12-15oz per day. Yes he would definitely take more, but I am afraid he would explode! I am now giving him 2.5oz every 3-4 hours, and will increase that back up to 3. Is that enough? When he is outside he is constantly eating, which makes him even bigger in the belly. But I hate to keep him penned up all the time. He needs to get out and run and buck and be a kid! Like I said, PLEASE beat me up with information, I am really attached to this little guy. He weighed 1 pound when I brought him home, and I covered him up 3x thinking he was dead! He is a fighter, in spite of my lack of knowledge! This is so much different than bottle raising a dog or foal! I can't post a pic from this computer, it is my work computer and won't accept a pic from my phone, firewall and all that.

To add, he is pooping and peeing, chewing cud, grooming himself, alert and playful.