EMERGENCY PLEASE HELP

[nuts4goats]

My neighbor has a herd of goats that he puts out to pasture and doesnt do much else with. None of his goats are vaccinated, and they eat strictly browse. He has a pygmy mix doe that just had a baby about two weeks ago. This morning, my daughter found her having a seizure in the field. My neighbor is currently in the hospital ad we have been unable to contact him to let him know. So, we brought her in and wrapped her in a heating blanket. We went ahead and gave her some pen G, and also have been giving her molasses, and corn syrup. I just gave her some calcium also. I have no idea what else to do. I do not have a large animal vet to call. She is completely down. Any other suggestions? My best bet would be to get a vet out tomorrow, as I know my neighbor will not do this. Also- it now appears I have inherited a bottle baby, as well. With him being two weeks old, can we feed him whole milk, 3 x a day?

HELP!!!

Also, any suggestions for a large animal vet in nw georgia? My regular vet referred me to one, and I cant get them to call me back.

 

[nuts4goats]

I forgot to describe her condition... she is very rigid, and completely down. No injuries that I can find. She was found having seizures. Her body temp is low. She appears to have been having scours, or her back end is still messy from freshening. My guesses are postpartum ketosis or hypocalcemia? Or possibly a uterine infection or retained placenta? Any advice?

 

[Roll farms]

The rigidity sounds almost like Tetanus....but with this many variables there's just no way to definitively diagnose her online.

I would give her 1cc of Pen G per 20# every 8-12 hrs. for at least 2 days, then 1cc per 40# for a week or more, 2x a day.
Pen G is my 'favorite' drug for uterine infections *and* the treatment drug of choice for tetanus soooo...hopefully....this will help.

BIG shot of B vitamin or Thiamine if you have it....1cc per 10#. Now, tonight, and again in the am.

Get / keep her warm. If she's grinding her teeth / acting like she's in pain, Banamine or Ibuprofen liquid, but don't do either long-term, you can damage liver / kidneys.

If she's unable to eat / drink, you'll have to either trickle drench some fluids or get lactated ringers to hydrate her.

Red Cell if you've got it.

Once (if) she's more responsive, make a slurry of oats, chopped alfalfa, fiberous stuff - chop and mix w/ molasses or propylene glycol and enough water or gatoraide to make it able to pass through a big syringe with a hole cut in it to pass through. You have to keep some bulk in her rumen to keep it from shutting down.

Keep her hydrated, give her probios / probiotics of some type, keep up the antibiotics.

Pygmies *usually* don't get hypocalcemia b/c they're not huge milk producers BUT it's not absolutely unheard of, either...it's just more common in dairy breeds.

Yes, switching the kid to Vit. D milk should be ok. Probios can help prevent any upset the switch causes.

Good luck.

 

[nuts4goats]

So I have another question, may be a dumb one...
If it is tetanus, can the baby get this? And when can I vaccinate him for this?

Also, I am going to continue my search tomorrow for a large animal vet if she is still hanging in there, unless I can talk my regular vet into trying to treat her. But, if I cant locate one... can I hydrate her by doing a bolus of fluids SQ like they do for dogs, or does this need to go intravenously?

I do not have vit B or thiamin on hand, and the farm supply is closed today, but I will grab that asap tomorrow morning,

Oh what a mess I am in!

 

[20kidsonhill]

yes, you can do sub-Q hydration. Wont work as fast, but it will help.

 

[Roll farms]

Whoops, I completely forgot the most important thing....Tetanus antitoxin. Give her the whole bottle if you've got some.
If it is tetanus, and you don't have any.....get some / get it in her ASAP. Call any other goat producers who might have it, friends, etc.


Yes, the baby should get some, too. Tetanus enters through wounds / open sores and it could 'travel' up the umbilical cord.
I've never treated a kid for tetanus, but Fiasco's website says to use 1/2 ml for newborns. I'd be tempted to give a 2wk old kid 1ml.

The important thing to remember is that antitoxin is for Treatment / Prevention - it will NOT provide long-term protection like the CD/T toxoid does.

So after 10-14 days, you will need to vaccinate any that are given the antitoxin w/ toxoid to provide long term protection.

(Any time a non-vaccinated goat gets a wound, they should be given the antitoxin, and then vaccinated w/ toxoid later.)

To help you remember - needs fixin - antitoxin - toxoid - to avoid

How to administer lactated ringers - I've never done it but this seems pretty comprehensive.
http://goat-link.com/content/view/207/195/

 

[elevan]

You've received some good advice so far.

I have one question and a word of caution. Did this neighbor ask you to care for his goats prior to going into the hospital? If he did not then you've opened yourself up for potential financial / criminal consequences if the animal(s) do not survive. I understand that your heart is in the right place and am not questioning that. If the neighbor asked you to help then you still be cautious because people can react strangely if one of their animals die or become ill under someone else's care.

I'd definitely do the tetnus antitoxin and Sub-Q fluids.

Sub-Q fluids are easily especially if you've ever given a sub-q shot. Just tent the skin stick the needle in and open up the IV. Allow it to flow and build a pocket until the desired amount is administered. Remove the needle and apply pressure to the "hole" for a minute so it doesn't leak. Repeat on the other side to create a saddle bag effect. I just learned how to do this last May with a downed calf and am currently doing it with my dog. I prefer using IV tubing as it allows you to insert the needle and open / close the line while leaving you with both hands to restrain the animal (if need be) while the fluid fills the pocket. You can also use a sterile syringe to create the pockets. You want to use Lactated Ringers or Sodium Chloride solution (sterile).

On the vitamin B...you can crush up human tablets and add to some yogurt and administer orally.
Here is the contents of the livestock formula:
Active Ingredient(s): Each milliliter of sterile aqueous solution contains:
Thiamine Hydrochloride (B1) 12.5 mg
Niacin amide 12.5 mg
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B6) 5.0 mg
d-Panthenol 5.0 mg
Riboflavin (B2) (as Riboflavin 5' phosphate sodium) 2.0 mg
Cyanocobalamin (B12) 1000 mcg

 

[nuts4goats]

Everybody thanks so much for the advice! I really appreciate it!

Elevan, no my neighbor did not ask me to care for his goats...and honestly I wish I werent, because this is one big heartbreaking MESS.

The other option I had was to let her lay in the field and die, and that is not an option for me. More likely then not, she is going to die, and I'd rather she be somewhere warm and comfortable, rather then cold, and raining. I probably should have just let her be, but I COULDNT do it! I just cannot ignore a dying animal when I know I can atleast try to do something about it. If he were going to sue me for the loss of an animal, I would argue that perhaps he should vaccinate his goats, provide them shelter, and feed them daily so that these losses do not occur.

But we wouldnt have that conversation, because he is a very good friend of ours.

I know I have overstepped my boundaries, but I really didnt have a choice, in my mind. I couldnt ignore it, or I honestly wouldnt sleep for several weeks thereafter

 

[DKRabbitry]

I don't have much imput for you, but I have been reading along. I just wanted to send warm wishes and I truly hope everything works out okay.
At least with you taking charge he is only losing 1 goat. If you hadn't the kid would have died for sure too. Starvation really is a terrible way for anything to go :/

 

[elevan]

I completely understand and would probably step in if I were in your shoes too. I just wanted to make sure you understood the potential for legal ramifications.

I do wish you luck in nursing the goat and her kid. Please keep us posted. If you have access to the solution to give Sub-Q fluids then I'd definitely be giving them at least.