Free Choice Soda Bicarb

[savingdogs]

I find this thread very interesting! I was taught to offer baking soda free choice and have been carefully keeping a little wall-feeder full of some I change out periodically. It does not really seem like they are using any at all. All of your posts makes me wonder just how important it is after all.

 

[poorboys]

I offer free choice, I have one doe that seems to need it more than the others, so I leave it for her, I have shelters, but I found a mineral holder with 2 sides one for loose minerals, the other for the baking soda, I rarely have to refill the baking soda, because only one or 2 does actually use it. secure it inside the shelter in a leak proof area, and it should stay good. I've never had to dump mine out. I usally have to refill once a month. But if you have some does prone to bloat, better to have it out for them, then to have to treat them for bloat. Patty

 

[helmstead]

Having bicarb out won't prevent bloat. IMHO...it just makes bloat all the more difficult to treat (because the rumen's acidity is already thrown off by the bicarb...making it less effective as a treatment).

Steady, consistent feeding will prevent bloat.

Bicarb is for treating FKS and mild gas bloats (oh, and deodorizing the fridge!).

 

[freemotion]

Here is another reason not to offer bs free choice and one I learned the hard way....it is salty, and some goats will just eat it for the salt and not get enough minerals, which are also salty.

I naively put out salt, bs, and minerals for my goats at first because "they liked the salt" in the summer when it was hot. I even gave them loose salt because they couldn't seem to get enough from the block salt I had leftover from having a horse.

I ended up with some serious copper deficiency before I knew it. A hot spell in the summer is good for them because it gets them to eat lots of salty mineral blend and restore their mineral levels. Three of my six does are black so it is easy to see the patterns that take place throughout the year.

 

[poorboys]

I was just saying that I have one doe that has problems with bloat, since I've kept it free choice, we don't have problems with her, I did'nt mean that it would prevent bloat, it's just what I've learned that helps my herd.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Kate, can you talk a little more about using baking soda to treat FKS? You would give it in addition to C&D antitoxin?

 

[helmstead]

Baking soda IS the treatment for FKS - you can even get an injectable version of bicarb from a vet. The issue is systemic acidosis, and you have to get as much bicarb as you can into the system as quickly as you can. I cannot remember where specifically I researched it - but in the summary of what I read, the acidosis in the bloodstream affect them neurologically, causing the FKS symptoms, which makes them go down.

The C&D antitoxin, B complex, etc is to prevent a secondary issue from the body shutting down - FKS sets up the perfect scenario for entero and polio.

The thing I wish they'd figure out is what causes FKS in the first place. I've dealt with it both in my own babies and with outside babies...and each one was different (there was no smoking gun as to why they went down to begin with).

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

I have read they were doing reseach on causes of FKS and they are coming up some theories that lower calcium levels in the Moms in the last stage of pregnacy may be involved ??? Thats just what I read. It would be nice to know more for sure!

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Aaah. I see. Not that I need ANOTHER item on my list of things to buy for my emergency kit, but do you keep the injectable on hand in case of emergency?

 

[helmstead]

No, for me the oral application has worked fine, and should for most if they pay any attention at all to their kids it should be caught early enough for the baking soda to do the job.

That said...a call to your vet to make sure THEY stock the injectable sodium bicarb would be wise (and if they don't you should!)