goat with stiffness

[Skye_k23]

Hello everyone
Not sure if this is the right place to post but thought I would try. I have a 4 month old nigerian buckling. He is healthy except for a strange thing that happens sometimes. If you pick him up and then put him down his front legs kinda lock. Also happens sometimes when he gets up and moves to quick. With in a few moments he is fine. Any idea what is going on with him?

 

[OneFineAcre]

Is he a registered Nigerian?

Maybe has some Mytonic in his background?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

My neighbor bought a "pygmy" buck one time. A few days later she came screaming to me saying her goat was dying. I went over to help and the buck was up and walking around. This happened several times over several weeks until I finally witnessed it. They "pygmy" goat was actually myotonic and was a really sensitive fainter! So, it happens....

I hope nothing else is wrong with your goat, but that's my first guess.

Good luck with him!

 

[hilarie]

That was my guess, too. If it's transient and he doesen't seem to be in pain, I'd just watch him. Think of it as window dressing

 

[Southern by choice]

Another thing to check is his heart. If he has a sever murmur this can also cause the stiffening and even falling over which can mimic myotonia. Long term severe murmurs cause anemia as the blood is not pumped through adequately.

We had a goat with this issue some years ago. He was purchased as an adult buck that was proven. None of his offspring had the issue, so it was not passed down. We did not know, nor did the breeder, that he had such a severe murmur. It was a grade 6. We euthanized him as the heat posed serious problems for him and he seemed to struggle and up and down depending on the season. After that experience we have a full exam on animals purchased and also all kids that are born on our farm.

Some murmurs can be caused by other issues, not all that have murmurs are born with them, infections etc can cause them. We did not know all the history of the buck when we purchased him.