Help!!! Buck down, not sure what's wrong!!

[chubbydog811]

The buck is a 7 year old Saanen. He seemed to be doing fine, until I went out this morning, and he was sprawled out on the floor (I thought he was dead). He is responsive, but he's not moving...He had relatively normal poop, though it looked wet/clumpy when I checked this morning (it was under him bum where he is laying). He was a bit skinny when I brought him home in the fall, and he has actually gained weight since then (I was just saying how he actually is looking pretty good!) He hasn't lost any weight since I brought him home.

Anyone have any ideas? Here is my list of possible problems that I am thinking:
Cold - we had a crazy snow storm yesterday, and it got pretty cold.
Tetanus? Only because he seems stiff.
Possibly worms I guess?

I gave him 12ccs of molasses water and some baking soda water...Not sure what to do, since I don't know what I'm treating!

You probably ask - why don't you call the vet? Mainly because the vet bill would be more than I paid for him, and more than I will get back in kids (I would end up taking at least a $500 loss!)

I do have tetanus antitoxin - should I start him on that in case it is tetanus??

Thanks!

 

[helmstead]

I would treat for bloat, ENTERO especially with C&D antitoxin, give some B complex or thiamine to rule out polio, start on Pen G...kinda throw the book at him.

Also try to prop him up sternally...laying flat is not good for the organs.

I sure hope he gets up!

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

I would sit him up too...its not good for them. And I would throw the book at him as well. Definately give him the Antitoxin and B vitamins.

Have you tried to stand him up at all. To check for injuries etc. I would try if you can. Take his temp to. See if he's running a temp.

Poor guy....

I would also give him more baking soda and molasses...12cc is not alot..its about 2 teaspoons right??? Guessing here?? But he's grown and has a full rumen...I would give 2 tablespoons of baking soda mix with molassess and water...about 1 cup water...he may even drink it right out of a bowl for you...

Good luck...

 

[Roll farms]

Temp?

Eyelid color?

 

[chubbydog811]

I'm thinking we might just put him down...He is now gasping - I can't roll him over myself, and I have no one here to help.
I'll run back out and take a temp, eyelids, ect.

 

[helmstead]

 

[PattySh]

Doesn't sound good. Sorry to hear you are going thru this. I've learned that goats are delicate creatures.

 

[chubbydog811]

He died in the little while that I was up at the house.
Still have no idea what was wrong...It could have been so many things, but it is kind of unsettling not knowing. I would think if it were contagious, the other goats would have shown something by now. Only thing off I noticed about him was that he has been stiff in his back end that past few days. I gave that to the cold and his age (and a previous injury), so I didn't think anything of it. It really could have just been that he got too cold. They have a 1 stall barn, that doesn't have a door, but it keeps the wind/wet out.

He is actually the first goat I have lost due to some sort of sickness in the 3 years that I have had goats (out of 30 or so goats). I've never had a sick goat before, injured and mastitis yes, but never sick.

 

[elevan]

I am so sorry for your loss

 

[rebelINny]

So sorry for your loss. Isn't seven years for a buck pretty old though? I read somewhere that a buck's life expectancy is only 8 years if they are used as breeding bucks. So maybe he was just "old and worn out"? That may not be alot of comfort but I would feel better knowing that maybe it was just his age.