Help please!

[BYFarmer]

Hey guys,
I am so new to goats and we have two bottle fed 2 1/2 week old pygmy bucks. We've only had them a week. Both are playing and acting great.

Problem one has started having a reddish spot on the flesh under the tail, by the anus. This morning went to feed them and he has some poo on his fur and looked under the tail and it looks to be raw and infected, and saw him trying to poop and it was loose and setting on there instead of dropping off. I cleaned the area a bit and put some antibiotic ointment on it and put him back in the pen w/the heat lamp as it's a little cool this morning.

He is eating the milk replacer, and eats well about 9oz 3x a day, we've offered sweet feed and water but they have little interest in them yet. They sleep in w/the chickens in the barn area, pine shavings and a sand run. We just fenced the yard yesterday so they have LOTS of running room and were grazing well.

Is this a common problem, internal problem, are the shavings too rough for their bottom???? Please help me and forgive me if I sound stupid, I'm just so new to this and feel like crying that something is wrong already w/ the 2week old baby. TIA

 

[michickenwrangler]

I would just keep an eye on it right now. Sorry I don't have much more to offer.

 

[BYFarmer]

anyone else? could changing their milk replacement do this?? we had one brand to start w/then got a different brand at a different store??

 

[ksalvagno]

Yes, changing brands of milk replacer will do it. If you can, try to stick with one brand.

Not sure about the red patch on his bottom.

 

[dkluzier]

I use a lot of the same meds on my goats as I would my own babies and so, if it looked similar to diaper rash - I would dab a little Balmex on it. If he has the skitters it may have caused a rash and diaper rash medicine would help keep it from getting any worse and help it to heal.

 

[BYFarmer]

Yep, I've been putting some diaper cream on it as a barrier. Hopefully it will improve by the morning.

 

[Roll farms]

It's never a good idea to change feed suddenly, if you have to change the replacer, do it gradually. (half old, half new a few feedings, etc.)