Khaleesi & Aaliyah's Kidding Thread

[babsbag]

I don't believe that the flooring or the towel had much to do with this so don't beat yourself up. It is good that you corrected it though.

You need to take his temp for starters. Can you get antibiotics? I use Duramycin which is Oxytetracycline. Other choices are from a vet...Nuflor. If nothing else you can try Penicillin. If you give Pen you need to pull back on the plunger and check for blood before you inject. It you get it in a vein you can kill them.

 

[thailand]

Thanks enormously Babs for your quick advice. So you think maybe he has aspirated during birth or in drinking milk then?

While we don't have goat vets here we do have excellent animal medicine stores. They have a huge range (not everything you can get in the States, nor me in New Zealand) and there is no need for a vet's prescription. I happen to have Oxytetracycline on hand, but it says it is for cattle, horses, dogs and swine. No mention of goats. Would this likely be ok? It is ocytetracycline HCI equivalent to oxytetracycline 50 mg, and lidocaine hydrochloride 20mg.

I'm rather loathe to inject him as I've never had to inject a goat yet. Are any of your choices above given orally?

 

[babsbag]

The ocytetracycline HCI that I have seen is a powder that is mixed with water. Do you have a powder or a liquid? The dose for the injectable is 5 to 10mg/kg repeated every 24 hours for a period of 3 days. And I think that yours is 50 mg per ML so that is a pretty small dose, something like .2ML /kg.

He could have aspirated during birth or drinking milk. I would check the roof of his mouth just to rule out a cleft palate. You can feel for it or better yet get a light and look. Also, does he sound like this all of the time or only after he eats?

I don't know what your weather is right now but baby goats don't handle temperature fluctuations very well. Warm days and cold nights are rough on them, but maybe you never get cold nights.

 

[thailand]

Thanks again Babs. The Oxy I have is injectable, but maybe I can get the powder or liquid. I'll have to go look tomorrow. Will check the roof of his mouth and report back. No he doesn't sound like this all the time, really just when I pick him up if that makes any sense. Almost as is I'm squashing him and causing him to be rattly. He's just had some playtime out in the sunshine in our food forest. Seriously cute....runs up to me when I call his name (Taji) and snuggles into my lap and falls asleep. Khaleesi is getting a little jealous LOL. I'm careful to not cause problems for her though.

The temperatures are crazy here at the moment....cold enough for us to still be using a duvet (quilt) in the early mornings and then 95 degrees in the afternoon.

 

[babsbag]

Yeah, those kind of temps can make it hard on them.

Injectables aren't that hard. They work fast and you know how much you got in him as opposed to him 'wearing' it all when trying to get it in his mouth. Look on youTube for directions for giving a goat shots. Who does the vaccines?

 

[Mini Horses]

You can give the oxy sub-Q so, while you still need to check for blood "in case" the chances of hitting a vein a lessened a lot. I'd give him so today rather than wait for going to look for powder. IF he has aspirated and pneumonia is possible, he needs help sooner than later. Sunshine and running around will help.

As to the wet towel, well -- when a baby goat needs to pee, they stand and go! No thought for where they are...just go.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Before you start loading the kid up on antibiotics, take the temp first.

 

[Mini Horses]

You need to take his temp for starters.

Yes, yes, yes......first thing to do.

 

[babsbag]

While I always take the temp there are pneumonias that don't run a temp or spike one when you aren't looking, and the next thing you know they are dead or dying. I will go by how the kid sounds before I go by the temperature, especially if there are no vets.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I'm saying that as a reminder.
So many newbs come to forums like this and members recommend antibiotics.
They say to take a temp but that goes by the way side.

Whenever you think you have an ill goat- you should take their temp.

I agree, there are times that you learn to go with your gut. But you and I both have more years of experience than the poster.

I think some good advice has been given, but the temperature should not be forgotten. The OP still needs to learn how to evaluate and troubleshoot. and that should always start with a temp.

We tell people if you have a sick goat- don't call until you have taken its temperature.