ND wethers- skinny!

[katxattack]

I have a pair of ND wethers about 6-7 months old. I feed free choice Bermuda hay, Manna minerals free choice. Occasional dose of probiotics. That's it. All has been fine. The past couple weeks, I noted they aren't eating as much hay.

I noticed this week that one of them is skinny. (I can feel spine/ hips easily) The other is not, he feels pretty good. No sign of diarrhea. I have seen him poop (pellets) and urinate normally.

Am I feeding incorrectly? Should I add in something else? It just seems strange they were doing so well and now I have a skinny, yet happy and active, goat. I bought some alfalfa pellets to add in for now.

Ideas?

 

[AshleyFishy]

I would collect some fecals for your vet to run a parasite count on.

Or have you checked your hay to see if it might be contaminated? ie mold, sunbleached, wet, slept on, pooh touched it..etc.

Or have you gotten hay from the same batch as your other hay? Maybe you got a bale with lower protein.

 

[elevan]

I agree, run a fecal. Parasites are my first thought when a goat starts losing condition. Have your vet do a float for coccidia too.

Second would be nutrition...adding some alfalfa pellets is a good idea. Definitely give your hay a once over to make sure there's not some reason that he's stopped eating as much...or maybe if he's eating a "ton" of it then the nutrients have been sapped out of it by improper curing.

 

[katxattack]

I'll do a fecal. Good thing is I work in the veterinary world! I just don't know a lot about goats!

I'm wondering if it is the batch of hay, honestly. It does look to be a lighter color than previous bales, now that you mention it. I have a fresh bale now. I think I will just scrap the old and start the new.

I also got some BOSS to add in. They LOVE the alfalfa pellets!

 

[katxattack]

Well... upon further inspection... they have LICE! Maybe this is our problem. Call in the Vet.

 

[elevan]

You can deal with lice on your own... http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/dealing-with-lice-on-goats-sheep.6/

 

[Southern by choice]

You can deal with lice on your own... http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/dealing-with-lice-on-goats-sheep.6/

also still run that fecal... more often than not where there are external parasites there are internal... it acts like a cycle because it breaks down the resistance... they chew and chew feet etc, if too bad they do not sleep well and this wears down resistance.
Boost their protein if you can.

 

[katxattack]

I am going to get the fecal in tomorrow at work. (Sick human kid today)

I still want them looked at... I would hate to miss something bigger!

 

[katxattack]

Fecal negative!!!

 

[elevan]

Well, that's definitely a good thing. Now that you've ruled that out it's time to look at nutrition. Increase protein as southern suggested. Calf Manna is a good way to do this, just be careful not to over do it as you don't want them to bloat. Make sure your hay is good quality. Add probiotics so that the good gut flora is flourishing and they will better utilize nutrients.