Nubian Doe Weak and in Pain

[dejavoodoo114]

I will do that. I just took her temp and its 101.4. I thought her rumen was shutting down because of the temp not the other way round. oh well... lol.

So I will give her the beer and continue to monitor her temp. However, now I am concerned that she may be bloating because I didn't realize she shouldn't eat grain. She is burping but still have not seen her chew cud. She only passed 2 small stools yesterday. Her abdomen is getting larger but with my hand on her left side I could feel her stomach moving etc.

I did not know the best way to drench. Thank you for that. Also, she is down. She lost too much weight before I noticed that she was sick.

The kids just brought in a maple branch and she is happy with that. She is not interested in the hay. I will keep her hydrated. And she is done with the cocci treatment now.

 

[Southern by choice]

You didn't say if she was standing or laying down... If not standing and only laying down you will need to make sure she is still upright. If she lays down on her side and cannot get in an upright position she will bloat. Hay bales etc are good for propping.

 

[dejavoodoo114]

She is laying down but luckily she is able to keep herself upright and has the whole time. Is there another reason for her abdomen getting larger other than bloat? What else can happen with her being down like this? She tries to move but isn't able to do anything but move her legs a little.

 

[babsbag]

Her temp being normal is great news, still not out of the woods, but better; eating maple branches is good too. Glad she is upright, like Southern said, don't let her lay on her side. Stomach movements is a good sign too. Usually a key to getting rid of bloat is to walk the goat so if she is down that will tough. I would still do the beer if you can; but make sure it is flat and go slow, maybe not the whole bottle if she is trying to bloat.

I am just going to copy and paste what I would try. These aren't my words, it is from Goat-Link.com

1. Massage Rumen (Upper left side) using kneading as if kneading bread and patting firmly as you would a baby
2. Get goat on it's feet if down and start walking it around
3. Elevate front end of goat if laying down
4. Massage & Pat rumen (high on left side of goat behind last rib) to help release gas ( the same method as you would use to burp a baby)- you may also have to "knead" the air pocket to get the gas moving.
5. If the goat starts to belch up gas, then give it a tablespoon some baking soda either dry or in a small amount of water, (if you add enough water to make it like toothpaste it is easier to get most of it into the goat) about a TBSP for an adult goat or a tsp for a younger goat
6. If the gas does NOT come up with belching while massaging the rumen and the goat has had access to lush grass pasture all of a sudden (ie: let out to pasture after a long winter with just hay), and or has froth on it's mouth - Then administer either "Bloat Release" or "Therabloat" or REGULAR PLAIN powdered "Tide laundry detergent" Not the one with bleach, not the ultra, or any of the new varieties(one tablespoon of Tide powder mixed with 60cc of water) carefully via tubing - DiGel (4-6 TBSP) DO NOT Tube with OIL! Administration of the anti foaming agent should reduce the bloat almost immediately. After the release of the gases, administer orally a probiotic to refresh rumen flora
7. If you have a goat that has binged on grain, try giving a couple TBSPs of Milk of Magnesia. This helps stimulate the gut and lower the pH balance of the rumen be more alkaline.

• 1. IF and I DO say IF.. all treatment is not working and the goat is in such distress as you feel it will die shortly and there is No time to call your vet,you will need to use a trocar to release the gas But this is a dire emergency situation ONLY (read more below
  2. If the bloat continues after either of these treatments CALL YOUR VET

 

[dejavoodoo114]

Oh thanks! The beer is flat. I was able to give her half before I had to leave this morning. And I was carefully massaging her stomach. It did make her burp. I was not sure if I should though. I will do it more as soon as I get home. Any idea where I can pick up milk of magnesia?

 

[dejavoodoo114]

BTW. I do know the cause of this was worms that I did not catch soon enough.

 

[babsbag]

You can get milk of magnesia at any decent drug store and maybe even a good grocery store.

It is good that she burped, that should help with the bloat. If this started from worms then she didn't feel good enough to eat and then her rumen started to shut down and the low temp followed that. Anytime a goat goes off their feed for any reason this can be the result. It is hard to treat bloat laying down so the massaging is crucial. Also if you can get her to eat the browse or hay that would be wonderful.

 

[babsbag]

How is your doe?

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Hope all is well. Good advice here.