Old reader, new member, serious concerns after kidding

[Farmlady]

I bought an entire herd of pasture bred does (5), the wether, and the billy last year. They were all pregnant when I bought them, but the previous owners had no idea 'how' pregnant. They are all pygmy/dwarf crosses except for the wether.

All have now kidded, the last one within the past two hours. The kid presented head first, both front legs back ~ and he is very large for such a little doe. The doe weighs roughly 32 pounds. The fact that I have large hands for a woman wasn't a help.

I managed to work the head out and get both legs forward, but not without some difficulty. I suctioned the kid because the poor little guy had a lot of goo in his mouth and nose, but he seems to be doing ok in spite of such a rough start other than a small hernia (I think) at the naval.

The doe (whose name is Baby) stayed lying down for the better part of an hour. She cleaned fairly quickly once she stood up, but she is pretty bloody. I know she needs penicillin ~ but I'm concerned about whether I should take her to the vet. She isn't actively bleeding, just oozing a normal amount. I just don't like the color of that ooze. I'm also wondering whether to go ahead and give her aspirin (the only pain meds I have) with the bleeding.

I have pics, but I'm not sure how to add them. I'll check the rules/uploads and see if I can't get them up. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Roll farms]

First, congrats on getting the baby out from such tight quarters!

I definitely wouldn't give her aspirin, if you're concerned w/ her bleeding.

The PenG is a good idea. Also offer her some warm water w/ mollasses in it. She is probably fine. I've pulled some huge, honkin' kids out of does and they recovered just fine.

 

[glenolam]

Congrats on successful kiddings, too!

Was this her first freshening (if you know/were told)? Does she have a temperature or seem off in any other way?

My FF was a little down in the dumps the day after kidding, but after having 2 babies come out of an area that's never had anything like that happen to it I just waited a day and she bounced right back.

 

[Farmlady]

All of the does got their after birthing bowl of molasses and water. I gave this little buckling about a half ounce of water, molasses, coffee, and some colostrum I snitched from the other doe that kidded this morning because he was obviously hunting for the milk bar but mom was still getting her second wind.

As far as I know this was her first freshening. I'm not sure I understand the concept of just turning the boys and girls out together to ... frolic?

She seems to have perked up considerably in the past hour. She's eating and drinking well, not showing any fresh blood, and not any more than normal discharge. Hopefully things will remain 'ok' now. I did call the vet but he's in surgery so I'm still waiting on a call back. Thanks! ~ I worked as a vet tech what seems like eons ago, but I'm definitely not a vet. I feel a little better now seeing others say what I'm thinking at this point.

I still don't have a clue how to get the pics in a post. I uploaded them, but can't get them posted.

 

[ksalvagno]

You have to post at least 10 times before you can post pictures.

Sounds like you got things covered. Just keep an eye on her. Congratulations on your successful birthing.

 

[Farmlady]

Well now, that explains the pic problem. I've been up since 1 pm yesterday and I'm running short on both sleep and caffeine at this point. Thank you.

My vet called back and said to go ahead with the antibiotic and to call if she seems 'off' tomorrow or Monday. At this point, things seem to have settled down ... hoping it stays that way. Thank you all for the advice.

 

[Ariel301]

What type of goat is she? Thirty two pounds is tiny! I'm hoping she's a mini of some kind!

I just had a 60 pound semi-first time (miscarried last year) doe deliver a 7.5 pound kid, and it was rough on both of them. She's doing fine though, it just takes a little longer to recover after such a hard birth. As long as she's not bleeding excessively, weak, unable to get up or eat/drink, and the discharge doesn't have a nasty abnormal stink to it, she ought to be fine. I'd definitely give her the penicillin. If she's got any external swelling left from the rough delivery (like my doe does, yikes!) you can use a hemorrhoid cream on it to soothe the soreness and help take the swelling down. I wouldn't give her aspirin if there's bleeding or any possibility of some scrapes/damage internally, that will just make it bleed more.

 

[julieq]

Welcome and glad things are turning out OK! Looks like you sorta jumped in at the deep end, bless you.

 

[elevan]

What type of goat is she? Thirty two pounds is tiny! I'm hoping she's a mini of some kind!

Her post said pygmy - nigerian cross... but that is still small for them. I'm thinking maybe she is young? My almost 4 month old doe is 30 pounds and she's full on pygmy.


Glad all the kiddings turned out ok and hope mama is feeling better in the morning.

 

[Farmlady]

She is doing much better now. I've pretty much decided not to breed her again and just keep her as a pet. Her buckling weighs 6 1/2 pounds, and that is just too big imo.

I didn't know about the Prep H, but from now on I'll make sure to have it on hand for kiddings. This little girl is the only one that was sore, but I'd rather do something if it happens again (having given birth myself there is a certain amount of sympathy lol).

I did sort of just jump into this. I'd planned on adding goats to our menagerie, but not until after the barn was finished. The price for this herd was just too good to pass up. I wasn't unfamiliar with goats, I just sort of rushed their accomodations initially. Once they were here we built two kidding stalls and a proper goat lounge. I just had no idea of when any of them were actually bred.

The buck is a Pygmy, about 50 pounds, but still much larger than Baby is. Personally I wouldn't have matched them up ~ they just came that way. He now has his own bachelor quarters and any further breeding will be when I plan it instead of when he and the girls are in the mood

I've learned a lot reading here over the past year. It's amazing just how much information is available ~ it's definitely appreciated.