Other Suggestions Please!!

[ThornyRidge]

I posted on my older pygmy in another posting on this board.. she is still holding her own but I am struggling kick starting her appetite so she will get some hay in her to start cudding and help warm up. The only thing I can get her to eat are white pine needles.. in fact she goes nuts and devours them and occasionally my finger tips if I am not careful! no interest in hay yet ( and she has the good stuff out) and no interest in grain or cookie treats.. drinking some warm water, licked some minerals, and that has been about it. I have probios paste in her.. will do some vitamin b, any other suggestions on quick starting an appetite? I also have several paste supplements like a,d,e,b12, selenium e, mineral max, etc. I think she would be far better along if I could get her eating something other than pine needles... ugh!

 

[elevan]

I've used jumpstart paste on a pygmy before who wasn't eating. Seemed to work.

http://www.jefferslivestock.com/jump-start-plus-60-gm/camid/LIV/cp/CA-J1/

 

[Roll farms]

Other than the B shot, I've got nothing.
Maybe add a little mollasses to the water.
Can you try putting the pine needles on / in some hay?

 

[ThornyRidge]

will try the pine needles.. I am going to give her a drenching of power punch too..see if that might help... if anyone comes up with anything else..

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I'd hold off on the grain until she starts eating her hay again. Do you have any propylene glycol? You could give her some of that.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Molasses or Magic will help her. Also, if you can get some Calf Manna that will stimulate her appetite.

Magic Recipe PM
1 pint of corn oil
1 pint of molasses
2 pints of Karo syrup
I warm it just a bit.
Give 2-3 ounces 3-4 times a day.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

i'm with Roll and getting B vitamins into her.

you don't have to give her a shot. you can go to almost any grocery store and get a bottle of B-1 vitamin tablets for people, mash them into a powder, mix with a little water, suck the whole thing into a non-needled syringe (ask for one at pharmacy), and squirt it into her mouth. you cant over dose her - she'll just pass what she doesnt use. start with one tab, tho.

its amazing how fast it works at getting her appetite up and running.

have you offered free choice baking soda?

good luck!

 

[ThornyRidge]

fyi.. i tried tricking her with putting some pine needles in with the hay.. and she is such a little... _____ she picked out the pine needles.. I got her to eat a little hay by holding it in my hand with a big clump of needles but she literally picked thru hay and spat out hay/grass and searched for needles.. even loose ones that fell to ground.. talk about finding a needle in a haystack... she can do it!!!! gave her some oral b also did a dose of power punch drench.. see what happens in am.. may be repeating all again!

 

[elevan]

Just thinking out loud here...

Pine needles are extremely high in vitamin c, I wonder if there is some reason that she is "craving" them.

There are certain times when my goats literally attack the pine tree that is in their enclosure and just gobble up every needle that they can reach. This however is not one of those times for them...but maybe it is for your girl.

Again, I'm just thinking out loud. Don't know what to make of it but thought I'd put it out there.

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

What I would try is b shot...molasses in water as well and give her a suppliment paste to maintain her.

But my thought is..sustain her as best you can..keep her good and hydrated but take away the choice of the pine needles. If she dos'nt have a choice she may go back to the hay...and check the hay...make sure there is no moisture or mold started..nothing funny she can smell. Shake out any dust etc or try a flake from a differant bale???

Hard saying...cuz if she's eating pine needles and drinking some warm water...shes not totally refusing to eat and drink??

Just a thought anyway worth a shot???