Our boys have tummy aches and hard bellies

[sadieml]

I am currently going through the VERY new process of weaning. I've never weaned ANYTHING. Even my babies. I believe in self-weaning as a rule, but for bottle-fed goaties that's not a choice. I started at 8 weeks by lowering volume to 8 oz 3 times daily. Then decided to cut out midday bottle and give them their grain then, since they like it, and then put them out to browse. First day they fussed a bit, wanting their bottles, I'm sure. Second day, it rained, so they couldn't browse like usual, but they spent the day in their pen, in the house, ate some sweet gum and oak leaves we took to them, and lots of hay. Last night, after all the hay, they had tight tummies. Today, their tummies are rock hard (both sides), they won't take baking soda, I gave them 1 Tbsp each of Pepto. Tried to reward with a few ounces of midday milk, and they aren't even very excited about that. We have been massaging tummies, there a very few tummy sounds from the rumen. One of them drank a lot of water. They are not themselves. Not peppy and playful. AND more rain today, all day and I have to be gone ALL DAY tomorrow. Any ideas? I know that any changes in feeding patterns can cause tummy upset. My DH believes too many myths about goats and says "don't worry, they'll be fine, they're GOATS!" Is this just normal adjustment to new feeding pattern, or could it be bloat? So worried about not being with them tomorrow.

 

[Southern by choice]

@babsbag & @frustratedearthmother may have better ideas than I!

You are going to have to drench them with the baking soda. There is also a soap method- but I think that is for frothy bloat.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

No, this is not normal.

STOP the pepto! You WANT them to poo, fart & burp! Take away any grain ASAP! Try to keep them moving.

I would start treating for bloat. You will need to drench them. I have never had bloat before but I have this printed out and put away in my "handy-dandy goat book"
http://goat-link.com/content/view/16/29/#.VjfeiNKrTDc

 

[sadieml]

Do we need to intubate? I am pretty comfortable with the idea, but have not done it before. I'm pretty sure we'll know if we hit the trachea and not the esophagus by the choking.

 

[sadieml]

Alright! Update, we made baking soda paste, sorta force-fed them, gave them tummy rubs, got lotsa gurgles and belches, and some farts. We couldn't walk them for very long due to the rain. Besides, sugar melts in the rain. c:
@goatgurl @babsbag @frustratedearthmother @Goat Whisperer @Southern by choice Any further advice?
p.s. thanks sooo much for all the help!

 

[bonbean01]

Agree with drenching them...only way to know how much they got and gets to the right place right away. I would massage their bellies and keep them moving...rain or not...that is what I would do.

Hope they will be okay

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Ok, I don't see it mentioned where they had grain. Am I correct that they over consumed hay and not grain? It looks like they're not accustomed to that much roughage. Was the hay good quality or is it possible that it was moldy?

Have you checked their temps just in case there is something else going on?

IF it's over-consumption of hay I would remove all hay and all grain and just leave them with water for 8 - 10 hours.

Have they been vaccinated for C & D? If not, I'd give them some C&D ANTITOXIN as soon as I could get some. Then be sure they get the longer acting Toxoid vaccination.

Also, my next step would be a couple of ounces of Milk of Magnesia - no more pepto! Like GW said - you want that mess to move on out of there!

Rumen massage is a good idea. Please keep us informed and I really hope it gets better quickly!

There is some good info on this site:

http://www.urbanfarmonline.com/urban-livestock/goats/goat-illnesses.aspx

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I agree with @frustratedearthmother 100%

Sorry, I was in a rush to go feed & milk!!

 

[goats&moregoats]

Hope all is going well. I had to massage stomachs all day long for two kids. Scared me to death they did! Drench, massage & walk, absolutely no grain. Good luck!

 

[babsbag]

Everything everyone else said...Both times we have had bloat here we drenched them with cooking oil. Both were adult goats and we gave them about 3-4 cups. The first time was about 33 years ago and a vet told us to do the oil drench, the next time was about 7 years ago and we did the same treatment. Now that I know more about goats I realize that that treatment is probably more for frothy bloat but it worked all the same.

What kind of grain are you giving them? I feed my kids a pellet feed, but not "grain", they really don't need any grain. Only my does in milk get grain.

You can put your ear to their left side and listen for the rumen sounds? It will sound like a toilet flushing about every 30 seconds. Hopefully they are better by now. If they have acidosis in addition to bloat it is a whole new ballgame and much harder to treat. There is a bolus called Laxade that you can mix in water and drench them. My vet told be about it and she says "it is the bomb"...and she is right. I used it on a goat that got into Calf Manna and helped herself, she was one sick goat for almost a week.

Please let us know how they are doing.