Selenium shots?

[NachoFarm]

So our horror this past weekend of losing twin kids who were born a month early has made us wonder what caused it. The vet said a selenium deficiency (apparently an issue in Southwestern Ontario) could have caused both the early labour and the retained placenta. We're not sure if our other doe is pregnant and we're not sure that the deficiency is what caused it but the vet said it was too late to administer any anyways. I read elsewhere that some people give selenium at four and two weeks prior to kidding. So, can I give it to the doe and ewes now? Should I? How do you know if you ACTUALLY have a selenium deficiency?

My vet also said that he doesn't recommend giving a CDT shot before lambing/kidding? In fact he didn't seem to know what I was talking about. Is it maybe different based on region? Now I'm not sure what to do. He gave me penicillin for the doe that aborted and selenium. No time like the present to learn to do injections myself. :/

 

[DonnaBelle]

BoSe is the prescription selenium injection for goats with Selenium deficiency.

Do you have loose minerals out for your goats? They need a goat specific LOOSE mineral.

We give an Essential CD & T injection in the rear butt muscle IM about a month before a goat kids.

We also make sure everyone gets a CD&T at least once a year.

I also think you need a new vet, preferably one that knows something about goats. Most vets don't. Any vet that doesn't know what a CD & T shot is wouldn't be my vet.

Ask around for a vet in your area that takes care of other goat owners goats.

Sheep have different nutritional needs. I don't know anything about sheep. PM Sheepgirl.

DonnaBelle

 

[NachoFarm]

They do have loose mineral out for them and baking soda. He just said that our entire area is deficient in selenium, but does that mean that my goats are too by default? How do I find out if they're actually deficient?

I just wondered if they call it something else here in Canada and that's why he didn't get my CDT reference...once I said tetanus he seemed to get the idea. These are great vets...but now I wonder. The goats had tetanus when they got here last year but I thought it was just for that and not a combo vaccine.

GAH! There's too much to learn.

 

[Goatherd]

I wouldn't be too hard on the vet. There may have just been a misunderstanding in the terms used, especially if he's not that familiar with goats. Be glad that you have a vet that can see you as many folks have difficulty finding a large animal vet.

To answer your question, if Selenium is deficient in your area, your goats will succumb also to this deficiency unless they eat large amounts of loose minerals enhanced with selenium.

This may may help you get the answer you're seeking: https://www.google.com/search?q=sel...kinso%2Fresearch%2F1998%2Fbeef98e.htm;546;497

 

[OneFineAcre]

I wouldn't be too hard on the vet. There may have just been a misunderstanding in the terms used, especially if he's not that familiar with goats. Be glad that you have a vet that can see you as many folks have difficulty finding a large animal vet.

To answer your question, if Selenium is deficient in your area, your goats will succumb also to this deficiency unless they eat large amounts of loose minerals enhanced with selenium.

This may may help you get the answer you're seeking: https://www.google.com/search?q=sel...kinso%2Fresearch%2F1998%2Fbeef98e.htm;546;497

x2
If your areas soil is deficient your goats are likely deficient.

We give our does their annual CDT vaccine booster about a month before they kid. The kids will be born with some immunity and will get immunity in her milk before you give their first CDT. We give ours around weaning, but others on here give earlier.