I am asking this question for my aunt who doesn't have internet access. Her first time freshening doe gave birth (halfway) to a stillborn kid. To rephrase, she found the goat in the barn with the kid 3/4 of the way out but dead. she helped get the kid out and decided that there were no more babies coming. My point is, that there was never any placenta. How long is the normal time for a placenta to come or what are the signs of a retained placenta? The goat seems to be doing fine, is chewing her cud, eating, pooping, etc. All except standing for any period of time without help(which could be from exaustion, for any of you who have had extended labors.)I'm just asking for any ideas, answers, suggestions. Thank you!! cara lewis cnllewis@email.com

-- cara lewis (cnllewis@email.com), March 23, 2000

Answers

I'm not sure with goats , but if it were a dog I would give it a shot of pit.I would not wait ,call the vet .If left untreated it could cause infection then death.How long did she stay with the goat ? Its possible it passed when she wasn't there.Go with the side of caution .An antibiotic wouldn't hurt either.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), March 23, 2000.

At this point fever is going to be your first sign that their is a problem. We keep ocytocin in the fridge for retained placenta's. Problem is, if it is after about 24 hours, really 12 hours the cervix closes and ocytocin just cause contrations against a closed cervix. To reopen the cervix you would have to manipulate it or use lutilize. The best thing to do is to take the does temperature, if it starts to elevate then a trip to the vet is the only thing that will save her. A trip to the vet right now, unless she ate the placenta, like Patty said, is what really needs to be done. We try to do most of our own veting, and after 14 years, I do lots of stuff for my goats and others. But there are times a vet is needed, and this is why a good relationship with a vet in your area before you need them, is a good idea. Usually retained placenta is presented with placenta hanging out, so I would guess she passed it while you weren't watching or worse, that there is another kid and the placenta, behind a closed cervix. Good luck with this doe. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 23, 2000.

I don't know about goats but we just had the same thing happen to a cow except the calf was not dead. Only difference, her placenta was partially hanging out and we could see it. If I hadn't read that it can sometimes take 10 days for them to pass the placenta I would have panicked. On the 7th day she passed it and has been doing fine. The book did say to watch to be sure she hadn't gone off feed which she didn't, and she looked healthy. It is possible I suppose goats could be different. Why don't you just call a vet and ask him? I was concerned about infection too but the cow did just fine.

-- barbara (barbaraj@mis.net), March 24, 2000.

Sometimes the placenta in a goat is hard to see, very small. A handful of ivy after birth- any kind- including stillbirth- will bring the placenta.

-- Chris Allen (cfallen00@hotmail.com), March 27, 2000.

Cara, I believe in patience is a virtue, seriously, If her behind is clean snd there is no odorous discharge, she probably ate the afterbith. A round of antibiotics is in order because of the dead kid. It won't hurt her and might prevent a serious infection. I have had a doe take several days to pass her afterbirth. The vet told me to just watch her for signs of illness, but he was sure she would pass it without intervention, and sure enough she did. Hope the goat is fine, too bad about the dead kid. karen

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoamama@hotmail.com), March 29, 2000.

My sisters goat just had triplets this week and didn't pass the placenta for a couple of hours,as we weren't sure just how long it should take we called the vet for advice and he said it could be up to 24 hours. Any change in behavior and he wanted to be called again. hope this helps. I would think that perhaps she passed the placenta when nobody was with her and digested it.

-- julie (nelson3@bright.net), March 29, 2000.