Okay, I checked the archives first.

I went out to feed tonight, and one of my Nubian wethers is standing in the barn, looking rather listless, and not eating. He does not have a temperature, and he doesn't really look particularly bloated. I can't figure out what's wrong with him. He looks marginally interested in food but not eating. I have been gone for about 4 hours. He was fine this a.m.

If I give him milk of magnesia (1/4 c.) will it do any HARM to him if it isn't bloat? In other words, are there contraindications? Or mineral oil? If either, what quantities? Which is best?

The other wether is fine. So are the sheep. I have been feeding alfalfa/hay mix, and I wonder if there's too much protein for the boys (although it's pretty grassy.) Calculi? I haven't seen any urination. There is no diarrhea symptom. No obvious stool, either though. Could he have simply overeaten? I haven't changed his feed.

I put a jacket on him, in case he's cold. He walks a little hunched. What should I do now? Thanks. His eyes are okay. If I press on his belly, it doesn't feel like a huge mass of air or anything. (with sheep their sides get really distended if bloated...are goat symptoms different?) he does sort of belch (like bringing up cud) a little if I press his gut.

This is rambling, but I don't have time to proofread and edit. Thanks!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), January 05, 2001

Answers

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-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), January 05, 2001.

Sheepish: How old is your wether? I really don't think MOM would hurt anything but I am not sure that I would give it. Have you tryed him with a treat? The few times I have had goats bloat it was very obvious. If he were mine I think I would check him again at bed time, if he still was acting so punky I would give a shot of Vit. B, and see how he was in the morning. Does he free range out on pasture, could poisoning be a possibility?

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 05, 2001.

thx Diane. He's about 2+ years old. He free ranges, but there's hardly even grass growing out there right now, so I can't imagine what it could be, if he indeed did get into anything. He is just standing like he's uncomfortable.

What would a B12 shot do? I don't have one on hand. I could take him into the vet in a.m. (hope he gets better)

What dose MOM? 1/4 cup okay? With water? or alone? This is a big goat.

Thanks again.

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), January 05, 2001.

the reason I was suggesting the B vit. shot was just to boost the system and if he was heading into polio or something it is alway better to treat early. (I am paranoid there, had a few get really bad really fast). I don't ever use MOM but I would think 1/4 cup would do. Do you have trees in the pasture?? Like cherry or anything?? I always keep activated charcol around (like what you give a child for poison) and a big vial of B complex on hand. Both are cheap, don't hurt anything if given when not really needed and make me feel like I am doing something when all I can do is wring my hands. So much for magic goat science!!! Oh, plain for the MOM with water available.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 05, 2001.

Sheepish, if he's hunched he could be having his ureter clogged. I understand it's really common with wethers Anyway, ammonium chloride will help if that's the case. If you feel his 'wee' it should not be dry and crystally feeling. Watch and see if he will drink...add cider vinegar to the water.

If you feed him grain this might be it. There was a thread in the archives regarding this.Also alfalfa hay is too rich in any quantity for wethers. The vinegar will be a good acidifier, but it might not be enough, hence the ammonium chloride. Please check back!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), January 05, 2001.

Sheepish - I had a Nubian wether once that got the equivalent of bladder stones. Couldn't urinate. When you touched his stomach, it hurt him. The vet insisted it was bloat and drenched him. I lost that goat. And never never called that vet again. My understanding is that this is pretty common in male neutered goats. As in cats also. Vinegar is said to help alleviate this problem, but probably not after the fact.

-- Dianne (willow@config.com), January 05, 2001.

Sheepish, this really could be lots of things but to start with take his temp. An elevated temp and this weather is a sure sign of pnemonia starting.

You can sometimes feel the stones of urinary calculi by rolling the sheath in your fingers, if you feel grit or sand like crystals then you need to treat him immediatly. Visit the goatworld.com 911 site, and hopefully someone on their will be in your area, most folks keep ammonium chloride on hand. Tempt him to drink with koolaid, molassas water, gatoraid anything you can think of and then watch for him to pee. Should be a steady stream and not spurts or straining. Even if this turns out to be something else, nix the alfalfa hay. Grass hay and good browse is really the only thing wethers need. If you must grain, think single grains like just some corn or oats. Keep a sharp eye on him, blanket him and keep him warm. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 05, 2001.

Thanks all. I appreciate your replies. I suspect calculi, to tell the truth, just by his hunched over appearance and having had male cats that have experienced it. He was lying down when I went out again. He is now up and standing with his head low. I gave him MOM (a little bit with H2O) I don't have the chemicals, but I have a couple of friends nearby who might. I'll see if they can help. Thanks. Should I try to drench him with H20 if he won't drink with additives, etc.?

I don't grain him and he has some blackberry browse in the pasture. However, there is less of it, and he may be eating more hay. Vicki, you told me before, and I should have listened better about the alfalfa/grass. It's just that it's the same that I feed my sheep.

You are all the best. Thank you for being here.

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), January 05, 2001.

Well. I walked out to the barn this morning and he was on his feet looking out the barn door. He came outside with everyone else and while not frisky, was sturdy. He looks a little more alert. He nibbled at some grass hay tentatively, and ate a little. I put a tiny amount of wet cobb in my hand and he gobbled that up and followed me back into the barn for another tiny bit. He had access to fresh water all night, but I did not observe him drink.

I am now considering that he may have eaten something strange/poisonous/rotten? A piece of hardware? I can't figure this out. We have had a lot of windstorms lately (yesterday) so maybe something blew in the pasture and he ate it. (yard cuttings?) I didn't see anything this a.m.

I will however, get him started on the ammonium chloride and switch his hay (and his brother's) as well as keep an eye on him. If I need to take him in to the vet today I will.

Thanks again to you all for your help. I'll keep you posted.

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), January 06, 2001.

Last update: He is trotting around in the pasture, eating blackberry leaves like caviar and being slightly annoying. His stool and urine look fine and no straining. I guess he's back to normal! I am still implementing a new regimen for him, though. Guess it was a stomach- ache or maybe he was just trying to get some sympathy (I guess "goats ARE smart.") Actually, I think he was pretty sick!

Thanks again for all your help and your emails to me directly too. What a bunch of caring people on this Forum! Bless you. Ten-four.

-- sheepish (WA) (rborgo@gte.net), January 06, 2001.

I'm glad he is doing well, sheepish!!! Thanks for the update. I keep ac on hand, but I don't give it everyday....just do the cider vinegar water thing. Maybe I should. Again, yeah for the goat!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), January 06, 2001.