First of all thank you to everyone who has offered information and help on this forum- it was all the assistance that prepared me for the kidding of my first goat(an Alpine). Well all went well and she kidded 3 beautiful babies however one can not walk-his back legs will not straighten out- I heard somewhere that you can use popsicle sticks as splints- at what point should I do this? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated-

Thanks so much,Brigid

-- Brigid Smith (lckysmth@bellsouth.net), March 05, 2001

Answers

Hi Brigid I'm sure there will be better goat people than I along shortly - but are the others nursing yet - and if so, has the little one with leg problems been able to? Might have to help hold him up until you find out more. Hope it all goes well. Cynthia

-- Cynthia Speer (farmsteader@gvtel.com), March 05, 2001.

Hi,

CONGRATS on those kids.... As for the leg problem, could be due to either a selinium deficience or either crapming in the uterus. Have you tried giving the kid a shot of BO-SE pr MU-Se yet/ that helps a lot with leg issues, its from a selinium deficiency called white muscle disease. i'm not sure where you are located but many areas are selinium deficient. there is a website with the areas, forget it off top of my head but its on the goat shed list, at msn communities. Come join us there if you can:0:0

We have had kids born out of twins and triplest with thios problem, in fact just had a doe born a few weeks ago with awful looking feet to a first freshner. Her feet were sloped at the ends like hockey sticks. i told hubby there was no way i thought it would get better, he said just let me give her a MU-Se shot, our vets version of BO-Se and wait a few days. i just shok my head but said. "OK>" and her feet did straighten out, she is fine now. i was worried as she is out of our heavy milking line and i figured she amy need to be culled as there was just no way she could make all that milk when she gets older on feet like that! Hubby got one on me there. Hope this helps.

you could try splinting, i have never tried it but maybe Vicki or someone may know.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), March 05, 2001.

Thanks so much for the help!!!The little guy is extemely vigorous and crawls all over to get his opportunity to nurse-the second kid is not as assertive but I have made sure all three have gotten a chance to nurse.

Iam concerned that he will get stepped on by Momma.Should I remove him or see how he is tommorrow-Again Thanks so much everyone!

Brigid

-- Brigid Smith (lckysmth@bellsouth.net), March 05, 2001.

I had a doe kid too early. The doe kid died shortly after birth but the buck kid survived (isn't that usually the way it happens?). He was too weak to nurse and had to be tube fed the first few days. He also couldn't walk but it was due to his being premature. His coat was plush like a stuffed animal. We named him Experience because he would hopefully teach us how to deal with other premies, the next one possibly being a doe we really wanted to save. Rather than spinting his legs, I exercised them by gently and slowly extending and flexing them until he resisted. When I would extend them, I did it until he would try to pull the leg back. When I flexed, I kept putting pressure on his folded leg until he pushed. At first he walked like a stiff legged wind up toy but he eventually got the knack of it and moved with the same ease, grace and agility of a full term kid.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), March 05, 2001.

Brigid, Can the kid use its rear legs at all? Are they functional and lacking good tone or are they useless?If they work but not well Marilyn sounds like she is on to something with the counter force exercises she did on her kid.If it has no use of the rear legs you could maybe give it the chance that it may improve if it is eating well.Otherwise it may be better in the long run to put the kid down.I hope it is just a slow developer. Good Luck.

-- greg (gsmith@tricountyi.net), March 06, 2001.

Brigid, lots of times one of a multiple of kids, especially in a first or second freshener, or with someones new goats and new mangement will have some problems like this. I would also help him along with physical therapy, stretching those contracted tentons out for him, splinting the legs with pipe insulation and vet wrap, this makes it easy to get the splints off and on to massage him, and I would also give him a shot of Bo-se. Can you contact your vet about a selinium injection? Or perhaps another breeder in the area? You could visit the Goatworld.com 911 list and perhaps find someone in your area that way. Good luck with the kid! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 06, 2001.