I have a Alpine goat that gave birth to triplets on March 7- Today I Noticed a bloody discharge and see that her poops are not the usual but instead clumpy. Took her temp.,that was normal.

She has free choice of hay-grain in a.m. and has been wormed.Her appetiate is great and she is her normal ornary self- Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much in advance!!

Brigid

-- Brigid Luckey- Smith (lckysmth@bellsouth.net), March 24, 2001

Answers

She kidded about two weeks ago and still has a discharge, it sounds like she stopped and then it started up again? It sounds to me as though another goat has been slamming into her and causing her to bleed again. The clumpy stools are probably unrelated to the bleeding, maybe a diet change or possibly worms, which thrive after a goat kids. You might consider doing a fecal test and worming her.

-- Rebekah Leaf (daniel1@itss.net), March 25, 2001.

Brigid...I have two does (Alpines) that regularly have triplets and it seems like their discharge always last longer than my other does that have singles or twins. I would think that as long as the discharge is not pus-laden and there is no temp, she's probably fine. You did say that she had been wormed and was eating and acting normal. And I'd worry more about her stools if she had diarrhea. But keep an eye on her! Good luck.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), March 25, 2001.

2 weeks isn't long enough to worry about a prolonged discharge. Lots of times my Lamancha's would keep themselves so clean that the only discharge we would see was jumping down from the milk stand. You can always check for infection yourself with a glove. Insert two fingers and smell also checking her temperature. Smell and or fever would warrant some antibiotics.

Clumpy poop is usually a sign of molassas in the grain, more grain than normal, a switch to more alfalfa than usual and of course worms. A change of wormer may be needed, what kind did you use and how much? How long have you been using it? Can you take a fecal sample to the vet, or another goat owner who does her own? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 25, 2001.