I have a question about a doe that just kidded a little over a week agao. She had twins. Found the little doe dead. The little buck is still alive but is not doing so good. He is not standing, although he does try. He is being bottle fed from another does milk since mother and babies are so sick. The doe has a hard udder. There is blood in the milk. She is not eating much at all. Have been giving her drenches, shots of LA200, and vitamins along with garlic. Have been milking her 4 times or more a day. Have been giving compresses 4 or more times a day also with warm water and vinegar. I am needing to find out if anyone would happen to know what the goats might have, and what else can I do for them? Thank you very much.

-- Martha Neale (mneale2@yahoo.com), April 10, 2001

Answers

Martha, www.Goatworld.com has a 911 emergengy site, and you can get help there. I would call the Vet, she sounds very sick. I have never expierenced this with my goats, but please go over to goatworld and get some help for her asap. I'm sorry she is so sick, keep us posted on her.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), April 10, 2001.

Martha, I would give the buck and the mom a shot of Bo-Se, which is selenium and Vit E. When my kids are weak in the legs after birth, this is what I give them. Try giving the doe some warm oatmeal. This seems to help them get going eating again. Also, molasses water (warm), and treats such as apples, carrots and raisins. This, along with the LA 2000, and such, should be helpful to her. Sissy

-- Sissy Sylvester-Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), April 10, 2001.

Does the doe have a fever? Anything rectally over 102 is a sign of concern and if you are giving LA200 after 3 days with no relief you are not using the correct drug.

How much milk are you getting when you do milk her out? If you are getting very little, than the kids probably died from not getting any calories from this hard udder. Without colostrum even the remaining kid has very little chance of growing. Though Bo-se 1/2 cc wouldn't hurt this kid, failure to thrive from lack of colostrum has got to be one of the biggest killers of kids.

Does the kids have diarrhea, a good sign of mastitis in the udder.

You may want to have your vet draw 6cc of blood and send in a CAE test to Wasington's College of Medicine 509-335-9696.

How long have you owned this doe? Do you have any history on her last lactation?

Good luck with this doe, please give us more information. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 10, 2001.