Just got called by my neighbor with a bottle baby, one that hung from the mother for a couple hours before he got home to pull it. He said yesterday the kid's head was very swollen, today it seems pretty normal, but he is afraid it might be "mentally challenged" I had offered to help with any bottle babies they got, with the understanding that I could buy them reasonably later if I wanted. Question is, how soon can you tell if they aren't ok? I know this happens to horses occasionally when they are oxygen starved at birth, and it's pretty easy to tell on them, but how will I be able to tell on this little guy? He's pretty cute, but noisy. Can't wait til hubby gets home from the fire department meeting tonight....he never knows what to expect to find in the back porch! Jan

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), April 10, 2001

Answers

Hi,

I work with "severly mentall challanged" students every say. My guess is that the head swelling is hydroencpylitis(sp... not enough caffine yet at 4:30) but if its water on the brain as the term means; then shunts will be needed to drain the fluid. I have never heard of this done in the animal world come to think of it, but my guess is they have done it on animals before doing it on humans yrs ago. I have read that rubbing DSMO on the neck and head area helps for nerve damamge, etc. You might want to consider that. Perhaps Vicki may have a better answer. If its brain damage then you may want to put the little one down, but there may be some hope, good luck.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

This happened to one of our foals last year and the vet gave it a shot.Literally within minutes,she was right again.I have no idea what the shot was but he said the birth was traumatic and the brain swelled.

-- teri (mrs_smurf2000@yahoo.ca), April 11, 2001.

The swollen head is from the trauma of birth. Bernice we had a Down's Syndrome kid born here, a beautiful little doe with a huge brain area, not swelling, the skull and everything was enlarged. Just like tetanus I have seen, both these kids mimiced the photos in Goat Medicine exactly. She couldn't stand up, and layed in the weird curled up position like a cat. It really was one of the first times I even contemplated having something done to a birth defected goat kid.

Jan, the first symptom always in a kid is no sucking reflex. So if he is nursing than he could eventually be o.k. I wouldn't be using anything on him, other than perhaps massage. Yes Dexamethazone could be used to bring this swelling down, but a dosage on a small kid like this would be a guess for anyone. Unless he is going to be your new juinor herd sire, I would definetly let nature take its course on this one. Save your time and energy and with the high costs of vets, your money on viable kids. Hope you have this little contract with this guy in writing! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 11, 2001.

I always wondered Vicki if goats or for that matter other animals could have the same mental or physical defects as humans, thats interesting. I've seen a few here, but nothing significant and they usually died after birth. that book you mentioned sounds really intersting, where did you get it from?

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

We had one little doe kid born one year that was a protracted and difficult labor with her being the last one out (with assistance). She was always very slow acting. Sucked well but literally didn't know enough to come in out of the rain.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 11, 2001.

Bernice Goat Medicine is in Hoeggers, Caprine Supply and for sale in Dairy Goat Journal and UNC sometimes. It's an expense but well worth it! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 11, 2001.

Thanks to all for responding. As of today, he is doing well, eating, moving around great, and the swelling is completely back to normal. He does think he is a lap goat, however, so he's out to the pen with our ewe today to see how he does. The granddaughter has already decided she is going to teach him tricks--how to shake hands and pull a cart! Told her I don't think the hand shaking thing is going to work, and if he isn't ok, we won't keep him. Thanks for the reassurance! Jan

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), April 12, 2001.