I have two doe kids, never bred, about 1 1/2 years old. They are Nubian/Saanen mix. I have them with their mother (which they still insist on nursing) and a wether in a pasture. Yesterday I noticed one of the kid's left teet was swollen. It doesn't look red or feel warmer than any other part of the body and no marks that I have seen. Can anyone tell me why it would be swollen or what to do about it? Thank you.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), July 21, 2001

Answers

Just to make sure i understand this, the doe kids are yearlings, 1 & 1/2 yrs old? and they are still nursing? It could be they have what is know as precousis udder (sp?) and that is causing the swelling, but that usually is evident at an earlier age. Have you checked it to see if milk comes out?

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), July 21, 2001.

R, the teat itself is swollen or the udder on that whole side and the teat? Just as a side note, when you allow does of this age to nurse, they not only will nurse their dams but other goats and sometimes themselves as milkers. In a more natural state their dam would have been rebred and she would have had another set of kids by now, during this pregnancy she would have weaned these two yearlings when they were much younger, so she could meet the demands of pregnancy and milking, for her kids she is pregnant with. I would seperate the yearlings away from their dam, perhaps leaving her with the wether for company, and you will probably have to do this for several months. I hope the girls don't just start nursing off of each other, with the saanen in them they could eaisly bring themselves into milk. Sounds like you need to have a older buck come visit and get everyone bred, giving the does something else to do! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 21, 2001.

I should clarify, it is swollen udder, not teet. I mentioned this to someone and they first suspected they were nursing each other. They are out in pasture and so I don't see them very often. I will see about seperating them. They are also going to get bred this fall/ winter. Thank you for your answers.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), July 22, 2001.