This has happened in the past to both myself and a commercial milker nearby. I have had 2 complete necropsys done, with no conclusive results. I have a 2 1/2 month old buck kid (LaMancha if that matters, happened before to a reg Nubian)that had been vaccinated (C,D & T at 2weeks then booster 2 weeks later, then a month later)and eating well. Suddenly two evenings ago he didn't come out of the shed with the rest for dinner. He was weak, but able to stand and still wanting to eat greens and calf starter. I started him on PenG and gave a dose of anti toxin and B12 & B complex. The next morning he was weaker and unwilling to stand, I placed a jugular catheter and started a 5% dextrose lactated ringers drip. He continues to refuse to stand, but eats calf starter. I am tubing him with goat milk every 2 hours. Stool is normal and he is in good weight. He's got the 'death' head position, but still keeps hanging in there, any suggestions, and but QUICK!?!?!

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), August 22, 2001

Answers

Just off the top of my head I would go over to saanendoah.com read up in the serious goat stuff, on floopy kid and use the baking soda treatment, at necropsy no findings is pretty normal with it. Also the B complex doesn't have enough B1 in it to use at a normal dosage, so up it, go to the med section, I know on a full grown doe 15cc is how much complex you would need to get enough B1, the rest is excreted, though hard on the liver of an ailling kid. This would treat polio. Enterotoxemia has some of the same symptoms but kids are screaming with abdominal pain. Are his gums nice and healthy pink? This is the perfect age for cocci, also, and you don't have to have diarrhea for a kid to die of damage from cocci or hemoncous worms. A fecal sample will quickly tell you this. Most floopy kid is misdiagnosed as Ecoli. You could also pick Joyce's brain on the saanendoah.com site, also for further information on floopy kid, know there is another great article on it, but just can't remember. Email Bernice, on this site privately maybe she will remember. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 22, 2001.

blister beetles in hay?

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), August 22, 2001.

Have you thought of white muscle disease? Treat with Vitamin E and selenium. If that's your problem at this point injections would be required to save him.

-- Marsha Holley (mholley@softhome.net), August 23, 2001.

Gave a Selenium injection (even though its supplemented in my feed) He stands up now for a few minutes at a time. I'm doubting floppy kid since he isn't floppy, just weak. I've added baking soda just in case. Dianne

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), August 24, 2001.

Is there a possibility he got rammed or hurt by one of the older goats? Internal injuries? I lost one about 3 months old this way a few years ago. I got rid of that doe too.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), August 24, 2001.