Hello All, I have never owned a goat until now and my goat is very sick. She gave birth to twins last week and when we went out to see her in the morning, they were both dead. She was four when we got her and her previous owner said that she was "seasoned". Everything about her at that time seemed to be fine. Today when I went to see her, she walked for about 10-15 minuets and then fell down. She did this for about 1 hour. We finally put her in her pen and my husband took her temp. It was 104 degrees. He said that her eyes looked funny and that her head was twitching. She eventially fell down and would not get up. My husband gave her a shot of vitamin K, and penicillan and thiamin. He seems to think that she has what is considered Polio in humans. I am wondering if it is because she still has a dead baby or afterbirth in her. In essence, I don't know what came first, her sickness causing the babies to be born dead, or her pregnancy making her sick. I really love her and am so worried about her. Any suggestions would really help me a lot. Thank you everyone in advance. Candace

-- Candace Zenni (biz2121@hotmail.com), October 22, 2001

Answers

Go to goatworld.com they have a 911 emergency site and you can contact someone in your area.Have you called your vet ? I think you are off to a good start .I would say infection with the temp .You may need something alot stronger than penicillion as its not the best .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), October 22, 2001.

Was your goat innoculated for enterotoxemia? If you did as Patty said, about calling your vet or the 911 emergency, then they have spoke to you about this. Is she a milking doe? Was any of her milk released after the dead kids? Did you see the afterbirth? Meaning, did she pass it? Please let us know the results. Good luck.

-- Jackie from Northern New York (homefarm@webtv.net), October 22, 2001.

Do I understand correctly that the kids were still born? It could be entirely possible that there is still a dead kid in there poisoning her. No amount of antibiotics or dietary supplements will help if there is still afterbirth or a dead kid in the uterous. You need to have a goat vet look at her and go inside to make sure there is nothing else in there. Once the uterus is cleaned out she will respond to antibiotics and supplements.

A polio type ailment seems like a real stretch. Start with the most obvious possibilities first. She just freshened with dead kids, so her present illness is almost certainly related to the pregnancy. Whatever caused the kids to be still born is what is ailing her now. Could be milk fever (calcium deficiency), severe deficiency in Selenium, or any number of other things.

If you can't get anybody out there VERY soon and if she continues to deteriorate, then you need to go in yourself to make sure the uterus is empty of the placenta and any other kids. Because the birth canal is no longer dilated, it may be necessary to cut the kid into pieces before removing (after a week, it may just tear apart). Sorry to be so graphic, but this is the way it is. You want to be as sterile as possible. Scrub like a surgeon up to your shoulders with antibacterial soap. If you have some Banamine, give a dose for the pain and allow a little time for it to take effect. Once you have cleaned the uterus, then give her the recommended dosage of penecillin or stronger if you have it. Also, give her the following: Bo-Se; C&D ANTITOXIN; Tetanus ANTITOXIN (antitoxin is not the same as the vaccination, which is called toxoid); Vitamin B- Complex; Calcium Gluconate; and electrolytes (pedialtye works well). Probios will help keep the rumen working well since the antibiotics can tend to kill off the good bacteria. If she never came into milk, I might suspect milk fever. This needs to be treated with large quantities (quarts at a time) of sterile calcium gluconate administered SQ on either side behind the shoulders. It can be given orally, but is not as effective that way.

I must stress that I am no expert. Go to www.goatworld.com/911 for more help.

-- Skip in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), October 22, 2001.

One more thing: normal temp for a goat is around 102, so a temp of 104 is not dangerous, but does indicate a possible infection.

-- Skip in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), October 22, 2001.

Thank you all so very much for your speedy replies. In response to your questions, she gave birth between midnight and possibly 4am. When we went to see her there ws no placenta. I assumed that she ate it. One of the kids was dry and fluffy, the other one was wet and slick. She is not a milking goat, just a pet. We did milk her before we gave hera shot to dry her up. She filled two ice cube trays. Also, another thing we just found out was that the hay for some reason in her manger was moldy. Could that be tied in some how? Again, thank you all. Candace

-- Candace Zenni (biz2121@hotmail.com), October 23, 2001.

Moldy hay will not help but I really think there is more to it .Did you get anyone on 911 ? I am thinking you really should have the vet come out and take a look .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), October 23, 2001.

There's your answer, Listerosis. She was trying to circle when she walked but colapsed, also explains the fever. Go to saanendoah.com and read up on it. We have talked about it on here, and also on goatworld.com in the archives. Never feed molded anything to a rumeniant!

Why her kids were born dead, or actually more to why did she kill them, is more than likely answered in why was she sold. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 23, 2001.

She could have milk fever. Which means that her calcium is very low. This is not uncommon if goats who will be /are heavy producers. IV calcium is needed. It could be Listerosis as one reply said. In the future be sure your hay is free of mold. Goats be they pet quality or show quality need access to mold free feed , fresh clean water and mineral salt on a daily basis. Free choice baking soda also helps with keeping the Ph in the rumen balanced. Good luck. Terry C. Garratt Walnetto Farm Nubian and LaMancha Dairy Goats.

-- Terry C. Garratt (walnetto@mediaone.net), October 26, 2001.