I have a toggenberg that has a swollen jaw and the runs. I thought I saw something about bottle jaw in a goat journal but now I can not find it. Does anyone know anything about this. She is about 4 years old and is eating good.

Thanks

-- phillip (raines@rainesridgefarm.com), October 29, 2001

Answers

Goat needs worming. If you have been using the same wormer for sometime now, maybe it's time to change to a new one. Bottle jaw is a collection of fluids from the body--which will be more in the P.M. after the goat has had it's head down grazing during the day--and then less in the A.M. after being at rest at night.

-- wayne (wtap@starband.net), October 29, 2001.

Several years ago one of my ewes had the same thing. She played with her jaw (moving it around like she had something stuck). Turned she had an absess. Stunk to high heaven. The vet said she had the runs because the absess was draining into her mouth then she would swallow it. Try smelling her breathe. If it smells like puss could be an absess. If its an absess tooth the vet will probably need to take care of it. Good luck.

-- jennifer (schwabauer@aol.com), October 29, 2001.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/2178/worms.html

Click on "Is your goat showing signs of parasites" for an excellent photo of bottle jaw and also anemia. You want to get your worm problems under control before bottle jaw, anemia and diarrhea. If bred she is likely now to absorb the fetus's, if open she is not growing or breeding during this time, or loss of production of meat or milk. Worming when you see signs is worming for salvage, it also tells you that whatever you are worming with is not working. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), October 29, 2001.