abort. However, she apparently must have been carrying twins as she is still pregnant with one baby - approximately 3 months along.

So I guess she must have been bred right before I got her. Although the breeder told me she wasn't bred.

Has anyone else had this happen? I wonder if the aborted fetus was abnormal in some way and how big it was? I did check her stall and the yard and no sign of anything. If it was an abnormal fetus maybe it was so small I wouldn't have noticed it, is this possible?

Lucy is now on antibiotics (5 days) and an anti-inflammatory shot (3 days). She looks like she has already cheered up. Now I just have a lot of reading up before the big event. I'm sure I'll be back with lots of questions.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), November 13, 2001

Answers

It might have never developed normally to begin with .Her body may have asorbed most of it .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), November 13, 2001.

Anita, It could be that you didn't find it because an animal carried it off and took care of it. It is natures way of keeping a clean yard

-- Chris in PA (CLMngs@aol.com), November 13, 2001.

I am the worlds biggest cynic! But.....just how did your vet come to the conclusion she was still bred? She put a speculum up inside her and viewed this kid through the cervics? She ultrasounded her? Xray vision!! :) How did she come up with that she was 3 months bred still? 3 months bred would have given you a lot more than just some blood on her tail! You would have a fetus in the yard. If the anti- inflammatory shot is Dexamethzone than she isn't going to be bred for long even if she still was, which I doubt! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), November 13, 2001.

Nope...never had that happen in the many years that we have been raising goats. But,..hey anything can happen, right ?? We did one year have a goat that kidded kids were "bald" in appearance with no hair, fully developed and all, of course they were dead. I wouldn't worry too much on how the vet came to this conclusion as long the your goat is fine and doing well. Good Luck !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), November 14, 2001.

The vet palputated my goat and felt the fetus. She also had the vet tech do the same as he raises goats and has lots of experience and he said he agreed with the vet. The 3 months along was an estimate on the part of the vet. If she was bred the day before I got her then she would be about 3 months along.

If she did abort a 3 month old fetus then yes, there should have been a fetus in the yard. We did check the yard as best as we could but there is about a 6 inches of leaves over the entire fenced yard plus the dogs were out there - I suppose it's possible they could have eaten it (I don't know).

At this point we'll have to just wait and see what happens. I marked my calendar with the latest a baby should show up, assuming she bred the day before we got her. I'll keep an eye on her and see what happens.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), November 14, 2001.

Just for grins, what was the name of the anti-inflammatory? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), November 14, 2001.

Vicki is right. If any type of steroid was used (dexamethasone, flumethasone, prednisone, prednisolone, etc.) and she did still have a fetus, it probably will not survive and the doe will likely abort the rest of the way.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), November 14, 2001.

The vet gave her Banamine as the anti-inflammatory and Naxcel as the antibiotic.

Lucy is still bleeding and passed some tissue today, she seems happier than she did this morning. She is eating fine.

I wish I knew what was going on with her and I wish I could take the word of my vet but they have been known to be wrong. At this point I'm just waiting to see what happens.

-- Anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), November 14, 2001.

Vicky, don't you think she'll be alright with Naxcell. I have used it before but only once on a pregnant animal. Banamine is like aspirin I think. My sheep have absorbed their fetus before but only once I had a ewe deliver a dead baby, and two days later had another baby that didn't make it either. I thought she had eaten the placenta. I now check when I don't find a placenta. When I say I have sheep that absorbed their fetus, this was just a feeling, I knew they had been marked then became sick, then bounced back with no baby. So..I am guessing.

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), November 14, 2001.

Anita, I'm no expert on this but have had a similiar case. It is rare but animal can have to sepaerate breedings. Your Doe could have been bred at the time you purchased her and then bred after arriving at your place. It is not uncommon for the second breeding to "slip" within a month or two after. One of my Nubian Does last season delivered to a set of twins, Term. An hour later she delivered to a preemie, I know it was because I had a Necropsy performed. It was only 2 months into it's development. It was healthy fetus just way to early. I would not use the Banamine for an extended time as it can cause it's own little problems. Aspirin, Adult dosage works well for fever and inflammation. Of course I'm anti-chemical :), just wanted to let yo know my two cents. Hope your girl does okay and delivers a beautiful kid for you.

LaDonna In NE

-- LaDonna in NE (law@nctc.net), November 28, 2001.