Sick Baby Goat

freeindeed · 10-17-2009, 04:41 AM

Help-advice needed please! I went to visit a local pumpkin patch yesterday and saw a little goat there shivering and being bullied by a large billy. The owner (a friend, she doesn't know much more about goats than I, these goats are on loan to her for the month) let me take it home. I thought a good warm up and some food and water would do the trick. Wrong. The goat is somewhere between 4 and 8 weeks of age. My friend had it on free choice hay which it was ignoring, and 16% all stock sweet feed which it is now ignoring also. It has been drinking, Karo syrup sweetened water. I tried goats milk from the grocery store in a baby bottle but it is not interested. The little goat just stands around with its head down acting depressed. Poop is normal consistency (pellets) but not much. Some pee, not much. Breath sounds clear (used stethoscope) but a little sneezing. No evidence of fever. Any ideas? I just gave it a teaspoon of Pepto, but no signs of bloat.

Karen Cole · 10-17-2009, 09:32 PM

My first thought is pnumonia IF she were mine I would start her ASAP on SMZ960 tablets they are 1 tablet per 100#s. For kids less than 25#s I still give 1/4 tablet , twice a day for 10 days. Nuflor is also really good for pnumonia but the SMZ tablets (yes horse pills) work better for Pasturella based pnumonia in extream cases SMZ and Nuflor (need to look up dose...RX only) can be given at the same time. Pasturella works on the outside of the lung first by the time it gets inside and you hear congestion and get fever 99.9% of the time you should just start digging. Tribrissen liquid also works well it's the liquid form of SMZ tablets.

Keep her warm and draft free is also important. Try to get some electrolytes down her...make them with warm water. Vit B will boost her energy and her appitite. B-complex comes in an injectable form and a paste, I would probally give her between 2cc and 5cc under the skin if I gave the injectable, daily. For the tube if it's the small one I'd give about a quarter of it twice a day until she feels better. It's water soluable so any extra she doesn't need she'll pee out.

Wouldn't hurt to have a fecal done, when goats are stressed often times they suffer from worm overload and /or cocci overload. This can happen even with solid poops.

OH and NEVER put a kid in a with a mature buck! (I know it wasn't you) You'd not put a weanling in with a stallion durring breeding season. It is possible if the kid is a doe and it's 8 weeks old that she is bred. It's also very possible that the buck would have beat the kid bad enough to kill it and/or cause massive internal injuries esp. in a small area. If the doe is bred she can be aborted for that you'd have to get vet instructions and there is a very small window of time.

Good Luck
Karen

singing tree · 10-17-2009, 09:41 PM

An eight week old goat can be bred????????

Karen Cole · 10-18-2009, 07:41 AM

Yes, Not likely but yes. If it's a mini type breed it's very possible I have heard of several people who bought dam/daughers and left the buckling that have gotten kids out of both 5 months later. The only buck they were exposed to was the buck that was still on the side of the doe.

I forgot to mention the owner of the kid should be notified as well asap. I would be livid if I loaned a goat out and was not told it was sick.

Karen

Range · 10-18-2009, 10:00 AM

I would also want to know if she was fully on grain. If she's 4 weeks, she might not be able to handle the grain yet. The goat's milk you get in the store isn't going to be good enough for the baby, you would need milk replacer.

Hopefully she's 8 weeks and fully weaned and it's pneumonia. Easily treatable with antibiotics.

freeindeed · 10-18-2009, 10:55 AM

Unfortunately the little guy didn't make it. I did get some Pen G on the advice of a friend and gave him an injection yesterday. He seemed to bounce back a little after that, but I was still having to feed him with a syringe every 2 hours, just a mix of water, Karo syrup and goat "drench" supplement. He fought the good fight, just couldn't overcome the odds against him. He died in my arms at 4:00 this morning.

Karen Cole · 10-19-2009, 04:42 PM

Iam not surprised good for you for trying though. Pen. G is about worthless for pnumonia in goats esp. if you are dealing with Pasturella and Iam 99.9% sure that was the problem.

Karen

laughter777 · 10-19-2009, 04:56 PM

I am sorry the kid didn't make it. They are so sweet and cute at that age and it hurts to see that happen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Range

I would also want to know if she was fully on grain. If she's 4 weeks, she might not be able to handle the grain yet. The goat's milk you get in the store isn't going to be good enough for the baby, you would need milk replacer.

Hopefully she's 8 weeks and fully weaned and it's pneumonia. Easily treatable with antibiotics.

Just for future reference, most milk replacers are crap for goat kids...whole vitamin D cow milk from the grocery store is the next best thing to mom's milk.

farmergal · 10-20-2009, 11:59 PM

Aw!

I'm so sorry to hear that, I was rooting for the little guy. They go down hill so quick when they are young. You gave him your best effort.
RIP little guy

freeindeed · 10-21-2009, 08:35 PM

Thanks so much to everyone for your advice and kind words. I wish I had known to try a different type of antibiotic first for the kid. I tried calling every vet in a 75 mile radius of my house on Sat., none of them handle goats. I am glad the little guy didn't have to die alone in the cold. He had been thru so much (orphaned at 3 days old, passed around from home to home, lost his twin brother to what was probably the same illness, and then bullied and tossed around by that buck). It WAS very hard to see him go, he started yelling at about 3:55 am and I ran down the steps to him. First I thought he might be hungry (hoping) but then instinct kicked in and I realized he needed to be held. I had just sat down in the rocker with him, he relaxed, took three deep breaths, and that was it. Sometimes I wonder why some get so much time here and others so little. Not my call, though. Thanks again to all.

Dream Ponies · 10-21-2009, 08:50 PM

I am so sorry as that is a horrible thing to go through. As for the vets in this case, they are a disappointment to their profession. Having worked for a vet as a teen, no animal in need was ever turned away. With the internet it seems a treatment plan could have been at least tried. At least you tried and the poor little one knew nothing but love in his last hours.

snwflk · 10-22-2009, 12:48 AM

Its hard, but you did a great job.. LIke the other said.. At least he had a mama for his last breathe to hold him and love him..

RIP sweet baby..

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10-17-2009, 04:41 AM
freeindeed Newborn Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 9	Sick Baby Goat Help-advice needed please! I went to visit a local pumpkin patch yesterday and saw a little goat there shivering and being bullied by a large billy. The owner (a friend, she doesn't know much more about goats than I, these goats are on loan to her for the month) let me take it home. I thought a good warm up and some food and water would do the trick. Wrong. The goat is somewhere between 4 and 8 weeks of age. My friend had it on free choice hay which it was ignoring, and 16% all stock sweet feed which it is now ignoring also. It has been drinking, Karo syrup sweetened water. I tried goats milk from the grocery store in a baby bottle but it is not interested. The little goat just stands around with its head down acting depressed. Poop is normal consistency (pellets) but not much. Some pee, not much. Breath sounds clear (used stethoscope) but a little sneezing. No evidence of fever. Any ideas? I just gave it a teaspoon of Pepto, but no signs of bloat.

10-17-2009, 09:32 PM
Karen Cole Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,533	My first thought is pnumonia IF she were mine I would start her ASAP on SMZ960 tablets they are 1 tablet per 100#s. For kids less than 25#s I still give 1/4 tablet , twice a day for 10 days. Nuflor is also really good for pnumonia but the SMZ tablets (yes horse pills) work better for Pasturella based pnumonia in extream cases SMZ and Nuflor (need to look up dose...RX only) can be given at the same time. Pasturella works on the outside of the lung first by the time it gets inside and you hear congestion and get fever 99.9% of the time you should just start digging. Tribrissen liquid also works well it's the liquid form of SMZ tablets. Keep her warm and draft free is also important. Try to get some electrolytes down her...make them with warm water. Vit B will boost her energy and her appitite. B-complex comes in an injectable form and a paste, I would probally give her between 2cc and 5cc under the skin if I gave the injectable, daily. For the tube if it's the small one I'd give about a quarter of it twice a day until she feels better. It's water soluable so any extra she doesn't need she'll pee out. Wouldn't hurt to have a fecal done, when goats are stressed often times they suffer from worm overload and /or cocci overload. This can happen even with solid poops. OH and NEVER put a kid in a with a mature buck! (I know it wasn't you) You'd not put a weanling in with a stallion durring breeding season. It is possible if the kid is a doe and it's 8 weeks old that she is bred. It's also very possible that the buck would have beat the kid bad enough to kill it and/or cause massive internal injuries esp. in a small area. If the doe is bred she can be aborted for that you'd have to get vet instructions and there is a very small window of time. Good Luck Karen

10-17-2009, 09:41 PM
singing tree Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,025	An eight week old goat can be bred????????

10-18-2009, 07:41 AM
Karen Cole Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,533	Yes, Not likely but yes. If it's a mini type breed it's very possible I have heard of several people who bought dam/daughers and left the buckling that have gotten kids out of both 5 months later. The only buck they were exposed to was the buck that was still on the side of the doe. I forgot to mention the owner of the kid should be notified as well asap. I would be livid if I loaned a goat out and was not told it was sick. Karen

10-18-2009, 10:00 AM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,739	I would also want to know if she was fully on grain. If she's 4 weeks, she might not be able to handle the grain yet. The goat's milk you get in the store isn't going to be good enough for the baby, you would need milk replacer. Hopefully she's 8 weeks and fully weaned and it's pneumonia. Easily treatable with antibiotics. __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery

10-18-2009, 10:55 AM
freeindeed Newborn Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 9	Unfortunately the little guy didn't make it. I did get some Pen G on the advice of a friend and gave him an injection yesterday. He seemed to bounce back a little after that, but I was still having to feed him with a syringe every 2 hours, just a mix of water, Karo syrup and goat "drench" supplement. He fought the good fight, just couldn't overcome the odds against him. He died in my arms at 4:00 this morning.

10-19-2009, 04:42 PM
Karen Cole Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,533	Iam not surprised good for you for trying though. Pen. G is about worthless for pnumonia in goats esp. if you are dealing with Pasturella and Iam 99.9% sure that was the problem. Karen

10-20-2009, 11:59 PM
farmergal Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 6,063	Aw! I'm so sorry to hear that, I was rooting for the little guy. They go down hill so quick when they are young. You gave him your best effort. RIP little guy __________________ Knowlege is out there, you just need to know where to look.

10-21-2009, 08:35 PM
freeindeed Newborn Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 9	Thanks so much to everyone for your advice and kind words. I wish I had known to try a different type of antibiotic first for the kid. I tried calling every vet in a 75 mile radius of my house on Sat., none of them handle goats. I am glad the little guy didn't have to die alone in the cold. He had been thru so much (orphaned at 3 days old, passed around from home to home, lost his twin brother to what was probably the same illness, and then bullied and tossed around by that buck). It WAS very hard to see him go, he started yelling at about 3:55 am and I ran down the steps to him. First I thought he might be hungry (hoping) but then instinct kicked in and I realized he needed to be held. I had just sat down in the rocker with him, he relaxed, took three deep breaths, and that was it. Sometimes I wonder why some get so much time here and others so little. Not my call, though. Thanks again to all.

10-21-2009, 08:50 PM
Dream Ponies Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NY Posts: 763	I am so sorry as that is a horrible thing to go through. As for the vets in this case, they are a disappointment to their profession. Having worked for a vet as a teen, no animal in need was ever turned away. With the internet it seems a treatment plan could have been at least tried. At least you tried and the poor little one knew nothing but love in his last hours.

10-22-2009, 12:48 AM
snwflk Started Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,463	Its hard, but you did a great job.. LIke the other said.. At least he had a mama for his last breathe to hold him and love him.. RIP sweet baby.. __________________ Suzie Q