Aboutgoatlady Expertise Specializing in New Goat Owner understanding of goat physiology, goat anatomy, goat care and herd management. *I am not a veterinarian, any advice and information should be verified by your veterinarian before administering to your goats.
Experience 17 years experience of raising goats and herd management. Active hands on experience with goat herd and research with various Caprine University Research and Extension Centers nationwide. 15 years dedicated to helping other goat breeders/owners with goat anatomy, goat disease and goat health care issues via phone, published goat care articles and internet interaction.
Organizations 5 year active member of International Veterinary Information Service
Publications United Caprine News, Homesteaders Magazine, Columnist for Goat Magazine, Owner and Author of GoatPedia™
Education/Credentials Graduate Programs in Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University
Expert: goatlady Date: 7/14/2008 Subject: Goat Due Date
Question QUESTION: My 5 year old goat is 12 days past her due date. Slightly swollen, crusty blood at the opening occasionally. As big as a cow! She's not bagging up. Is she OK? I've only had goats for a year. A friend said she's full of babies and I a'm certain of her dates. Any comments are apprecieated!
ANSWER: Hi Amy,
If you are sure of her due date and she has some blood - I think I would be getting a vet to check her out. The blood is not a good sign and teamed up with the overdue of almost 2 weeks is something to be concerned about. She could have a mal-positioned kid or a dead kid in her- there could be a live kid behind that cannot be born because of the issue with a kid in front- do you feel baby movement under her belly when you put your hands on her? This sometimes takes upward of a half hour or so to feel them move if they are asleep. If she were mine I would be having a vet take a look- if you are not familiar or secure with doing a vaginal check yourself. Please let me know how she is- this is nothing to continue to wait and see - it needs to be addressed- and you are 100% sure of her due date?
goatlady
Goat-Link.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: My comp.had a prob. so I'm not sure if my last q. went through. I am positive of her dates- the buck was taken off the farm right after breeding. The blood is a tiny trace of crust -not really actually bleeding.
Answer Hi Amy,
Here are the signs on pending kidding:
Typical Signs of Early Labor (Not necessarily in order):
1. Appears restless, shys away from herd
2. Eyes glossy or luminous
3. Paying much attention to her sides and smelling the ground
4. Pawing at bedding or dirt
5. Looking behind her and talking to her sides (typically in a voice you have never heard="mama talk")
6. Talks to you a lot as if she is telling you she is getting ready (she is, so listen)
7. Gets dreamy eyed or star-gazy (euphoric)
8. Looks less pregnant than she did before-sides have hollowed out, under-belly is full
9. Lifts tail frequently and urinates frequently, usually not much urine at a time
10. Lays down and gets up more than usual-figidty
11. Udder begins to fill more-looks tight and shiny-teats get full
12. Vulva becomes flabby then looks flat and opening looks longer
13. White discharge (this may or may not happen) changing to an egg-white looking discharge, sometimes may have some blood streaking in it.
If you are sure of her breeding date and this is 145-155 days after- I would be watching for babies soon- I think I might still have her checked by a vet though. If she goes into active labor and does not produce a baby after she is actually pushing-- call a vet if no baby comes within 20 minutes. There could be a problem- this sounds like it may be a red flag kidding for you.
Stay close to home the next few days and keep the vet's phone number handy. Just in case.
