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
Question What would cause her to have diarrhea. She was used to eating just grass but she has been eating sweet mix since we got her, she is 5 months old and we have only had her about a week. Could it be a new place or the sweet mix? I bought a bail of hay for her today hoping that would help.
Answer HI Michelle,
The stress from moving,the change in diet, missing her goat mom and buddies or siblings, the new surroundings- new people all contribute to shipping stress which can manifest in many different ways- one of them being scouring (what they call diarrhea in goats)
You need to 1. deworm her using either ivomec injectable, ivomec plus injectable or valbazen oral suspension dewormer-
I have a website with articles to help new goat owners- here is my article on deworming: http://goat-link.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=46
Also 2. you need to back off on the sweet feed- she is still young and too much sweet feed is not only difficult for her to digest- but can give her scours as well as enterotoxemia if she eats too much. Hay is a better choice and the sweet feed as dessert- only a handful ;)
You also need to learn how to take her temperature so when she is ill you will have a better understanding of what may be making her ill- take it like you would for a child - rectally with a bit of vasoline ion the thermometer- read it the same way- Goat's normal temp is 101.5 to 103.5
Watch for pink eye and pneumonia as well with shipping stress.
Make sure any hay you get for her is free of any mold- always green and as fresh as you can get- and if she has no goat friend there at your place please consider another goat - goats are very social animals and really need another goat to make them happiest.
