Goats/Pregnant Goat

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Expert: Goatlady - 9/2/2008


Question
I have a Bore Goat that I believe is pregnant by out Pygmy Billy Goat.  We also have two Donkeys.  My husband left out a bunch of sweet feed and I think the female goat ate too much.  She seems to be sick, laying around a lot and not crying or moving around much.  I think she may be pregnant since July and it is not Sept 1.  Her behind looked like she had diarrea.  What should I do? We are not out where she is except on the weekends.  I made sure no one put out any treats or feed, just hay and water.  Thanks.


Answer
HI Christy,
She is going to need some VitB1 (Thiamine) administered injection SubQ to avoid goat polio (thiamine deficiency from the overload on grain)  and this very well could lead to enterotoxemia if the gut shuts down which it does often times when they over eat on grain. Diarrhea is what we call scours in goats - and it is a symptom of something wrong in the digestion- a good way for us to tell as you said that she ate too much  or that they are wormy or other illnesses- I fear if she doesn't get treated until next weekend you will have a very ill goat. Both grain overload (enterotoxemia) and goat polio can be fatal if not treated.

Here are a couple of articles for you to read and maybe you can have someone attend to her  tomorrow.

Enterotoxemia
http://goat-link.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=62&Itemid=94

Goat Polio
http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/listeriosis.html

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Goatlady

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. (! During times of severe weather in the Midwest, I may experience a delay in internet service due to the interference of the satellite reception - but will answer your questions as soon as service is restored. !) Note: Keep in mind, the goat expert is volunteering her time to help other goat owners, she also runs her farm with her own herd of 100 goats and may not be at her computer at all hours. Questions are answered as soon as she can possibly read and answer them, usually within 24 hours.

Experience

18 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. The information I have to offer is not only from personal experience and years of research updated often as new information is made available to me, but supported by many Veterinary Research colleges and all medications and information I have to offer on how the medications work and what dosages "I" use, is information I have acquired by discussing directly with the company's veterinarians and staff research experts.

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

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