Expert: Cheryl K. Smith - 11/7/2009

Question
I have had two baby kids born within the last 24 hours. When born we noticed immediately that they had leg deformities. It is most apparent in the back left leg of both. Not only do they seem to be limp, the hoof is also curled under. They are in a pasture and we have not seen the mother nurse or show interest, therefore we bottle fed them once giving them colostrum. What is your advice on what to do?

Answer
Give them each 1/2 cc of BoSe injection, if you have it. If not give some vitamin E capsule. This is in case they have white muscle disease. Are the legs actually deformed or are they just under. Sometimes they get hyperflexed legs, possibly because of the way they were in the uterus. They either recover alone or you can put a splint on them. If not that, it may be they have a birth defect and may not survive anyway. Good luck and keep bottle feeding these little guys, keep them in the house and warm if you can, so no other goats accidentally lie on them.